Edit: Now there is a conflicting story saying that IMEI information is NOT being sent.
It looks like Apple is tracking iPhone users data i
ncluding IMEI number, IP address and stock quote preferences (amongst other things) through a hidden string in the Weather.app and Stocks.app iPhone applications. This information is sent to "http://iphone-wu.apple.com/dgw?imei=%@&apptype=finance" (IP resolved "17.254.32.16"). See screenshot below for details.
From this information, Apple could build a profile on users. Where they travel, where they spend their free time, where they work, where they invest their money, what they browse, etc etc. Obviously most users would like to be able to control who has access to this information. If they connect this data with the credit card that you used to purchase the iPhone (remember, you can’t use cash anymore), they could build an even bigger profile on you.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like you can doanything about it – though hackers are working on it now. According to Uneasysilence.com, if you use an iPhone, you’ve already forfeited this right to privacy (from the Apple Terms of service):
When you interact with Apple, we may collect personal information relevant to the situation, such as your name, mailing address, phone number, email address, and contact preferences; your credit card information and information about the Apple products you own, such as their serial numbers and date of purchase; and information relating to a support or service issue.
Whether or not the backlash from this will cause Apple to change its policy remains to be seen. However, there are alreadly lots of people deleting the Stocks.app and Weather.apps from their iPhones and donning their tinfoil hats.
EDIT: IT looks like some Leopard applications behave in this manner as well. A digg commenter found:
This is interesting to hear — and I noticed something similar in OS 10.5 (Leopard):
For those of you who don’t know what Little Snitch is, it tracks connections that any software makes to the internet (i.e. to "phone home") and allows you to block those connections. Imagine my surprise when I opened Calculator.app the other day and Little Snitch popped up asking if I wanted to block a connection that Calculator.app was attempting to make to "wu-calculator.apple.com". After looking through Calculator.app’s source code, I figured out that it shares a little bit of code with the iPhone stuff… I’m seeing:
http://wu-calculator.apple.com/dgw?imei=APPLE&appt …
Does anyone else notice the word IMEI in there? Yeah. That’s what I thought. This could have bad implications — but I believe that wu.apple.com may not be tracking us; I think that it may be providing support to applications needing dynamic conversion with changing ratios. Right below that IMEI line I found:
X-Client-ID%iApplication SupportCalculatorFinancialRates.xmlUpdate of currency conversion rates failed: %@
Which makes it look like apple is using it to do conversion stuff. But the fact that they use an IMEI is strange… unless they use it to determine where your phone is registered to give you the default conversion in your currency… Eh, or they could just be evil.
Hmmm.. let me see… Apple checks your iPhone’s IMEI before allowing you access to Apple-hosted services. I wonder if that could be to check entitlement to access that service?
wow – the stupid fuck, Stockholm Syndrome Apple fanboys are up early – oh wait you are a stupid fuck limey. Apple is taking your personal information off of your iPhone. what could be more disturbing than that? Do you think Motorola does this shit? How about Nokia?
No, dumb fuck. Think outside your little reality distortion field for one fucking second.
Way to go with the balanced response there.
Wow, I feel sad for you. Your use of profanity shows not only your maturity level but also your educational level because you lack the skills to properly express your self with out resorting to the f-bomb.
fuck you greg and the high horse you rode in on
Do you really feel that you are impressing any one with dropping the f-bomb? Don’t you know any other way of expressing your thoughts and feelings? I am sure you could add some really good thoughts about the article. You know they have wonderful online dictionaries that you could use as you seem to be at a loss for words. I hope one day you will be able to engage in intelligent discussions with others lest they think you are nothing more then a cretin…
Lol coward..
anyway, Search titan Google and mobile phone carrier AT&T have been stunned by iPhone users usage patterns according to reports in recent days.
cheers,
Fly Fishing Reels
easy people. Let’s reserve judgement until we see how it all pans out.
I wonder, would you have said that if it were microsft caught doing that.? Most probably not.
I dont think so too..lol..this is now legitimate..
thanks,
Neil
The IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a unique 17 or 15 digit code used to identify an individual mobile station to a GSM or UMTS network. The IMEI number provides an important function; it uniquely identifies a specific mobile phone being used on a mobile network. The IMEI is a useful tool to prevent a stolen handset from accessing a network and being used to place calls.
