Hardware 2.0

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

So, there's a rootkit hidden in millions of cellphones

By Adrian Kingsley-Hughes | December 1, 2011, 6:20am PST

Summary: Rootkit found in Android, Symbian and even iOS handsets … but not Windows Phone handsets.

[UPDATE: According to a statement from Apple, the company stopped supporting Carrier IQ with iOS 5.0 on most of its devices, but the iPhone 4 still uses it.]

iPhone owners: Here’s how to disable the collection of diagnostic information on your handset.

So, it seems that there is a rootkit hidden in millions of Android, Symbian, BlackBerry, webOS and even iOS handset that logs everything we do.

WHAT?!?!?!

[UPDATE: According to Nokia, 'CarrierIQ does not ship products for any Nokia devices.' RIM has also confirmed that it has never used to installed Carrier IQ on any of its devices. According to HP it 'does not install nor authorize its partners to embed Carrier IQ on its webOS devices.']

The rootkit belongs to a company called Carrier IQ and it seems that it has low-level access to the system that allows it to spy on pretty much everything that you do with your handset. This, on the face of it, seems like an extremely serious breach of security, privacy and trust.

The capabilities of the rootkit were first discovered by 25-year-old Trevor Eckhart.

Here’s a video showing how everything, including text messages and encrypted web searches, are being logged. It’s truly horrifying.

NOTE: At this point there is no evidence to suggest that keystroke data is being transmitted from the handset.

According to Carrier IQ the company is ‘not recording keystrokes or providing tracking tools.’ The video above seems to suggest otherwise.

When Eckhart initially labeled the software as a rootkit, Carrier IQ threatened him with legal action. Only when the Electronic Frontier Foundation stepped in did the company back off from this threat.

“Every button you press in the dialer before you call,” Eckhart says on the video, “it already gets sent off to the IQ application.”

Like I said earlier, there’s a version of Carrier IQ on Apple’s iOS, but it doesn’t seem to be quite the same and doesn’t seem to access as much information. Also, if you want to disable Carrier IQ on your iOS 5 device, turning off Diagnostics and Usage under Settings seems to be enough.

You might have noticed that I didn’t list Windows Phone 7 OS earlier. That’s because it seems that Windows Phone handsets don’t have Carrier IQ installed.

Here’s a video that explains some more about Carrier IQ. This video also contains a clip from a video by Carrier IQ’s vice president of marketing explaining how the company sees this as being completely legal.

There are a LOT of unanswered questions. I’m expecting an avalanche of press releases from a lot of carriers and handset makers over the next few days.

Here’s a video by Carrier IQ CEO Larry Lenhart describing the benefits of their technology. According to Lenhart, Carrier IQ doesn’t record keystrokes and doesn’t provide tracking tools:

[UPDATE: Some carriers and makers are already coming out with details.]

Poll

Carrier IQ ... do you want it removed from your handset?

Poll

Do you believe that you opted-in or consented to Carrier IQ logging?

What are your thoughts on this?

Related:

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More from “Hardware 2.0”

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How to disable the Carrier IQ 'rootkit' on your iPhone

Topics

Cell Phone, Rootkits, Security, Spyware, Adware & Malware, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology.

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Joe.Smetona Updated - 9th Dec

@insuusvenerati ... I've been fighting this for years. ZDNet is essentially owned through Microsoft. It's a propaganda extension of Microsoft, masked to appear as a neutral technical magazine. Most people don't see this because of their method of how they intersperse innocuous articles with their propaganda. It is deceitful and sometimes the silly filler articles give them away. Hundreds of silly articles, even about non-computer topics are used as filler while there was absolutely no reporting of the TDL-4 botnet that infected 4.5 million Windows users in the first 3 months of 2011. I brought it up dozens of time during the second, third and fourth quarters of this year with absolutely no response or article from ZDNet. However, their resident shills quickly responded in a very negative and derogatory fashion to discredit and undermine my postings. If you see an article that somehow tarnishes Microsoft, rest assured, the corrective action will be taken in the posts and replies by the resident shills.

I've been a member since 2006, use Gmail and have 4,692 ZDnet newsletters. By having a record of the topics, it's obvious how their machine works. Even articles seemingly expounding the virtues of Linux, Android or Apple are negated to some extent by the shill postings, which in effect removes the culpability of the author and ZDnet.

