Apple and most possibly your telco knows everything about you!

How is this possible? It's been a hotly debated topic for some time in America, and I previously had briefly mentioned this topic. However, it did not seem to bother many people. Well heads up everyone, here is why all of you iPhone and iPod Touch users should seriously consider jailbreaking your Apple devices. Even if not for the myriad of things you enable your device to really do for you, but to protect your personal information, privacy and status (hint*).

Hidden within the many applications available on the App Store, both paid and free ones, are codes provided by several companies which enable the application to execute codes which collect the following information.

1. Version of Apple device.
2. Firmware installed, even the version of iTunes used to sync with the device, including if the system was jailbroken.
3. Names and versions of ALL applications ever installed on the device, including deleted ones.
4. Amount of time spent on the application executing the code. Sometimes as precise as when the application was turned on and when it was closed.
5. GPS location of the device running the code.
6. Identity of the owner of the device via its App Store ID.

There are 4 companies which collect such information.
1. Flurry
2. Medialets
3. Mobclix
4. Pinch Media.

They claim that the information they collect enable their clients to better improve their applications. Yupz, to 'better improve'.

Want some proof? Here is the 'ReadMe' text file from Flurry. Open it using wordpad.

http://www.mediafire.com/?awzwtqwoney

Is knowledge empowerment? Not in this case. Regardless whether you approve of it or not, your device will continue to collect the requested information from its client (your downloaded application) and send such information at such opportune times when your device is running the application and when there is network access available to process such uploads to the application's server.

Apple is a client of one of these companies, so are many of the applications on the App Store claiming to be 'Free' or 'Lite' versions.

There is hope yet. But only for jailbroken Apple devices. Once you have full access to what you have paid for, and have the full control of your device which you deserve, are you then able to protect your personal information. This protection is your right.

Enable your right to control your personal information from being collected, sent, analyzed and/or even identified through 'PrivaCy'.