Online Longboard Skateboard Shop Australia
I request information, on WEATHER and STOCKS to be sent to my iPhone, and Apple send it to me, my phone, at my account. Just exactly how is this "spying"??? I don’t get it. I see absolutely NO reason to get all upset with Apple just because I want to know how warm it’s going to be tomorrow, or if Apple’s stock is going up or down. Creating this fuss is just a silly attempt at being controversial for being controversial’s sake.
Glenn, your weather city and stock quote preferences are stored on the iPhone and not on Apple’s servers, this gathering of IMEI/etc. information is superfluous.
We aren’t implying that Apple is doing anything nefarious with your information, we are just letting people know they are actively gathering it.
this happens all the time, someone reveals some code that seems like it will cause a big stir, and two days later it turns out it just retrieves the weather and stocks info from apple and thats it…
just chill
well , i’m still safe from them as long i dont do any online purchasing , and i dont think that they will be concerned about my personal info . nothing so great about it .
what’ the big deal people… they collect data so they can improve services. its not like their gonna sue you just because you stopped looking at apples stock and switched to microsoft instead.
grow up. you think this is the first time they collect data from you? go anywhere – supermarkets, cinemas, restaurants… they all collect data
and you know why? to provide a better service… to predict what products they should have in the shelves in order to have enough for the day after… they pick up patterns, add a margin, and there you go. supply and demand meet.
and if five thousand people request weather info on the west coast each day and only a thousand on the east coast – they can dedicate more servers to the west coast.
if they find that a certain person checks the weather for both west and east coast every day, they might think of an application that combines the two.
in the example you site, they wouldn’t need personal info – they could just look at server log. We understand and never denied that gathering personal info is beneficial to the company.
However, at what point does it become an invasion of privacy?
How about this….
Apple collects everyone’s stock quote requests and then uses this data to trade in the market. Legal or illegal?
Note I’m not saying they are doing this, but they could do it. Would it be legal or illegal?
IMO, this is just a continuation/advancement in the “customer tracking” that has been going on for years.
Ever hear of Cookies??
For weather is it automatically adjusting the default for showing data in metric/standard? So Celcius and km/h or Ferinhiet and mph. Or is that a different setting elsewhere on the phone, I don’t think so? Yeah, it’s a bit creepy if they hold that data and then use it elsewhere. It’s better if they let you know right up front about it so we don’t find out about this via other means. Because "other means" suggests they were hiding something.
P.S. Admn; Since I can’t log in anymore (assume you couldn’t easily work out that security issue I emailed about) could you please delete my account so I can go back to using my name.
Thanks.
Hey Dwight, we never got an email from you. We just sent your password to the email address you specified — any other questions use the frorm above.
PS Love you on the Office
Apple have your IMEI number and your whole name, address, email address, credit card numbers. They collect all this when you buy your iPhone, and activate it. And you worry when they check to see who’s looking at stocks!
It could be that when the second gen iPhone hits, it might need to go to a different server for stocks info, so the website just reffers the iPhone to the correct server dependant on its IMEI. Or maybe its to stop non-iphones collecting stock data from servers that apple pays to use (from yahoo), by checking that the IMEI matches one on their list of iPhones. There could be a million and one reasons, but everyone seems to jump on the ‘invasion of privacy’ bandwagon.
Some Germans have examined the packets and found the IMEI is not being transmitted (http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/99220)
All these articles stem from ONE single forum post, which provided NO evidence except for a parameter in an URL, when it’s so easy to check the actual data being sent.
I find it incredible that 20 – 30 blogs are repeating the same bits of information from the same source, without bothering to check it.
I really think this is a non story. So they know it’s you who cares? If that is shocking to you I would stop using the Internet. Why, because every web site you visit knows your: ISP, IP #, OS, Web browser and oh so much more about you. It’s just some thing you have to deal with nothing is really anonymous on the Internet that’s an illusion…
Well how bout little snitch for iPhone?