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RE: So, there's a rootkit hidden in millions of cellphones

rshol 1st Dec

Needs to be gone immediately. I was considering buying an Android phone to replace my iPhone 4, specifically a Samsung Galaxy SII Skyrocket. But I'm not touching an Android phone until this is resolved.

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Froze it with Titanium Backup

dougsyo@... 1st Dec

My Evo is rooted, so I used Titanium Backup to "freeze" HTC IQagent and IQRD. The processes no longer show in OS Monitor.

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RE: So, there's a rootkit hidden in millions of cellphones

toadlife 1st Dec

@dougsyo@...

Freezing those two apps doesn't even come close to removing CIQ. It runs as a native linux service and their are hooks to it in several of the core android system files. Removing it is tedious but possible. If you really want it removed, you need to load a cuistom ROM with CIQ removed from all of the core android files.

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RE: So, there's a rootkit hidden in millions of cellphones

spacespeed@... 1st Dec

@dougsyo@...

Just flash some variety of Cyanogenmod or AOSP ROM - it's also probably quite a bit faster as well.

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Why is it being termed a RootKit?

TG2 2nd Dec

@ all ... why is this being termed a rootkit? to date not ONE person has explained that CIQ or any Teclo or Hacker for that matter can break into your phone with the CIQ software ..

Hidden? Yes.
Tracking? Yes.
Rooted Access to an outsider? No. .. or at least not been explained yet.

At best, its "Log"ware .. at average levels its Corporate "Spyware" ... and until someone proves they can come back in through CIQ and control your phone ... its not a Rootkit.

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RE: So, there's a rootkit hidden in millions of cellphones

pepe-el-Toro 1st Dec

@rshol "Rootkit found in Android, Symbian, BlackBerry, webOS and even iOS handsets ??? but not Windows Phone handsets."

SO youll buy a WP7 instead cuz iPhones too have this..

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Yeah right....

cosuna 1st Dec

@pepe-el-Toro : I'm sure Microsoft didn't put Carrier IQ because there was no port for Windows Embedded Compact 6, rather for being "nice citizens". I'm sure the deal was well underway when this sh**t hit the fan(boyz)...

Pepe-el-Toro-es-innocente!!!!

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RE: So, there's a rootkit hidden in millions of cellphones

lord_beavis 3rd Dec

@pepe-el-Toro I'm sure Microsoft has their own tracking software. Why would they need to hire a third party to do it?

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RE: So, there's a rootkit hidden in millions of cellphones

Rob.sharp@... 1st Dec

@rshol

Buy a Windows Phone instead! Nokia is coming to the states in early 2012. Hobble along on your IOS garbage until then or jump ship for one of the nice HTC/Samsung offerings available now.

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RE: So, there's a rootkit hidden in millions of cellphones

spstanley 1st Dec

@rob.sharp@... iOS actually asks you up front if you want this data collected. If you answer No, then it isn't collected/sent.

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RE: So, there's a rootkit hidden in millions of cellphones

thegreenwizard1 1st Dec

@rshol I phone has it too. See AOL today.

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RE: So, there's a rootkit hidden in millions of cellphones

JScottA44 2nd Dec

@thegreenwizard1 No, modern iPhones (running iOS 5) does not have it. Even the earlier versions of iOS, asked you to opt-in to sending Apple diagnostics, and Apple didn't collect anything like the data being collected by the carriers.

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Don't buy a locked phone!

mrgoose Updated - 1st Dec

@rshol
1. Seriously, don't buy locked phones.

2. Don't sign contracts with mobile phone service providers that lock you into using just their service.

I have never trusted the big telecoms providers. The rootkit is put in by the mobile phone service provider to track your activities and ultimately to sell you more stuff. This works alongside an electronic lock that prevents you from using another provider's SIM (subscriber identity module) in your device.

The service providers we tolerate here in rip-off Britain are particularly scummy. They fleece their locked-in users up to GBP1.50 (about two bucks US) a minute should you wish to use your mobile phone, say in France or Germany. Actually, I'm gobsmacked that the EU Competition Commission has let them get away with this horrendously uncompetitive practice for so long - but back to the plot...

My solution is simple. Buy cheap unbranded, unlocked mobile phones from China (dirt cheap via eBay). These are usually quadbanders that will run on any SIM, anywhere on the planet that has a mobile phone mast within a few km. Means you can mix & match your SIMs, so you make you calls at the best price. Also means it is much, much harder for the scumbag telecoms providers to collect any meaningful data about you.

