Covid App 2020

Something for all to be aware of.

COVID APP - JUST SAY NO!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zcwo4WDJSPA

Well if you can go to football if you have this app. Thats half the brain dead
signed up straight away.

Agreed, but it will also backfire if enough people say NO.

Not bang up to date but here's some security testing on the app. Note that it gives itself permission to collect accurate location information, which seems to be contrary to what the NHS is claiming. Even if it doesn't report this at the moment, and update could add that function without the users being aware, or a bug could result in the information being collected.

https://privacyinternational.org/long-read/3752/coronavirus-tracking-uk-what-we-know-so-far

FF, also note it is permanently internet connected and by virtue of many companies who have free internet access for customers are growing, it means that if you walk you will connect with any free wifi from any shop or company along your route, from this alone it can conclude your route and what time you travelled, and where from and to.

Bluetooth is more important as this is the formation of networks and according to security experts this will be the real spy, not everyone turns their bluetooth off and if it can be over ridden by the software to activate it if someone with bluetooth is within range with theirs switched on, and it will become a part of all operating systems within a few years. Imagine the scenario now, you go somewhere shopping, on business, or even on holidays, you will be tracked, go shopping to any shopping street and every shop with free wifi will be tracking you, your direction of travel, and at what speed you travelled, and if they can switch your bluetooth on they can also back this up with every other bluetooth enabled phone to confirm this tracking.

You go away for a long weekend and take a caravan, you take a route and again every business with free wifi will track you when you come into range, many cars have their software set to track the vehicle also, so one verifies the other, and if you take a motorway and you use the motorway services they also track you through their wifi and multiple bluetooth users there. Much the same applies to camping and caravan sites as they nearly all offer free wifi; and if you stay at a guest house or hotel they also track you and your location. Then we have the other variables, you travel along the motorway and most major roads and they confirm you using the multiple cameras along these routes, then of course there are also traffic light cameras as an example.

Of course to avoid most of this ,just ditch any smart device. I reverted back
to a nokia 3310 over a year ago. I have 2 smart phones which I keep as back-up
cameras. They spend their entire life in a Faraday bag. I use a mobile phone very
rearly ,in fact I put £20 on it 15 months ago and still have over £5 left.
Sadly most of the population appear to be unable to function without a smart
phone,which of course was the intention all along.

assassin wrote:FF, also note it is permanently internet connected and by virtue of many companies who have free internet access for customers are growing, it means that if you walk you will connect with any free wifi from any shop or company along your route, from this alone it can conclude your route and what time you travelled, and where from and to.

Bluetooth is more important ..

It doesn't in fact rely on permanent Internet access, it collects its data while offline, then uploads it when it becomes Internet connected. So it could be collecting most of the information that you mention even without connecting to these networks. However that's almost trivial compared to the fact that it has access to GPS location information.

Bluetooth is absolutely fundamental to the app, that's going to be how it detects proximity to others. But only to others that are also running the app.

My view is this app is only going to achieve anything if it's used 100% voluntarily. If they start to make it mandatory, or a condition for certain things then people will quickly find ways around. For example let's say it's a condition for attending something. I install it on my old phone but never take that phone out of the house until I need to attend this "thing". On that day I take the phone, switched off, and only switch it on at the last minute. So there I will be, an official user of the app and with data showing I've never met anyone.

Just a heads up.
There are plenty of app's about on the google play store which are named Fake gps. With these app's you are able to set your location (static) yourself and it will over ride your device's gps. I use one of these app's myself and it works well. I do not know how well they will work with the NHS app as I have not tested it.

flyingfish wrote:

assassin wrote:FF, also note it is permanently internet connected and by virtue of many companies who have free internet access for customers are growing, it means that if you walk you will connect with any free wifi from any shop or company along your route, from this alone it can conclude your route and what time you travelled, and where from and to.

Bluetooth is more important ..

It doesn't in fact rely on permanent Internet access, it collects its data while offline, then uploads it when it becomes Internet connected.  So it could be collecting most of the information that you mention even without connecting to these networks.  However that's almost trivial compared to the fact that it has access to GPS location information.

Bluetooth is absolutely fundamental to the app, that's going to be how it detects proximity to others.  But only to others that are also running the app.

My view is this app is only going to achieve anything if it's used 100% voluntarily.  If they start to make it mandatory, or a condition for certain things then people will quickly find ways around.  For example let's say it's a condition for attending something.  I install it on my old phone but never take that phone out of the house until I need to attend this "thing".  On that day I take the phone, switched off, and only switch it on at the last minute.  So there I will be, an official user of the app and with data showing I've never met anyone.

No, I didn't say it relied upon permanent internet access, simply showing how easily they are connected to virtually permanent internet access and how many there are, this gives real time information in a huge proportion of the UK.

Dave: I also have my old Nokia and it has just had a new battery, does nothing current.

Just a reminder ,you can still get a new or refurbished 3310 on ebay for
about £20 all with a 12 mouth warranty. Just make sure its not the 2017
model which is a lookalike but is a smart phone.

this looks like a non-smart:

Nokia 216 SIM Free 2G-only Feature Phone - Black
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MRB4YYH?tag=duckduckgo-ffnt-uk-21&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1