Well that could be very true and much much more…. there are almost and infinite number of ways to hack someone marine
Furthermore who’s to say that they’re not violating the privacy of people in other countries who have nothing to do with america?
It marks the anniversary of the US led invasion of the island in 1983 in response to the illegal deposition and execution of Grenadan Prime Minister Maurice Bishop.
We offer Packages: popular tibet tour packages, Tibet adventure Travel Packages,Tibet tours of all kinds.We can also customize your tour in tibet. please browse our carefully designed and choose one which fits your time and budget or simply click here to tell us what you want and we will design a unique tibet travel for you. which will speed up economic development travel to tibet the tibet railway will not only bring about tibet trekking a significant change of the mystical view of the outside world to tibet map, but will also create a better cognition of the Tibetan people by the outside world.tibet tour guide will be provided with a great deal of useful information such as maps of tibet, weather forecasts, photos, history, culture notes and travel tips. Our website and tour guide will help you become a very knowledgeable,Want to go to Tibet tour? You can rely on us!We are offering tibet tours in great discount,
There are alreadly lots of people deleting the Stocks.app and Weather.apps from their iPhones and donning their tinfoil hats.
arizona food reviews
Barron, 59,wow gold a former disguise expert for the CIA,wow gold helps seriously disfigured people blend back into society by designing prosthetic devices that look so real,wow power leveling most people don’t notice they’re there.2 A painter by training, Barron designs pores,wow gold veins and hair and skin imperfections into his silicone-layered creations – which have included fingers,wow power leveling hands, shoulders, ears and even entire faces.
The Japanese word for the lv ring phenomenon — hikikomori — translates Replica Watches as withdrawal, and it is Replica Handbagsbecoming increasingly study on his own familiar.Replica Handbag It is the subject of Coach Handbags television documentaries and newspaperGucci Handbags and magazine articles.
Many Rolex Watches adult shut-ins start as Replica Rolex Watchesschool dropouts. For a country Designer clothingobsessed with education, Designer replica handbagsthere is a surprisingly high Wholesale jewelrynumber of dropouts. A record 134,Replica rolex watches000 elementary and juniorreplica handbags high students were absentreplica watches from school for at least 30 data processing servicestraight days during thedata processing 2000-01 school year, and that began more than data processtwice the number 10 years ago.
Abe said instead of enrolling her data processing serviceson’s school years were normal,data processing but in high school he failed the data processuniversity his withdrawalentrance exam. data processing serviceThat is not unusual; most who data processingfail study for another yeardata process and try again. Abe’s son said he was going to in a cram school.
But studiesRunescape money But studiesRunescape gold show the Maple Story Mesosdisease starts years before, MapleStory mesosand progresses without showing symptoms . Maple Story mesoStudies have also shown that people who take buy Warhammer goldaspirin-related drugsWarhammer gold regularly have eq2 plata lower risk EverQuest 2 goldof Alzheimer’s.EverQuest 2 platContrary to eve online iskpopular belief,eve isk people whoarchlord gold sleep six buy archlord goldto seven aoc goldhours a night age of conan power levelinglive longer,aoc power leveling and those whoage conan gold sleep eight gw goldhours or moreGuild Wars Gold die younger,Gaia Online Gold according to the gaia goldlatest study everLineage 2 adena conducted on buy lineage 2 adenathe subject. Lineage adenaThe study,Lineage 1 adena which tracked the sleeping habits of 1.1 everquest 2 goldmillion Americanseq2 plat for six years, Ever Quest 2undermineseve isk the advice ofeve online isk many sleepeve online doctors whohellgate london palladium have longHellgate London recommendedgaia online gold that people get eight or ninegaia gold hours.
Thanks from specialize in laptop battery,laptop AC adapters. All our products are brand new, with the excellent service from our laptop battery of customer service team.
Thanks for your info. The most convenient and cheap replacement battery online shop in uk. We specialize in laptop batteries, laptop AC adapters.
All our laptop AC adapter are brand new, with the excellent service from our customer service team.
the most convenient and cheap battery online shop in uk.
You can find some battery and adapter from here is very cool.