My current favourite is the waterproof Chinaphone watch phone W818 (google it) - way cooler (and cheaper) than anything Apple makes IMHO. But there are shed loads of others. Stick your current SIM(s) in it and you're free!

Best wishes, G.

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RE: So, there's a rootkit hidden in millions of cellphones

CHaynes 1st Dec

@mrgoose

Actually not true now about UK pricing in Europe - prices have been capped by the EU precisely because of the rip off prices.

Not wishing to sound Xeonphobic do you honestly believe that buying mobile phones on eBay from China is likely to lead to a more secure handset?

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RE: So, there's a rootkit hidden in millions of cellphones

redking44 1st Dec

@mrgoose International cellphone use is just as bad in USA; a friend of mine returned from a month's vacation to a $1000 phone bill.....
I also despise the contracts, only got a cellphone when I found a prepaid service that had enough minutes to be usable

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Never trust a mobile phone service provider...

mrgoose Updated - 1st Dec

@CHaynes. "...do you honestly believe that buying mobile phones on eBay from China is likely to lead to a more secure handset?"

In a word: Yes. Think about it...

If you buy a contract phone from a mobile phone service provider, then the provider (or its minions) has physical access to your hardware before supplying it to you. We already know that providers routinely abuse this access by locking your phone exclusively to their services. It would appear from Adrian's article that they frequently also abuse this access in order to install intrusive corporate malware.

On the other hand, if you buy an unbranded, unlocked generic device from the Far East, mobile phone service providers never have the opportunity physically to tamper with your device. Furthermore, if you decide you no longer wish to do business with any particular provider, then simply swap SIMs and you are rid of them. Also, many countries do not require users to register personal info when initialising an over-the-counter-SIM. Therefore any info collected by the SIM's provider is next to useless anyway.

WRT the EU thing - it is only very recently that the EU commission has arisen from its pimply backside and addressed the issue of extortionate roaming charges. And its solution is far from ideal.

It is not a ban on roaming charges per se , merely a " cap". This means that whilst the ruling limits the extent of the rip-off, it does not ban the rip-off altogether. Worse, the fundamental evil where service providers are legally permitted to lock your hardware exclusively to their services has never been addressed. Consequently, roaming charges are still significantly higher for travellers than popping into a local supermarket and picking up a local provider's pay-as-you-go SIM and sticking it into an unlocked phone. And of course, if you travel outside the EU, all proverbial bets are off anyway!

@redking44 Your pal must have been seriously displeased. From personal experience, I would wager that if he had bought a cheapie unlocked generic phone via eBay and bought local SIM(s) in his country/countries of travel, then is telephony costs would be around a tenth of what he actually spent.

Best wishes, G.

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RE: So, there's a rootkit hidden in millions of cellphones

WinTard 1st Dec

@mrgoose

Thank you for a great post displaying practicality, usefullness and common-sense!

