Privacy concerns

[louiek]

I just got the new Iphone 3Gs and I've started looking for a usage meter. My concern is that for these to work I have to give them my account username and password. I've got no reason to believe that any of the apps I'm looking at are suspect, but I was wondering if there's some way of being sure this information isn't being sent elsewhere. Does the appstore approval process take care of this or is it a matter of faith, in which case I'll just check manually.

[Rayfire]

I'm sorry but can you expand more on the "usage meter" you're referring to, I didn't quite understand your post. Are you referring to the iTunes log-in prompt that pop-up when you purchase an app?

[louiek]

I'm sorry but can you expand more on the "usage meter" you're referring to, I didn't quite understand your post. Are you referring to the iTunes log-in prompt that pop-up when you purchase an app?

They're just apps that tell you how much of your download quota is remaining, how much of your phone plan you've used etc. The question is more general though, if I input a username and password for an account I have with my phone company or any other organisation into an iphone app, are there checks or balances to ensure this information can't be used maliciously.

[marksman]

They're just apps that tell you how much of your download quota is remaining, how much of your phone plan you've used etc. The question is more general though, if I input a username and password for an account I have with my phone company or any other organisation into an iphone app, are there checks or balances to ensure this information can't be used maliciously.

Not likely. If you don't have trust or confidence in the company making the app don't do it.

Apple is not going to take responsible for that.

Why not ask your phone provider to provide an app to do the same thing. Otherwise they probably have a web page you could check for this information?

[louiek]

Not likely. If you don't have trust or confidence in the company making the app don't do it.

Apple is not going to take responsible for that.

Why not ask your phone provider to provide an app to do the same thing. Otherwise they probably have a web page you could check for this information?

I thought that might be the case. I can check manually, it's just a hassle to do so, half a dozen links, bloated site. At least I can do it safely though.

[dougdawson]

Not likely. If you don't have trust or confidence in the company making the app don't do it.

Apple is not going to take responsible for that.

If it comes to Apple's attention that shenanigans are occurring, they will call the dev's parents. This was a promise, that has never been retracted.

This is one reason (among several others) why I strenuously dislike apps that involve third-party servers to store user data and communications, and why we would have to be forced kicking and screaming into doing so with our apps. I don't like it, I don't trust it, it's a security issue particularly for a small company without the resources to engage in a full-frontal assault on an outside perpetrator.

Apps that don't involve this are IMO the way to go. Apps that _do_ involve this are _much_ easier to write, OTOH. La la la.