We specialize in laptop batteries,laptop AC adapters. All of batteries are brand new, with the excellent service from our customer service team, you can feel free to purchase on laptop battery!
Here is cheap laptop ac adapter online shop in uk. We specialize in batteries. All our au battery are brand new, with the excellent service from our customer service team.
Today, the Microsoft-owned in-game ad agency said that it has signed an exclusive multiyear agreement with Blizzard. Azerothians opposed to seeing in-game ads in their localworld of warcft goldwatering holes need not worry, however, because the deal is limited to Blizzard’s Web sites and Battle.net,the game maker’s online-gaming hub. Terms of the deal were not announced, but Massive did note that the agreement is applicable to users in the US, Canada, Europe, South Korea, and Australia.
buy wow gold
Massive also said today that it would be extending its aforementioned deal with Activision to encompass an additional 18 games appearing on the Xbox 360 and PC.cheap wow goldThe agency didn’t fully delineate which would fall under this deal, though it did call out Guitar Hero: World Tour, James Bond: Quantum of Solace, and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,buy wow items as well as games in its Tony Hawk and AMAX Racing franchises.Shortly before Activision and Vivendi announced their deal of the decade,wow power levelingthe Guitar Hero publisher signed on to receive in-game advertisements from Massive Inc for a number of its Xbox 360 and PC games. A bit more than a year later, Massive is now extending its reach to Activision’s new power player, Blizzard Entertainment.buy wow gold from our site ,you’ll get more surprises!
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Betty
http://www.my-foreclosures.info
Polar bears could avoid extinction deworld of warcraft goldspite many starving to death in cowow poming years, according to scientists and other wow orobservers who have discovered that some buy wow goldof the bears have found a new food source – gcheap wow goldoose and duck eggs. The eggs could be wow power levelingcoming in part from a rebounding goose powow powerlevelingpulation in the Hudson Bay area, feedindofus kamasg polar bears whose icy habitat in the Arctic kamas dofusis melting, one new study finds.In reLord of the Rings Online Goldcent years, much of the sea ice that polar bears use LOTRO Goldas a hunting platform for seal LOTR Goldmeals has melted, forcing some bears – parfly for fun penyaticularly young males – farther north or oflyff penyanto land, where they are not as adept at buy flyff goldhunting. When stuck on land for monthffxi gils, a polar bear typically is forced to survive on itsbuy ffxi gil own fat reserves.The bears were Final Fantasy XI gillisted earlier this year as a tEverQuest 2 goldhreatened species under the US Endangered Specieseq2 platAct as populations have declined.Meanwhile, ffxi gilsnow geese are thriving near tFinal fantasy xi gilhe western Hudson Bay, and researchebuy ffxi gilrs say there are in fact too many of Ugg Bootsthem. Their eggs can Ugg Bootsbe a good food source, researchersUgg Bootsreport in the online version of the jourdofus kamasnal Polar Biology.”Over 40 years, six subadult kamas dofusmale bears were seen among snow gorunescape moneyose nests, and four of them were sightedrunescape goldafter the year 2000,” says Robert Rockwell, an dofus kamasornithologist at the American Museum of Natkamas dofusural History and a biology professoRunescape Moneyr at City University of New York’s City Runescape goldCollege.
Si vous êtiez sur le point de Passer Commande, veuillezdofus kamas Vous Connecter etwow gold Votre Panier sera restauré tel que vous l’avezlaissé au moment de la déconnexion.
As we know, wow gold guide,buying wow gold and on our website.wow gold guide We have available stock of gold on most of the servers, cheapest wow gold so that we can do a really instant way of delivery There is Free WoW Gold no doubt that one of the reasons players are entranced with the RPG genre,Free WoW Gold is to see their characters grow in power and buying wow gold. TIBET TOUR is one of the world’s most extraordinary destination and there is adventure indeed lurking around almost each and every corner. Tibet Tour Guide The capital lies high in the arid wilderness of the Tibetan mountains, Tibet Tour Guide,
???????
??????
lasik
???????????
????????
???
???? ??
???????????
????????
?????
?????
FX???
????
???????????
????365
?????
?????????????
??? ??????
?? ?????
??LASIK
seego