carriers

Carrier IQ exec says company has learned lessons

Carrier IQ executives have been on a steep learning curve in recent weeks since controversy erupted over their software, which carriers use to diagnose network problems but critics say invades user privacy.

Carrier IQ says the software--used by AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile--doesn't record keystrokes or the content of text messages. But Android developer Trevor Eckhart, who first disclosed the privacy issues, insists otherwise, and complains that consumers don't know the software is there and haven't given permission for the data sharing. A video he released appears to show Carrier IQ doing things the company and … Read more

Feds scrutinizing Carrier IQ

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is investigating allegations that Carrier IQ software is being used by operators to track cell phone activity without user permission, The Washington Post reported today citing anonymous officials.

Andrew Coward, vice president of marketing at Carrier IQ, told CNET he could not say whether there was an official investigation or not but said he spent Monday and Tuesday in Washington, D.C., talking to officials from the FTC and the Federal Communications Commission and answering their questions.

"Investigation is probably too strong a word," he said. "We sought the meetings with … Read more

Carrier IQ opens up about its service, but can it quell the unrest?

Carrier IQ has found itself amid a privacy controversy that it just can't escape. But that doesn't mean it isn't trying.

The company yesterday issued a wide-ranging document (PDF) summarizing its services in the hope of clearing up some of the concerns people have with its product. But whether critics will be satisfied with what they learn remains to be seen.

"In this document, we want to let consumers to know exactly what it is that our software does, the security measures we have in place, and our commitment through our software design and processes to … Read more

The 404 962: Where we play the waiting game (podcast)

AT&T earns the "worst carrier in the world" award for the second year in a row, so it's a good thing I just signed up for two more years of service with this new iPhone 4S.

According to Consumer Reports, prepaid phone subscribers are actually the most satisfied with their service, but that's probably because their burner phones don't have the Internet access necessary to lodge a complaint.

On today's show, we'll look at how the other carriers compare to AT&T, dispel rumors of Shigeru Miyamoto's departure from Nintendo, put in our our bid for RickPerry.com, Jeff demonstrates My Xbox Live for the iPad, and we'll show some incredible listener-submitted contest submission videos!… Read more

AT&T rated worst cell phone carrier for second year in a row

AT&T may be huge and generating boatloads of cash every quarter, but when it comes to service, the carrier has a lot of work to do.

For the second year in a row, AT&T was ranked last in Consumer Reports' annual customer satisfaction survey. The company was hit especially hard by complaints over poor voice service and phone-based customer care. Even worse for AT&T, the company's 2011 rating is slightly lower than last year's.

Consumer Reports' survey examines voice, data, and text-messaging service, as well as customer care. The specific ratings are … Read more

T-Mobile deploys Carrier IQ on BlackBerry, others

The more the subject of Carrier IQ gets stirred, the more questions arise.

Last week, BlackBerry maker Research In Motion distanced itself from the Carrier IQ controversy saying:

RIM is aware of a recent claim by a security researcher that an application called "CarrierIQ" is installed on mobile devices from multiple vendors without the knowledge or consent of the device users. RIM does not pre-install the CarrierIQ app on BlackBerry smartphones or authorize its carrier partners to install the CarrierIQ app before sales or distribution. RIM also did not develop or commission the development of the CarrierIQ application, … Read more

Senator presses wireless providers for Carrier IQ answers

Sen. Al Franken, who heads a Senate privacy panel, is asking wireless companies and hardware makers exactly how they're using Carrier IQ and what data they're collecting.

A Sprint spokesman confirmed to CNET this morning that the company received a letter from Franken, the Minnesota Democrat who wrote a similar letter to Carrier IQ last week.

Franken also sent letters to AT&T, HTC, Samsung, and Sprint Nextel, according to a report over the weekend in the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Carrier IQ is software created by an eponymous startup in Mountain View, Calif., that's used by … Read more

Carrier IQ analysis finds no evidence of 'keylogger'

A Linux kernel hacker who completed an in-depth analysis of Carrier IQ's controversial software has determined that it's incapable of recording keystrokes or perusing SMS messages and e-mail correspondence.

Dan Rosenberg, who has discovered more than 100 vulnerabilities in the Linux kernel, FreeBSD, and GNU utilities, published a blog post last night that analyzed the data Carrier IQ collects and transmits on a Samsung Epic 4G Touch. He found that contrary to what a slew of initial -- and erroneous -- reports claimed, the Carrier IQ software is not a keylogger and "cannot" be configured as … Read more

Got Carrier IQ? At least three apps can tell the answer

The world still seems to be sorting out whether Carrier IQ helps improve your smartphone experience or is some sort of privacy antichrist, but in the meantime there's an increasing number of tools to determine whether it's on your phone.

The venerable Lookout Labs--maker of a popular Android antivirus--most recently released a free app to detect if the allegedly malicious keylogging, activity-, and location-tracking process is running on your Android smartphone. … Read more