Eye-spy: Android keeps a tab on your daily activity

Few days ago, Trevor Eckhart, an android developer found about how android has been keeping an activity check of its mobile users. He unveiled how android has a deeply knit source code that traces every move of the user. This alien source code is actually a security software from a company called Carrier iQ.

The Carrier iQ developed software, records almost everything a user does. It is capable of keeping a track of the user’s messages, key presses, GPS and much more. Eckhart made two video clips where he showed how this software tracks everything and sends this information to unknown locations. He also recorded how the software collects all the key information and location even when the user is in the Wi-Fi area and surfing pages protected by HTTPS.

He marked that this software has been furtively weaved into the  android source code. The software has been done in such a way that it will be a very difficult task now to extract it. With all this Eckhart did point out that manufacturers generally use such security softwares to keep quality check.

This quality check according to the software maker is done on the basis of dropped phone calls, poor signal quality, crashed application and battery life. Carrier iQ also clarified on what software is incapable of doing. It said, ‘apart from recording keystrokes, provide track tools, or inspect “the content of emails and SMSs” it does not provide real time data reporting to any customer. However, some of these claims were refuted by the developer in the video showing how it does, what it does.

But again this is not a new story as we are already aware of those data leaks from BlackBerry, HTC and other smartphone manufacturers. Data scrutinizing is not limited to smartphones only but includes social networking sites like Facebook as well.

Even this security software by Carrier iQ is currently running on more than 130 million devices. This big number includes devices from various handset manufacturers like Blackberry, Nokia etc. So, the point worth noticing is that everything has its pros and cons but not every time you can do much about it.