iq

HTC settles with FTC over software security vulnerabilities

Mobile handset maker HTC has agreed to settle a complaint filed against it by the Federal Trade Commission accusing the company of failing to take "reasonable steps" to patch a security flaw in software running on its smartphones.

As part of this settlement, HTC has agreed to patch handsets that were left vulnerable to the security risks. And the company has agreed to develop a security program to address future security issues on its handsets.

HTC has already begun rolling out the patches to devices in the U.S., according to the FTC.

In its complaint, the commission … Read more

What's your IQ? Play What's My IQ? and find out

So, your phone is smart. How smart are you? Maybe not as smart as you think. Play Orangenose Studios' free What's My IQ? and find out just how clever you aren't. This fun follow-up to Stupidness 2 & 3 tests your ability to think "out of the box" with a series of simple but clever puzzles with unexpected answers. It times you while you think (thanks a lot) but you can pause the game to get Cheats and Solutions, and then play again to improve your IQ score. The whole point is to sharpen your mind … Read more

Carrier IQ: How big a threat is it?

The maker of the software that monitors smartphone performance is facing increasing scrutiny, following a security researcher's report on Carrier IQ.

Carrier IQ privacy flap may spur new federal law The embattled software maker is already the subject of lawsuits and probes by two federal agencies, but one member of Congress thinks another federal law is necessary. (Posted in Privacy Inc. by Declan McCullagh) Jan 30, 2012 12:11 PM PT

Sprint updates phones to eliminate Carrier IQ Sprint said in December that it would work to get rid of the controversial Carrier IQ software on devices on its … Read more

Carrier IQ privacy flap may spur new federal law

Last fall's privacy flap over Carrier IQ, which makes diagnostic software embedded into millions of mobile phones, may spur federal legislation.

A draft House of Representatives bill (PDF) would give the Federal Trade Commission the power to regulate "monitoring software" that's capable of transmitting location data or other information about who's using the phone.

The FTC would have a year to require the disclosure of "the fact that the monitoring software is installed on the mobile telephone"--and, in addition, anyone installing the software would have to obtain the "express consent" … Read more

Sprint updates phones to eliminate Carrier IQ

Sprint is making good on its promise to eliminate the controversial Carrier IQ software from devices on its network.

On Monday Android Central reported that the HTC EVO 3D, which runs on Sprint's network, will get a new firmware update that will wipe the Carrier IQ software from the device. HTC confirmed on Tuesday its move in a statement to The Verge. The company said that the maintenance software update would "remove Carrier IQ and provide security enhancements and bug fixes beginning in January."

CNET and others reported in December that Sprint said it would disable the software in devices running on its network. … Read more

Sprint disabling Carrier IQ on phones

Sprint, which for weeks has defended its use of Carrier IQ software on mobile phones, is now disabling the software, a Sprint spokeswoman confirmed today.

"We have weighed customer concerns and we have disabled use of the tool so that diagnostic information and data is no longer being collected," spokeswoman Stephanie Vinge-Walsh said in a statement.

"We are further evaluating options regarding this diagnostic software as well as Sprint's diagnostic needs," the statement said. "At Sprint, we work hard to earn the trust of our customers and believe this course of action is in … Read more

SOPA revised but still reviled

A new version of the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act was introduced this week but failed to satisfy critics and a vote ultimately got pushed off until at least Wednesday, but more likely 2012.

Many of Silicon Valley's most successful entrepreneurs and executives warned of the dangers of the SOPA in an open letter to Washington, D.C. It's signed by Google co-founder Sergey Brin, Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, PayPal co-founder Elon Musk, Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang, among others. It's appearing as a paid advertisement in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and other newspapers.

The … Read more

Carrier IQ exec says company has learned lessons

Carrier IQ executives have been on a steep learning curve in recent weeks since controversy erupted over their software, which carriers use to diagnose network problems but critics say invades user privacy.

Carrier IQ says the software--used by AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile--doesn't record keystrokes or the content of text messages. But Android developer Trevor Eckhart, who first disclosed the privacy issues, insists otherwise, and complains that consumers don't know the software is there and haven't given permission for the data sharing. A video he released appears to show Carrier IQ doing things the company and … Read more

Feds scrutinizing Carrier IQ

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is investigating allegations that Carrier IQ software is being used by operators to track cell phone activity without user permission, The Washington Post reported today citing anonymous officials.

Andrew Coward, vice president of marketing at Carrier IQ, told CNET he could not say whether there was an official investigation or not but said he spent Monday and Tuesday in Washington, D.C., talking to officials from the FTC and the Federal Communications Commission and answering their questions.

"Investigation is probably too strong a word," he said. "We sought the meetings with … Read more