Is your personal data at risk on an HTC smartphone?
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This is not to say that HTC or a spy is sifting through your personal data as we write this, but only to suggest that it theoretically can occur. The phones involved include the HTC Evo 3D (Sprint), the HTC Evo 4G (Sprint) and the HTC ThunderBolt (Verizon). Other models like the myTouch 4G Slide (T-Mobile) and the HTC Sensation 4G (T-Mobile) might also be involved. Even models that have yet to launch like the HTC Vigor (Verizon) could be collecting your data.
So far, HTC has been totally silent about this situation. It was only advised of the problem a week ago and there is speculation that the manufacturer is looking into the problem with its own investigation, but this has not been confirmed or denied. Because of the open source nature of Android, while Google requires consent before information can be read off a device, third parties can change the underlying code and hardware firms can also leave doors open that invite rather than thwart those who like to take personal data from devices. The data that is vulnerable include phone numbers, your recent movements tracked via GPS, SMS, emails, user accounts and more.
source: AndroidPolice via electronista
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24 Comments
1. AdamW33 posted on 02 Oct 2011, 14:24 1
Sounds like a plot point for an action-thriller blockbuster.
6. protozeloz posted on 02 Oct 2011, 15:30 0
It is, It has occurred with Skype once the data is not encrypted (an whoops from HTC maybe) lucky devs have already informed HTC about it and its possible solutions too, hopefully a patch will fix this soon
3. Sniggly posted on 02 Oct 2011, 14:46 5
Well, if this is true then I'm sure HTC will fix the problem post haste with minimal fuss.
14. Droid_X_Doug posted on 02 Oct 2011, 20:01 0
Plus, as others have posted, there needs to be a convergence of a few remote probability items for a breach to occur.
I am not losing sleep over a potential data breach with my EVO 3D. I suspect that HTC will have a patch out before the end of October.
16. The_Miz posted on 03 Oct 2011, 02:25 1
Like how HTC fixed the Thunderbolt issues or the fact that it took them several months to give the Thunderbolt Gingerbread lol?
4. Muhannad posted on 02 Oct 2011, 14:50 0
I'm started to get worried because I have a Sensation 4G.
5. remixfa posted on 02 Oct 2011, 14:58 2
its not worth getting too worried about. you would first have to randomly run into a hacker that not only knows about the exploit, but how to exploit it without getting his hands on your phone or making you do something... and they would have to know that you infact have an HTC phone,or your phone number was randomly chosen to see if the exploit would work..
sounds like a 1 in a billion chance to me...especially since HTC is normally very good about fixing code errors quickly.
8. snowgator posted on 02 Oct 2011, 15:37 2
So it is worth knowing, but not worth losing sleep over. Glad there are watch-dog groups that choose to keep an eye open for holes in security like this, and know how to find them. I agree with Sniggly- HTC has been good about owning up to and fixing problems or areas of concern.
7. protozeloz posted on 02 Oct 2011, 15:32 0
people where adviced not to download apps from outside the android market and not visiting strange websites should reduce the risk of getting anything at all, hope this helps
9. The_Miz posted on 02 Oct 2011, 16:27 3
Android steals data, privacy, info, etc. This is why Android is a poor OS.
12. protozeloz posted on 02 Oct 2011, 17:45 5
Why I can't? You have the right of speech, but I have the right to say you aren't even using brain cells to do so. Did you even saw What the video was about? Do you have the slightest clue of the context? If so please say so. If no why should I bother proving you wrong?
17. The_Miz posted on 03 Oct 2011, 02:27 1
The fact that these security holes keep happening in Android is just proof that the entire OS is a buggy disaster and really needs fine tuning. Course, Android fans will continue defending the trash heap of a OS despite overwhelming evidence that the OS has various security problems. And why mention Android when this is regarding HTC? Because HTC has their stuff ontop of Android build plus the Android settings and lockdown is what prevent people from preventing this. But go on ahead and defend your precious OS for the security flaws it has.
19. Miz_Eats_My_Asshole (unregistered) posted on 03 Oct 2011, 02:38 1
Miz, you are infamous on this website for defending your buggy, outdated pile of crap you call an iPhone. Course, iSheep will continue defending their outdated piece of junk despite the numerous phones that are clearly better(both in hardware AND software).
20. protozeloz posted on 03 Oct 2011, 05:41 1
Just like I said you know nothing about what's going on and again failed to understand and in an attempt to pretend being smart you made little sense try again because this its not the Android system, but calling me fanboy makes things really clear, as if your Os was far from being more secure
13. matzapatza (unregistered) posted on 02 Oct 2011, 18:58 1
Not Android, tard. HTC. It's an HTC .apk, not that anything like facts would ever get in the way of your trolling.
18. Nuadar (unregistered) posted on 03 Oct 2011, 02:34 0
Another benefit off open OS is that you can remove it like Trevor did...thing that would be impossible in any other ecosystems...
21. protozeloz posted on 03 Oct 2011, 05:52 0
Yes that nasty bug would have been going on for a year without people noticing and we would be safe, but that horrible hacker that contacted HTC told them about the issue and how it could be fixed is a monster for telling us to be careful, Lucky we have an os without flaws, we just need to get it running on a device...... /s
23. willywill_evo posted on 03 Oct 2011, 16:39 0
9 out of 10 news about the htc thunderbolt are not good lol
25. maidou posted on 03 Oct 2011, 22:04 0
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