Google Play store shares private info with app developers
The “flaw” – which appears to be by design – was discovered by Sydney app developer, Dan Nolan who told news.com.au that he was uncomfortable being the custodian of this information and that there was no reason for any developer to have this information at their finger tips.
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“I can’t see any way to opt out of providing that information and it seems to be a feature of the Google checkout process. I don’t know whether it applies to free apps, but there are hundreds of thousands of apps that are available for pay on the play store and there are millions of people who buy Android apps out there, I’d say easily millions or tens of millions of people.”
“It’s active in every market that Google accepts payment for apps. That’s a lot of people having their personal information handed over without them knowing.”
Right, well, now I feel like my paranoid decision never to sign up for Google Play was justified. The article’s a bit sensationalistic – I don’t think anyone’s really going to get bank account details out of this – but quietly giving away someone’s contact info is not cool regardless.
Ghost address.
Junk email.
Nickname, or one of many variations on my legal name. Enough to counfound data hounds.
Remember when you used to think I was paranoid? :)
Comment by Elouelle — February 15, 2013 @ 9:02 am
…although I guess that presupposes that you *want* to use Google’s services. Given the non-trivial amount of technical skill needed to bypass everything you wanted to bypass when setting up your phone, though, you can see why the trail of confounding data is often genuinely easier than opting out entirely.
Comment by Elouelle — February 15, 2013 @ 9:05 am
I still do think you’re paranoid, but that doesn’t mean you’re wrong :-)
It’s true, using my Android phone without exposing personal data to Google has been a challenge. I don’t really use apps and some of the built-in apps don’t work quite right. It just sucks that the only other option is Apple, whose phones appear to be even worse about invading your privacy! Can’t wait for the Ubuntu phone. Wonder if it’s possible to install it on the Galaxy Nexus…
Comment by mars — February 15, 2013 @ 9:58 am
It surprises me sometimes how much we are on the same page about technology and its advances – especially those relating to privacy. Hearing stories like this have become all too common and as much as I love how global our society is and how accessable information can be, privacy should not be the cost we pay. What really saddens me is that all of this ‘private information sharing’ stuff is hidden under a mask of helpfulness. You posted earlier about the vehicle logs and I can just hear them say: “your car needs integrated GPS so if someone steals it we can find it easier!” when perhaps that’s true but it also means we are another step closer to Big Brother.
Scary stuff.
Comment by Niv — February 17, 2013 @ 11:16 am