+oldnavycarl Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 I am new to the world of the smart phone, got a HTC Desire S and was looking forward to getting the official Geocaching App, but one of the terms and conditions states: "Read Personal data... Allows an application to read all of the contact (address)data stored on your phone. Malicious applications can use this to send your data to other people." This sounds a bit worrying to me. Can anyone give me any advice on this term and condition and what impact it is likely to have. Its stopping me downloading one of the Apps I would really like. Many thanks for any advice. Quote Link to comment
Keystone Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 As this is not a bug report or feature request, I am moving this thread from the Conversations with Groundspeak forum to the Community Q&A forum. If you would like a response from Groundspeak, please email contact@Groundspeak.com for a personalized response. The Community Relations Team respond to all emails, and offer support regarding website use and mobile application use. Quote Link to comment
+deercreekth Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 I thought that I had read at some point that the app has access to Contact data so you can search for geocaches near a contact's address. Poking around in the app, I don't see a way to do that though. With any app that requires special permissions, you have to decide if you trust the author. Quote Link to comment
+vds Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 (edited) I am new to the world of the smart phone, got a HTC Desire S and was looking forward to getting the official Geocaching App, but one of the terms and conditions states: "Read Personal data... Allows an application to read all of the contact (address)data stored on your phone. Malicious applications can use this to send your data to other people." Perhaps you might ask Groundspeak the question of why they require that permission. It's usually good form for an app author to explain 'why' and not just tell you accept or don't use it. Use the talk to Groundspeak forum for the app and ask the question or alternately email them directly as suggested above (and make sure somebody actually answers). Edited January 26, 2012 by vds Quote Link to comment
+TXHooligans Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 and let us know what they say... i'm not too worried but.. inquiring minds want to know. Quote Link to comment
madfly Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 the Android app is just too expensive? how do they justify a $9.99 app? Quote Link to comment
+TXHooligans Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 I have no problem with the price. A game or something i play once in awhile should be cheap. I geocache all the time. To me, its worth it. If you can afford a smartphone, 10 bucks one time isn't too bad. Quote Link to comment
+oldnavycarl Posted January 31, 2012 Author Share Posted January 31, 2012 Thanks everyone for all your comments ....Ok I will send the email and see what they say! I will let you know... Again thanks a million... Yeah I wouldn't mind the money either... but I do mind the security! Quote Link to comment
+oldnavycarl Posted February 10, 2012 Author Share Posted February 10, 2012 Hi Everyone... ok so here are the responses from the Community Relations Specialist "Thank you for contacting us, I apologize for the concern this has caused you. I want to point out that it says, malicious apps can use your personal information for ill intent. However, that is not the reason we are asking for your personal information. This is so we can make sure the purchase goes through properly. We do not provide your information to any other parties. We do not display your information online either - your email and name remain private. " I asked her to explain that again and she went on to say "I just got done speaking with my developers and they informed me of the following information. The permissions notification you see is leftover from earlier versions of the app. The app no longer searches around user's contacts and so it does not require those permissions. We will be removing that requirements from the app so that upon our next release you will not see this messaging. " So that is the answer. I think i will wait and see when this new release of the app comes about and hopefully it will not be requesting these permissions.... On a side note for your information... if you do send a query to Geocaching general enquiries - dont put any personal info on it if you are security conscious. After i sent my initial mail it was put up on a website including my full name as I signed the email... was not happy about that... i should have stuck with Oldnavycarl! Although I think she tried to tell me that it was not public... but i was not happy with that regardless Quote Link to comment
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