Australian Politics Forum - Will you get the tracking app?

Gordon

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Re: Will you get the tracking app?
Reply #195 - Apr 27^th, 2020 at 5:45pm

Captain Nemo wrote on Apr 27^th, 2020 at 5:18pm:

The_Barnacle wrote on Apr 27^th, 2020 at 4:19pm:

Gordon wrote on Apr 27^th, 2020 at 1:25pm:

The app works well and is unobtrusive on the phone and is easy to flick on and off when you're closer to people.

When you restart the phone it doesn't launch automatically which is nice and when you turn off BT it doesn't nag you, but the status changes to this.

So in other words even if people have downloaded the app their is no guarantee that they have it on and it's working

Well, yeah ... the app needs to be running. I suppose they can never account for the levels of stupidity out there in the real world.

For android, I doubt an app can force you to keep BT on (block you form your settings)

They want to make the app as unobtrusive as possible and allow people to choose when they use it.

If they did stuff like force it to launch at startup and constantly nag you to turn on BT people would uninstall it.

As much as I want to help and be part of the effort, if the app raped my phone I'd get rid of it.

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« Last Edit: Apr 27^th, 2020 at 5:56pm by Gordon »

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Aussie Gold Member Offline OzPolitic Posts: 38800 Gender:	Re: Will you get the tracking app? Reply #196 - Apr 27^th, 2020 at 5:48pm Why are people doing it? Can't you remember where you have been when you are supposed to go nowhere?
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Gordon Gold Member Online Australian Politics Posts: 20659 Gordon Gender:	Re: Will you get the tracking app? Reply #197 - Apr 27^th, 2020 at 5:52pm flip
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Gordon Gold Member Online Australian Politics Posts: 20659 Gordon Gender:	Re: Will you get the tracking app? Reply #198 - Apr 27^th, 2020 at 5:52pm flip2
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Gordon

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Re: Will you get the tracking app?
Reply #199 - Apr 27^th, 2020 at 5:56pm

Aussie wrote on Apr 27^th, 2020 at 5:48pm:

Why are people doing it? Can't you remember where you have been when you are supposed to go nowhere?

The whole point of the app, Aussie, is to assist with contact tracing so restrictions can be lifted and then things can start to get back to normal.

If you're on public transport then you test positive the next day, good luck finding the guy behind you with the red shirt and black backpack.

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Carl D

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Re: Will you get the tracking app?
Reply #200 - Apr 27^th, 2020 at 6:29pm

Apparently, there's a problem for some people when they try to enter their mobile phone numbers.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/covidsafe-australias-new-trace-tracking-app-is-now...

Quote:

Users are then asked to enter their full name, age range, and postcode. The next step is entering a mobile number to receive a PIN.

Upon attempting to complete this step, some users have been shown an error message.

"Error verifying phone number. Please check your details and try again," the message on iOS reads.

For Android users, app reviewers mentioned their respective phone numbers were also invalid.

Have to expect a few bugs to start with.

They'll get it right eventually.

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** Repeat Covid infections exercise our immune system in the same way that repeat concussions exercise our brain **

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Sprintcyclist Gold Member Offline OzPolitic Posts: 40762 Gender:	Re: Will you get the tracking app? Reply #201 - Apr 27^th, 2020 at 6:59pm Got it, had to turn my WiFi off. Good, I like doing my bit to help my own society
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Bobby.

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Re: Will you get the tracking app?
Reply #202 - Apr 27^th, 2020 at 7:29pm

Hey, Turn Bluetooth Off When You're Not Using It
In light of the latest Bluetooth-related security meltdown, a friendly PSA.

Minimizing your Bluetooth usage minimizes your exposure to very real vulnerabilities. That includes an attack called BlueBorne, announced this week by the security firm Armis, which would allow any affected device with Bluetooth turned on to be attacked through a series of vulnerabilities. The flaws aren't in the Bluetooth standard itself, but in its implementation in all sorts of software. Windows, Android, Linux, and iOS have been vulnerable to BlueBorne in the past. Millions could still be at risk.

https://www.wired.com/story/turn-off-bluetooth-security/

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Carl D

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Re: Will you get the tracking app?
Reply #203 - Apr 28^th, 2020 at 5:32am

Bobby. wrote on Apr 27^th, 2020 at 7:29pm:

Hey, Turn Bluetooth Off When You're Not Using It
In light of the latest Bluetooth-related security meltdown, a friendly PSA.

Minimizing your Bluetooth usage minimizes your exposure to very real vulnerabilities. That includes an attack called BlueBorne, announced this week by the security firm Armis, which would allow any affected device with Bluetooth turned on to be attacked through a series of vulnerabilities. The flaws aren't in the Bluetooth standard itself, but in its implementation in all sorts of software. Windows, Android, Linux, and iOS have been vulnerable to BlueBorne in the past. Millions could still be at risk.

https://www.wired.com/story/turn-off-bluetooth-security/

This highlights a major problem with this COVIDsafe app - in the case of my Samsung Galaxy S5 phone, it hasn't had any security updates for nearly 3 years so there's no way I am going to leave Bluetooth enabled for any length of time.

