Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: iPhone, Game, Developer, Private, Numbers | Themes: Software, Smartphones
An iPhone game developer secretly acquired the numbers of iPhones.
We certainly like a good techie scandal--the whole Macpadd.com incident should be proof of that. With that said, it wasn't hard to jump on the news that another iPhone game developer was accused of stealing personal data from its consumers. A class action lawsuit, filed in San Francisco (PDF), alleges that the company used an "electronic backdoor" to access the information.
The developer in question, Storm8, is well-known in the iPhone gaming community with popular pseudo-MMORPGs such as iMobsters and Vampires Live. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Michael Turner of Lynnwood, Washington, says that the information acquisition involves the execution of "malicious software code" and is not authorized by Apple, Inc.
"Storm8 has written the software for all its games in such a way that it automatically accesses, collects, and transmits the wireless telephone number of each iPhone user who downloads any Storm8 game," the lawsuit claims. "Storm8, though, has no reason whatsoever to access the wireless phone numbers of the iPhones on which its games are installed."
Boingboing adds to the report, indicating that players were unaware of the number farming until the company acknowledged the process as a "bug" back in August. The lawsuit alleges that "very specific and specialized software code" could retrieve telephone data, and seeks injunctive relief and damages. Boingboing said that Storm8 has not returned its queries at the time of this writing.
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Wow... malware at it's finest.
I think Apple should be sueing these guys too... the bad PR is likely to drop squarely on their heads for leaving a backdoor open to 3rd party dev's.
Bad programmer, bad programmer. Sit!
Yeah.. everyone knows that you "accidentally" code things to retrieve personal data. Give me a break. And also, if you're apart of this lawsuit, sue on your own. Do not sue as part of a class action lawsuit or you'll get screwed on the payouts. Better you, than a lawyer, takes home the pay.
Didn't this and about 90000 other apps like this come from Facebook apps? I'm not surprised in the least.
Apple: Where you pay to get viruses and malware...
Ouch, I know people with those apps on their phones. It'll be amusing telling them their iPhone has malware on it. ^^
"accidental" malware
It's just a matter of time before Apple gets their claws into this guy too.
This is exactly the sort of thing the application approval process should prevent, instead it is used to remove competition and control what their end users do.... shame.
It's just a matter of time before Apple gets their claws into this guy too.
I want to see it.
How many new assholes will he have (assuming Psystar is any signal of the ferocity of Apple's lawyers).
what a name, Boingboing...
Boing
Boing
Boing
Boing
Lets see how 'Information Farming was a bug' goes in court. Good luck looser
Just another reason for me to never buy an Apple product! It seems that Apple Almighty approves applications that steal data. Wonderful. Apple should have been included in the lawsuit since they "control" what gets on the iPhone and what doesn't.
In addition Apple says the "process is to keep adverse applications from affecting the iPhone" so it seems that they are culpable on that point.
why is this a new? apple steals the private information too and iphone users don't care.
Thank goodness for apple products and their "Security".
wow, someone has my phone number. What will I do, I guess you could say everyone has eveyones number, just type 10 digits and you have a phone number. I could see if they had your name address and telephone number and your cell phone harware id's but just a phone number, big F*** deal
Whats all this again about Apple Products being Malware/Virus free... OHH right this is a "Feature"
Whats all this again about Apple Products being Malware/Virus free... OHH right this is a "Feature"
This just in "gullible" will now be engraved on the back of every new apple product!
As dontcare_70 says though, other than the knowledge that there's someone active on that phone number with an iphone, what does this 'malware' give away and is it actually a problem?
If it doesn't even tag a name or other details with it there ought not to be too much harm (I'd hope). Unless people fall for the "hello, your iphone was recently used to download X, please confirm your personal details and we will discuss the impact to your account" type of phonecall.
My comment doesn't take into account if there's a difference between "wireless phone number" and a phone number - I've never heard reference to the former. I suppose it could be a MAC address or something (but then they'd have called it that?)
actually i see apple getting hit by the shit that hit the fan.
apple Though process of application screening before allowing then to enter the app store, should have avoided this..
More proff apple is very selective at who they ant in the app store. They want malware products but will kick Google programs to the curb.
on the tech side. having the phone number as the device ID would be pretty simple. ITs probably how it started too.
Lies! LIES!!! ALL LIES!!! Apples are perfect. iPhones are perfect! PERFECT I TELL YOU!!!!
I think I'll keep that for all my Apple security posts... :-)