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The Kitchen Table

Smart phone uses--do you have?

9 years ago

A flashlight apt installed. Just watched a warning from the CEO of Snoopwall. He said this apt is taking information from your life and sending it to at least 3 countries regarding bank accounts, life style, etc. He said to get rid of it you can delete it ,but then take it back to where you got it to get rid of the Trojan malware, back up you contacts first. Anyone hear of this?

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Comments (11)

western_pa_luann
9 years ago
Haven't heard of that.
Which app are you talking about... there are dozens.
And which phone system... there are several.
maire_cate
9 years ago
I don't have the flashlight app - but Snopes did cover that - it's an interesting read. I linked the article.

Here is a link that might be useful: Snopes
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golfergrrl
9 years ago
I call BS.
marie_ndcal
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you maire for the link. I tried to find something on Snopes but could not.
fran1523
9 years ago
Never heard of that. There are dozens of flashlight apps. Can't imagine that one being a problem.
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
9 years ago
well seeing how snoopwall is promoting their OWN flashlight app it is questionable at best and from the information available I would not get panicked at all.
There are many many flash light apps available and only one was mentioned back in 2013.
I do recommend always checking what the permissions are on any app and if you think there are too many too vast and why would that app need those kinds of permissions walk away. I also always read the user reviews and see how many downloads an app has before considering it. Only apps from secure and reputable sources like play store and apple store.
Any app could be doing those kinds of things, read up on them before you put them on your devices.
marie_ndcal
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks to all for responding. I don't have a smart phone, but just one with numbers. My relative had forwarded me the information and I can see that no matter what a person has they have to research and review the information before they download anything--the same as we have to be careful what we download on our computers or Ipads or whatever we have.
That is what I like about these forums--we post and then sit bad and review. I just feel good to have all of you available to offer advice and help.
Elmer J Fudd
9 years ago
As has been said, the caution that you read, Marie, is false and wildly exaggerated. There's no need for alarm.

The advice above is the best - limit app procurement to the official sources, iTunes Store and Google Play.

Thinking that an individual user can make any sense out of "researching" apps and reviewing permissions is a fool's errand. Apple and Google have standards and limitations for what apps can do in gathering user data, and they police what's offered on their respective sites. Among the hundreds of thousands of apps that are on offer, the number of rogue ones that slip through the screening are very, very small.

Using the internet in any form - tablets, PCs, smartphones - involves a degree of tracking and use analysis that shouldn't be confused with an invasion of privacy. There's no one sitting in a dark room somewhere trying to decide whether to withdraw money from your bank account or break in your home since they can see you're not there. Proceed with comfort and without fear.
User
9 years ago
The iPhone comes with an icon that Apple put in that turns on your cameras light, turning your phone into a flashlight. I don't use any apps for that, as it comes with one directly from Apple.
Lindsey_CA
9 years ago
I have a BlackBerry Q10. It doesn't have a "flashlight app," per se, but it does take videos and there is a light that you can turn on when taking videos. And, it's really easy to turn on that light even when not taking a video, so that's what I use when I need a flashlight.
Elmer J Fudd
9 years ago
debby, just as there are dozens of free flashlight apps in the iphone store that "put an icon on your screen", the Android world has exactly the same thing and they work exactly the same way.

Many apps for iphones and Android phones are written by the same individuals and companies, just in the two different versions.

Other than the user interface and the fact that each manufacturer's hardware is unique but very similar to others, I have found very few significant differences in capability or functions between the two major phone platforms. Yeah, there's the odd app here or there that's better in one flavor than the other, but little else.

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