Anybody own an android based phone? Sure, allot of you do. Ever go to the Youtube app to search or play their videos? Have you noticed lately that you have trouble opening those videos because "Sign in failed, your device isn't linked to a Youtube account. please create an account or sign in." I figured this was just so they could get my info to market to me so I kinda dismissed it as an inconvenience, but I didn't forget about it.

Today, I pick up my S3 and hit Facebook for a few minutes. When I got done I had a notification to update a couple apps, one of which was Youtube. Recently I started reading the info in the "what's new" portion of the app before I update it. Today I see that in the list of "what's new" things on the Youtube app is I give permission for the app to access my hardware and software controls to allow my phone to take pictures and video. So doesn't that mean that if I accept this update I'm giving permission for someone whom I don't know, my permission to activate my camera and video camera functions on my phone? That's crazy! I backed out of the update and went over to the application manager to look at the app. Sure enough, there in plain text was the same permission already on the list. I guess I missed that on a previous update. Since the app is pre-installed on the phone all I could do is uninstall the updates and return the app to factory installed status. Interestingly enough, now it won't open at all, which suits me. I am pretty ticked at myself though since I didn't take a single photo of the process documenting the permissions.

Remember a few weeks ago when the Gov't went nuts about the subcontractor at the NSA who leaked all that info about how our phone and email info is being collected. Anybody remember the little tidbit that came out a short time after that about hoe the Gov't had cracked the android phones and could remotely turn on the camera and phone speaker? You would assume that kind of surveillance would require a warrant but if, you give a third party permission to access those controls on your device, and any agency "requests" info about you, those permissions could now be used to spy on you without a warrant. On top of that, what about your wife and kids? Some of you younger folks have a habit of videotaping your significant other while you are engaged in bedroom activities. Would you want someone having access to your intimate moments? This brings up a whole host of issues in the private sector as well. Warrant aside, your personal life is only as safe as Google wants it to be. Remember, Google bought Youtube back in 06 AND Google and their subsidiaries have been hacked numerous times. All it takes is some geek to hack in somewhere and you've got perverts all over the web taking pics of your wife and kids where there shouldn't be cameras.

For the record I'm not a conspiracy theorist. The info is probably in your own hand should you choose to look at it. As far as the i technology goes, I know nothing about it.

 

Interesting stuff.

 

Add the app Cam Scanner to the list as well as Fire Fox for android.

 

The app "snapchat" archives the pictures you send with it, even though they only show up on the phone of the person who receives it for 5 seconds. Some guy started a website where he trolls through those archives and re-posts the pictures the kids took of themselves but really shouldn't have.

 

Wow. I don't facebook and am not an android but that stuff is scary.
My Daughter was telling me that anything pictures you post on the facebook can be used by them free of charge if they want to.
I want people to pay to look at me.
Seems like anything more technologically advanced than a mushroom can be used against you.

 

yup. nephew contracted to NSA. learned how to reprogram any cell phone.
sooooooooooo, what do young single men do with that technology?

they cruise a neighborhood. listening to all cell phone conversations. pick out the girls, listen to their conversations. know their schedules. hang out where they say they shop, get hair done or recreate. talk about their favorite things (ahhh soulmate!!) and do the hustle.

on our dime. yeah.try to get a cell phone now that doesn't have gizmos to track things. even the walmart pay as you go phones have digital chips.

not tin foil hat person either, just common sense in this paranoid government world. rmember, I have been around Hillary Clinton....

 

How did you manage to wash the scum off after being around her? Must have been some really powerful industrial strength cleaners I am guessing

 

If you have Adobe Flash player on your computer, check the setting. You will find a box asking if flash can use your camera and microphone. Thing is, you have to turn it off.

 

They can't use mine, even if it is turned on in the software!

 

My desk top doesn't have a camera or mic and my lap top has a mechanical switch. If all else fails, duck tape works good enough.

 

I think if Totallyrad Rick would just parade back and forth naked in front of his android device, that should cause them to permanently destroy this type of capability

 

Seems I took your advice about this in regards to my laptop and all it got me was a knock on the door by an officially official official. Not again bucko!

 

An a official that is a thilly thavage and has romance on his mind, would scare me too

 

...

 

lol