@CHaynes
My opinion is your post displays xenophobia. Didn't you know everything is (somewhat already) manufactured in China? Including Apple, Nokia, Motorola, Microsoft, HP, Dell, you name it... So what effective choices do we have? I reiterate to make my point: All Apple products are contract manufactured in Asia (mostly China). So please do not talk about low-Chinese quality here... Unless you imply all Apple products are low quality? Simply google Foxconn for an example of what and who they manufacture for... Yep, all your Apples, Dells and HPs are made in the same spot by the same people with the same electronic components...

~~~~~~~~~~
Blasphemy is an epithet bestowed by superstition upon common sense.
~ Robert Green Ingersoll

Common sense is instinct. Enough of it is Genius.
~ George Bernard Shaw

Common sense is not so common.
~ Voltaire

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RE: So, there's a rootkit hidden in millions of cellphones

IT Pixie 1st Dec

@mrgoose I guess I'm equally weary, if not more, of shady people tampering with my phone just as I'm weary of phone carriers doing so. What you suggested makes sense, as long as you get your phone from a reputable seller, who in turn gets his/her inventory from reputable sources (i.e. phones have not had malware preinstalled to steal info).

Also it is not all that practical for average users who knows nothing about checking their phones for malware as such, when they first receive phones from a far-away seller (call me paranoid, but that's what I would do). If a phone is embedded with malware to steal info to begin with, no matter how cheap it is or how much it could save you on the phone bill, it is not worth it IMO...

In a sense, I guess I take a little comfort in the fact that if it was one of the telecomm companies who screwed me over, I could have some way to go after the corporation. If it was some bad people from out of the country, there would be hardly any way to get them take responsibility of their wrongdoings...

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RE: So, there's a rootkit hidden in millions of cellphones

dbeecher@... 1st Dec

@rshol It's not just android.... I knew something like this was going on. The other day I went to dial my phone (it was low on memory) and I noticed it opened an internet connection and sent some data before it would dial. Right then I knew something was up. I figured out a way to block it and tried dialing and got a dialing error, but then the call went through. I googled the error and nobody had figured this out. I was going to put it on the debugger and watch it and see what it did. Glad this guy reported it with evidence. I'm hoping some attorney picks this up and sees CLASS ACTION written all over it. (motorola droid 1)

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RE: So, there's a rootkit hidden in millions of cellphones

publicus 1st Dec

"I'm hoping some attorney picks this up and sees CLASS ACTION written all over it. "
No. As pointed out before, the carrier contract you signed specifically waived your right to sue and locked you into binding arbitration.

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RE: So, there's a rootkit hidden in millions of cellphones

n6387799 1st Dec

@publicus@... That contractual clause ... is it operative even after a fraudulent misrepresentation?

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Not really

cosuna 1st Dec

@publicus : the U.S. racket act protects against this, and also, the U.S. constitution protects any citizen from giving up certain rights, such as privacy... so indeed the contract is illegal and consequently, unconstitutional... With that said its invalid... although, if you opt-in for data collection (aka iOS) then the collection is legal, albeit limited by privacy acts like HIPAA and the Patriot Act...

In other words, Carrier IQ is on shaky grounds at best...

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RE: So, there's a rootkit hidden in millions of cellphones

JelMin Updated - 1st Dec

@dbeecher@...
2 problems with that, firstly where there's jurisdiction the company's too small to hit sensibly - that smart-@rse will clearly have installed every possible cutout possible to minimise the hit, he clearly thinks that way. The rest is likely to disappear into somewhere where jurisdiction doesn't run effectively, like the PRC.
I get the same symptoms off my Nokia's mapping software, in passing, so I'd not be too quick to believe them either. Fortunately I don't buy into anything other than the barebones minimum and when it complains it can't access the net, a service I haven't bought and which it doesn't need to do, then I think I'm entitled to ask the same question, why? I think this may simply be the first of many such cases. It's the subtleties like the way their OVI store software only downloads over the net, thus forcing you to open your back door to them, and the way you get the bum's rush when you ask why the original download method via a host PC no longer works, all combined giving me the very familiar sour taste of Big Brother. The next step will doubtless be to start hitting the non-conformist, ie the geek who doesn't spend his evenings destroying his brain cells and therewith his chance of stopping their merry gallup in front of the box with a tubfull of junk food and a case of beer every evening. Goose-stepping classes, anyone?

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You better wait with the upgrade until next year, because

dderss 1st Dec

@rshol: ... with this SGS2 choice you are actually downgrading in some key areas -- for example, screen resolution there is twice lower than on iPhone 4.

But next year Samsung might actually produce screen that could compete with 2010's resolution of iPhone, and then you would be able to buy new phone without downgrading characteristics.

Also, Apple will present iPhone 4G, and it will have more sense to upgrade from iPhone 4 comparing to upgrading from your phone to iPhone 4S now -- since, obviously, characteristics will differ more significantly.

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RE: So, there's a rootkit hidden in millions of cellphones

spacespeed@... 1st Dec

@dderss

Let's stop spewing nonsense, shall we? The resolution of the iPhone 4S isn't that much higher, and besides, Super AMOLED screens are far better than whatever the iPhone 4S uses anyways. Besides, on a screen that small, resolution differences like that start to become unnoticeable.

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So full of it....

rhonin 1st Dec

@dderss
Your eyes must be dark brown........

I can place my S2 alongside my i4; same wallpaper, similiar icons and ask folks to look at and pick the better looking screen.

Almost all of them choose the S2.
Resolution is not everything.

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RE: So, there's a rootkit hidden in millions of cellphones

panoslondon1 1st Dec

@dderss

My Windows phone htc mozart screen appears more vivid and more clear that my friends iphone 4S. On paper should be worse, in practice it's much better. Anyone else noticed?

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Do not confuse acid oversaturated colours of AMOLED with refinement of the

dderss 1st Dec

@rhonin & panoslondon1: ... actual image, which is defined by resolution.

Again: iPhone 4 has twice more refined picture than SGS2. But, as I said, maybe next year Samsung will be finally able to catch up with Apple. Better late than never.

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Unfortunately, LCDs even Retina IPS LCD is yesterday's technology...

WinTard 1st Dec

@dderss

You mean it is Apple that will have to beg on their knees Samsung to provide them with the latest and greatest display technology.

IPS (In Plane Switching) LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) such as used in the Apple iPhone 4 is already completely obsolete technology.

Why?

-low brightness since the LCD is passive thus absorbs light.
- LCD work with the principle of twisting liquid crystals in phase with the display polarizer. The main drawback is the polarizing filter in front of the LCD. In addition, this polarizing filter further absorbs light, further deteriorating the brightness perceived.
- LCD cannot be viewed at wide-angle (by virtue of the polarizing filters)
- LCD cannot be viewed at all practically, if outside in the sunshine, and also wearing polarized sunglasses...
- LCD requires a back-lighting since it is purely 'passive' optically, and not 1.0 efficient, thus is optically resistive and attenuating.
- LCD CCFL (Cold-Cathode Fluorescent Lighting) requires a high-voltage inverter (causing inefficiencies to the battery plus electrical noise) to operate.
- LCD LED backlighting is more efficient than CCFL, but still thicker than OLED since OLED naturally emits photons (light) omnidirectionally (360 degrees spherical).
- Thus OLED (or Super-AMOLED) will always genetically and architecturally be superior to any LCD in existence.

With OLED you can see brighter (luminance). You have better chrominance (color depth). You have infinitely superior contrast (black levels) since there is no leakage from the LCD polarizer with always on backlighting. You have literally flexibility (google Samsung Galaxy Skin). You have much better thinness (due to lack of backlight)

Unfortunately, Apple chose to back the wrong display technology blowing up the hype when in reality it's nothing to talk about. Retina display is an anachronism and definitely obsolete technology.

