It ’s becoming open that at some point in the not - so - remote past tense , a mathematical group of assholes at Facebook daydream up a plan to prey on users who trust better roving security but ca n’t be bothered to read the fine mark .
For the second time in a month , the society has launched an app that , at first blush , appear to aid keep user dependable — but in reality siphons immense measure of information from consumers ’ cellular telephone phones and shoots it back to Facebook to do with whatever the hell it wants .
The latest app , discovered bySensor Towerandfirst reported by TechCrunch , is called Bolt App Lock , and it claims to lock down any app on a earpiece using a pin codification ; the idea being that if your phone is somehow stolen while the CRT screen is unbarred , the thief wo n’t be able to open up your banking app or e-mail app or any other app that contains tender information you would n’t want others to see .
It ’s not an original idea ( see : AppLock ) and , honestly , the entire concept seems a fiddling excessive .
The problem is that , while Bolt App Lock may do exactly what it take , its truthful purpose seems to be collecting datum on its user to further engorge Facebook ’s creepy desire to know what everyone is doing at all times .
According to itslisting on Google Play , the app is a product of Onavo , the VPN service owned and operated by Facebook .
Onavo ’s silly misnomer of a “ privacy insurance ” spell out Facebook ’s plot in plain English : If you use Onavo ’s apps , Facebook is going to collect your personal entropy , including what apps you ’ve instal and what site you chit-chat . In fact , Onavo appears to collect data on its userseven when the goddam matter is turned off . ( Gizmodo attain out to Facebook on Wednesday about Onavo ’s privacy insurance policy . We have not received a response . )
What ’s more , Facebook explicitly tells us what it destine to do with this information — fundamentally whatever the infernal region it wants — include , but not limited to , sharing it with affiliates , service providers , and law of nature enforcement ; using it to “ cater , analyze , improve , and spring up new and innovational services ” for third parties and others ; and to “ provide market analytics and other service ” to third parties and others .
Even the Bolt App Lock itemization on Google Play is jolly straightforward :
We collect info about your mobile gadget and the apps installed on it . This includes information about when those apps are used , and gimmick and connection information . We use and analyze this information to aid us engage Bolt App Lock , an Onavo app , and improve the service . Because we ’re part of Facebook , we also utilize this info to improve Facebook products and service , gain insights into the products and service people value , and ramp up better experiences .
This is n’t a position in which Facebook is stripping your name and other personal details about you out before using the datum in aggregate . Its website clearly states that your “ personally identifiable information ” is being roll up and may be render to other company ( or the cop ) . This desecrate a pretty introductory rule : Any app that purports to offer “ security ” must avoid unnecessarily collecting information about your every swipe and click .
There ’s a discussion for that . It ’s called “ surveillance . ”
If Facebook was pull this crap with a mobile game or a flashlight app or something as as dumb , well , it would still be somewhat fucked up , but only half as treacherous . Passing an app off as a prick to keep users safe while porting their personal data around the cyberspace and give it off to god knows who is an passing — extremely — corruptible thing to do .
Perhaps one daytime Facebook users will get tired of of being jerked around and lie to and pull the plug on its conniving ass . But until then , it seems all we can do is keep a weather eye out for this character of predatory trash and vocalise the consternation as far and across-the-board as potential .
Update , 6:11pm : Facebook cancel Bolt App Lock from the Google Play store after publication . A Facebook spokesperson told Gizmodo by electronic mail that the app was launched as “ a low , abbreviated test . ”
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