Tech companies and spying

[sgt_zim]

I really hate all of the tech giants. "Hate" is a strong word, and "all" doesn't leave me with any wiggle room. But I just hate them. Funny coming from a guy in the tech business.

The latest on Google/Android. As much as I hate Apple, I may have to finally switch to an iphone.

Google confirms camera flaw on Android phones could be used to spy on users

Google Camera app and Samsung phones had a serious vulnerability where researchers showed how the camera app would be used to easily spy on users, by taking photos, videos without the victim realising this was happening

indianexpress.com

I have worked with CheckMarx in the past, an Israel-based IT security company best known for their source code static analysis tool. They are one of the best in the world.

 

[sgt_zim]

Google is trying to play this off as a "woopsie." Yeah, right. We "accidentally" kicked most of the camera apps from the play store except ours.

 

[Inline6]

I was a big apple fan until they screwed me. Long story and that was an iPhone 4. Have been with Android since. Working in excel was always easier. I have been told that iPhone can now do work excel too but I don't know. Either way I know for a fact the amount of spyware out there is scary and the things it can do is even more so.

I guess I'm getting old but the cost of phones is beyond the point of ridiculous. I know tech cost but seems like we are getting better selling features than a better built phone.

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

Here is perhaps a very good alternative:

Freedom Phone - Privacy First & Free Speech Focused Smartphone

Explore Freedom Phone with ClearOS Mobile, privacy-first technology, pre-loaded apps, and an uncensored marketplace focused on digital freedom.

www.freedomphone.com

 

[sgt_zim]

I was a big apple fan until they screwed me. Long story and that was an iPhone 4. Have been with Android since. Working in excel was always easier. I have been told that iPhone can now do work excel too but I don't know. Either way I know for a fact the amount of spyware out there is scary and the things it can do is even more so.

I guess I'm getting old but the cost of phones is beyond the point of ridiculous. I know tech cost but seems like we are getting better selling features than a better built phone.

I've never owned anything but Android - mostly Samsung, but I did have a Google Pixel II XL a few years ago. I liked it quite a lot.

As to cost, they're still cheaper than PCs were 30 years ago, and you don't even have to account for inflation to realize how much cheaper they are. Smart phones are really handheld PCs that allow you to make phone calls easily.

I bought an IBM in 1991, paid about 2K for it. Included 2MB RAM, a 20MB HDD, a video card that supported either 8 or 16 colors, and sound card that was a joke, and no built-in networking capability. Don't remember which CPU it had, but the ones today are multiple orders of magnitude more powerful than they were 30 years ago

 

[Inline6]

I've never owned anything but Android - mostly Samsung, but I did have a Google Pixel II XL a few years ago. I liked it quite a lot.

As to cost, they're still cheaper than PCs were 30 years ago, and you don't even have to account for inflation to realize how much cheaper they are. Smart phones are really handheld PCs that allow you to make phone calls easily.

I bought an IBM in 1991, paid about 2K for it. Included 2MB RAM, a 20MB HDD, a video card that supported either 8 or 16 colors, and sound card that was a joke, and no built-in networking capability. Don't remember which CPU it had, but the ones today are multiple orders of magnitude more powerful than they were 30 years ago

I do remember my father coming home with our first desktop 30 years ago. He had an IT guy at work build it for him. I just remember him saying it had 1 gig of memory and no way we would ever use it all.

I too have been with Samsung for a while. I cracked the screen on my S8+ I just replaced the screen. I did not want to spend 1700 on a nee phone.

I do understand what you are saying, it's the same way with cars and trucks right now.