Lack of updates is also why I never have my phone connected to the Internet and also have mobile data turned off. It is also prepaid which would cause my credit to be eaten away rapidly if it was connected to the Internet with mobile data.

And, they can forget about me buying a new phone like a lot of people do every year. I'll keep running my S5 until it dies, thank you.

I thought I read somewhere a couple of years back that something was going to be done about Android devices (especially Samsung) being 'abandoned' regarding security updates after about 12 months from when they're released but, as usual, nothing seems to have happened so far.

And, I see it didn't take long for the BS to start:

Hoax text 'from COVIDSafe app' claims to track users

https://www.9news.com.au/national/coronavirus-fake-message-government-app-tracki...

Just waiting for the 'special' malware infested version of this app to be released now. Won't be too far off, I'm sure.

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** Repeat Covid infections exercise our immune system in the same way that repeat concussions exercise our brain **

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Bobby.

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Re: Will you get the tracking app?
Reply #204 - Apr 28^th, 2020 at 5:49am

Carl D wrote on Apr 28^th, 2020 at 5:32am:

This highlights a major problem with this COVIDsafe app - in the case of my Samsung Galaxy S5 phone, it hasn't had any security updates for nearly 3 years so there's no way I am going to leave Bluetooth enabled for any length of time.

Lack of updates is also why I never have my phone connected to the Internet and also have mobile data turned off. It is also prepaid which would cause my credit to be eaten away rapidly if it was connected to the Internet with mobile data.

And, they can forget about me buying a new phone like a lot of people do every year. I'll keep running my S5 until it dies, thank you.

I thought I read somewhere a couple of years back that something was going to be done about Android devices (especially Samsung) being 'abandoned' regarding security updates after about 12 months from when they're released but, as usual, nothing seems to have happened so far.

And, I see it didn't take long for the BS to start:

Hoax text 'from COVIDSafe app' claims to track users

https://www.9news.com.au/national/coronavirus-fake-message-government-app-tracki...

Just waiting for the 'special' malware infested version of this app to be released now. Won't be too far off, I'm sure.

I don't think it's safe to use the new App.

Quote:

That includes an attack called BlueBorne

That vulnerability has not been mentioned by
the media or the Govt.
Why not?

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greggerypeccary

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Re: Will you get the tracking app?
Reply #205 - Apr 28^th, 2020 at 6:06am

Gordon wrote on Apr 17^th, 2020 at 6:35pm:

I'll download it just in case I'm asymptomatically positive I'd like for my contacts to be traced, and vica versa.

If there's good legislation around it where the info can never be used for the prosecution of any crime or offense and the data is flushed when this health emergency ends, all gud.

We have good legislation that says people shouldn't speed on our roads.

How's that working out?

Any other laws broken in Australia today?

I'm curious.

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Carl D

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Re: Will you get the tracking app?
Reply #206 - Apr 28^th, 2020 at 11:10am

Uh-oh.

Australian Government coronavirus tracing app data held by Amazon may not be protected from US subpoena

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-28/covidsafe-tracing-app-data-may-not-be-pro...

Quote:

Global tech giant Amazon may not be able to protect Australian Government data held in its Australian servers — including data gathered by the COVID-19 tracing app released on Sunday — from US subpoenas, according to legal experts and crossbenchers.

Quote:

The data created by the tracing app will be encrypted, stored on your phone, and not shared with anyone, unless you test positive to COVID-19.

If that happens, health officials may ask — but cannot compel you — to upload 21 days of your data. If you do, it is at that point your data will be sent to the Amazon cloud.

It is only then that the US Government could use the CLOUD Act to compel Amazon to hand over data.

I was actually thinking about downloading this app and trying it out even though I said last week that I wouldn't. Might wait a bit longer after reading this.

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** Repeat Covid infections exercise our immune system in the same way that repeat concussions exercise our brain **

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Captain Nemo Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 10489 Melbourne Gender:	Re: Will you get the tracking app? Reply #207 - Apr 28^th, 2020 at 12:12pm Yep the US government would love to know: Your name ... could be false. Age range ... could be false. Postcode ... what the heck is that? (We only know zip) Phone numbers of people who were near you for 15 mins or more who also have the app running. - no GPS co-ordinates included. Real useful stuff!
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Sprintcyclist Gold Member Offline OzPolitic Posts: 40762 Gender:	Re: Will you get the tracking app? Reply #208 - Apr 28^th, 2020 at 6:02pm I see this app as being a medical issue. We are in a pandemic, this will help if used. It is to help Australia's society, Australia's communities and Australia's peoples.
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Valkie Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 16142 Central Coast Gender:	Re: Will you get the tracking app? Reply #209 - Apr 28^th, 2020 at 7:04pm Apparently Amazon is running the app for govco. And we all know we can trust Amazon, don't We? Didn't they get in a bit of bother a while ago because of data mining? Oh well, they have learnt their lesson and the grubberment will keep them honest. Pigs all prepped and ready to fly.
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Poll
Question: Will you get the tracking app?
* This poll has now closed *
Yes 6 (20.7%) No 23 (79.3%) Total votes: 29 « Last Modified by: philperth2010 on: Apr 17^th, 2020 at 8:11pm »