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Verizon starts spying on its customers

by on31 March 2017


Thanks Donald


Within days of Congress repealing online privacy protections, Verizon is installing software on customers’ devices to track what apps customers have downloaded.

Verizon is using this spyware to serve up ads based on which porn your browse and whatever else you have used the internet for.

Dubbed “AppFlash Verizon will be rolling out to their subscribers’ Android devices “in the coming weeks”.

According to Verizon, the app will collect information about your device and your use of the AppFlash services.

“This information includes your mobile number, device identifiers, device type and operating system, and information about the AppFlash features and services you use and your interactions with them. We also access information about the list of
apps you have on your device.”

Verizon will also track where you go and monitor your every move and any contact information you store on your device.

“AppFlash information may be shared within the Verizon family of companies, including companies like AOL who may use it to help provide more relevant advertising within the AppFlash experiences and in other places, including non-Verizon sites, services and devices.”

So it looks like less than 48 hours after the US government sold your personal data to companies like Comcast and AT&T Verizon has started installing spyware into your mobile to make money off your personal data.

What is surprising is the overt nature of the move. It is not as if they are even trying to pretend that it is somehow good for customers, it is just a straight-out data theft which has been made legal by the Republicans.

Of course, the good thing about the app is that it creates a brilliant attack vector for hackers and government spooks. It is unlikely to be the most secure thing in the software mountain and given all the data it is collecting it is an obvious target.

Last modified on 31 March 2017
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