~~~~~~~~~~

I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.
~ Winston Churchill

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SAMOLED is lacking technology

dderss Updated - 2nd Dec

@WinTard:

1) AMOLEDs are have times less energy conversion coefficient comparing to an LEDs, and thus consumes 2.5 more energy when shows white background (browsing, reading modes; consumes very little energy only when shows black background) -- on average, consumes more than IPS screen since besides black UI scheme on Android, other types of use require significant light emission;
2) it will only work good for around five years (which is standard term of service of a phone, but with IPS technology you could use a device much longer than that);
3) production levels are ridiculously low: Apple sells iPones at rate up to 100 million a year, and Samsung can only provide part of their smarphones with the actual display. Both SGS and SGS2 had to have versions with TN screens instead of SAMOLED(+);
4) acid, oversaturated colours
5) white balance shifts with change of brightness
6) and, key dealbreaker: twice lower resolution.

Also, some of lacks of TN you listed are not really related to IPS type of TN panel, but rather related to cheap regular TN panel.

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RE: So, there's a rootkit hidden in millions of cellphones

qunungnauraq 1st Dec

@rshol
The Samsung Galaxy SII doesn't have Carrier IQ, the Iphone does.

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Did you not read the article?

jscott69 1st Dec

@qunungnauraq ... It clearly states that as of iOS 5 (which, granted, only came out two months ago), Apple has not used CarrierIQ ... and it was apparently easily disabled in earlier versions of iOS.

The SGS2, on the other hand, runs Android, which is where the CarrierIQ apps are hidden and what they're triggered by -- it's basically integrated into the OS itself on ALL Android devices, which would include the SGS2.

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Dummies guide to reading Apple PR Spin

warboat 3rd Dec

@jscott69
"@qunungnauraq ... It clearly states that as of iOS 5 (which, granted, only came out two months ago), Apple has not used CarrierIQ ... and it was apparently easily disabled in earlier versions of iOS."

Wrong and wrong.
iOS5 is the one seemingly offering the ability to disable data mining by CIQ. Prior to iOS5, iphones with CIQ did not have the ability to disable it!
Apple has NEVER said or implied they do not use CIQ in iOS5, their wording is "stopped supporting" which is Apple's way of saying it is not seemingly activated by default. In the same statement they say they will remove CIQ in future updates - so why do they need to remove it if it's not in current iOS5? Apple PR at its best.

"The SGS2, on the other hand, runs Android, which is where the CarrierIQ apps are hidden and what they're triggered by -- it's basically integrated into the OS itself on ALL Android devices, which would include the SGS2. "

Again wrong.
CIQ is a root level service/app that is installed for certain carriers. It is not on ALL android phones, not even on MOST Android phones. It was discovered because the service is not hidden, it shows up in the applications manager which is part of every Android right out of the box. On the iPhone, you have zero ability to detect the presence of CIQ right out of the box. It just works.

