Mobile Apps Take Data Without Asking

It came to light recently that apps such as the address book on your smartphone – particularly iPhones – can be perused by app developers and taken at will without your knowledge. While this is also true on Android devices, Google does force developers to ask for permission to access this kind of data, but this is pretty much in name only as most people don’t pay attention. Apple has issued a statement that “any app wishing to access contact data will require explicit user approval in a future software release,” but be aware that this may just be the tip of the iceberg. If an app is open (and only if an app is open), it looks like some scammer could also get at your photos, calendar, and even record your conversations. Yes, Virginia, privacy is dead.