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RE: So, there's a rootkit hidden in millions of cellphones

OldGrayWolf 1st Dec

@rshol You and me both!! (That's a Midwesternism for they must be insane to believe anyone would opt in for that on a cellphone). I tossed my minimalist cellphone down into the bottom of the console in my vehicle and it has resided there now for two years. Yeah, I can plug an adapter into the dash and call 911 in an emergency. Aside from that, I think cellphones and motor vehicles don't mix and I don't care to be that accessible to the world when I'm away from home. Reactionary? Probably. And now I'm glad I made that decision two years back.

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RE: So, there's a rootkit hidden in millions of cellphones

OldGrayWolf 1st Dec

PS: I'm not anti-tech; I love my PC and I use it many hours every day for work, research, communication, etc. But I drew a line in the sand about how 'wired' I cared to be; I don't own a Kindle or Nook and prefer to carry around a real book, too. I hate snoops, pirates, and spammers and they are circling everyone like sharks. Begone foul lurkers.

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RE: So, there's a rootkit hidden in millions of cellphones

frizzllefry 1st Dec

@rshol No kidding. I'm very thorough when it comes to signing agreements where my privacy and info may be compromised. I didn't agree to this at all and the "explanation" from Larry @ CIQ, who has very shifty eyes, was complete BS. CIQ doesn't need to record the full contents of a text message to ensure system and device reliability. Look for and follow a money trail and I'm willing to bet there's a large one from CIQ's back door to some Fed agency related to "Homeland Security."

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There's no such thing as privacy anymore...

Yowye 1st Dec

There's no such thing as privacy anymore, If they ain't spying you on your cell phone, then they're spying you from street cams... or google street view - where you can access the "Hey, What's in your yard" info... and you don't even need an app for that! To the point of spying on you from space... Spying pays, didn't you all know that? why do you think the tabloids, government, private industry, etc... do it. and note... the spy's are getting great pay for it to, it's a Multi-billion dollar industry... everybody wants to know everything about everyone... that's why the elder lady is buying the Enquierer or what ever they call that stupid tabloid.
Trust me... the spy game will never be over... nor will anyone ever be free from it. You can't just blot out a Multi-Billion dollar industry.

And that my 2 cents

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RE: So, there's a rootkit hidden in millions of cellphones

panoslondon1 1st Dec

@rshol
Windows phone here. No dropped calls, no battery drain, no rubbish, no CIQ needed no CIQ allowed.

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RE: So, there's a rootkit hidden in millions of cellphones

YetAnotherBob 2nd Dec

@panoslondon1

yeah, no CIQ, I wonder what Microsoft calls their version?

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RE: So, there's a rootkit hidden in millions of cellphones

mikroland2.0 Updated - 1st Dec

@rshol
Everyone complaining should have bought a windows phone 7. Then you wouldn't have to worry about this plus you'd have the best mobile experience their is to have in a mobile phone.

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RE: So, there's a rootkit hidden in millions of cellphones

JScottA44 2nd Dec

@mikroland2.0 Right. We'd have to worry about whatever Microsoft calls their version of the diagnostic tool.

The tool itself isn't bad, it is how the carriers used it. Apple had it on iOS version 4 and below, but didn't collect and transmit the data that the Adroid phones are doing.

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RE: So, there's a rootkit hidden in millions of cellphones

outre99@... 1st Dec

@rshol
The linked article says that Samsung's Nexus devices are not affected by this. So you can have your Ice-cream Sandwich and eat it too.

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RE: So, there's a rootkit hidden in millions of cellphones

Manty01Actual01 1st Dec

@rshol The root kit is also on all of the iPads 1&2.

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RE: So, there's a rootkit hidden in millions of cellphones

bradavon 1st Dec

@rshol: If Samsung/HTC aren't transmitting the data then they'd have to wait/hope you return it for repair in order to read the data. In other words, it's dubious why they'd add this without being ale to actually read it.

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RE: So, there's a rootkit hidden in millions of cellphones

owlnet 1st Dec

Google and its evil empire is spreading via android and chrome... Initially it was drug pharmacy ads. Next they killed small business and ate their lunch, now they are charging for maps... Its no wonder lot of cellular carriers want to sell android and not WP7 phones, beacuse they can't do their malware activites with WP7. Its time to dump all google products.