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How will they prevent hackers from purposely causing false positive? I can see wardrivers now setting up rig in some van blasting high powered signal from a spoofed device .... they could go around causing people to freak out thinking they have been exposed and that would overwhelm the healthcare even more... if this was just Apple I would have confidence but I have no confidence with anything Android related being safe from hacks. Seems like a good idea but may go very badly if this is rushed and poorly implemented
 
How will they prevent hackers from purposely causing false positive? I can see wardrivers now setting up rig in some van blasting high powered signal from a spoofed device .... they could go around causing people to freak out thinking they have been exposed and that would overwhelm the healthcare even more... if this was just Apple I would have confidence but I have no confidence with anything Android related being safe from hacks. Seems like a good idea but may go very badly if this is rushed and poorly implemented
From what I understand, the daily update to your device of people you have been in contact with who may have been infected at the time, comes from Google/Apples servers. I also understand they are looking into a way to stop people from falsely reporting they are COVID positive. Perhaps giving those with a positive result a QR code to scan. A one off code that activates your positive status.
 
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People that don’t want to use this are the new anti-vaxxers.

It helps you understand why some
states don’t allow exemptions - every snow flake will think they are special and hurt the community.
 
Nope. My statement stands. I understand it. Google‘s involvement makes it a no-go for me. If it was Apple alone...sign me up.

If you think you know better, then enlighten me.
You are aware that virtually every website uses Google API's, right? You are being tracked every page you probably hit today and every day before this and I'm not even mentioning apps that use Google API's.
 
You are aware that virtually every website uses Google API's, right? You are being tracked every page you probably hit today and every day before this and I'm not even mentioning apps that use Google API's.
I still don’t think he has read the spec, and I don’t think he understands how the system works (though he insists he understands), because he’s not able to articulate any fears he has with the design, and instead resorts to “google = devil”.

If people don’t like something about the spec, that’s fine, but read the spec before trying to raise fear about it.
 
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And how is the information about a positive infection gonna end up from the doctor to the app?

The big pictures (literally the graphic) answer your question. The person manually enters that they have it after being diagnosed, thus triggering a anonymous warning for those that they have been bluetooth close to in the previous days. People who opt-in will typically be those who are more responsible and willing to tell others to alert others that they might have a problem.
 
You are aware that virtually every website uses Google API's, right? You are being tracked every page you probably hit today and every day before this and I'm not even mentioning apps that use Google API's.
Yep. Which also means they know location. Which would make this redundant/unnecessary. There are already countless other ways they could do it. And I guarantee someone HAS been. How else would my state be getting data from companies that they can then use to “grade” counties based on how good or bad of a job the people are doing at complying with the stay-at-home order?

Sorry to say...but too many governments and companies are taking advantage of this situation. Give an inch, they take a mile. Some day, all the power we are giving them because we’re “scared” will come back to bite us. It always does.
 
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If Google and Apple are doing this for altruistic reasons, I take it that this will run on older iPhones, Android devices and maybe even Windows phones. That way people in the developing world can have the same benefit.
 
If Google and Apple are doing this for altruistic reasons, I take it that this will run on older iPhones, Android devices and maybe even Windows phones. That way people in the developing world can have the same benefit.


What bluetooth spec are most windows phones running? Might need to get unrealistically close for those to set off or drain battery using the protocol 24/7, same with legacy devices.

Bluetooth has come a very long way the last few years.
 
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Yep. Which also means they know location. Which would make this redundant/unnecessary. There are already countless other ways they could do it. And I guarantee someone HAS been. How else would my state be getting data from companies that they can then use to “grade” counties based on how good or bad of a job the people are doing at complying with the stay-at-home order?

Sorry to say...but too many governments and companies are taking advantage of this situation. Give an inch, they take a mile. Some day, all the power we are giving them because we’re “scared” will come back to bite us. It always does.
I hear you. Hopefully, we will have gov't soon that will help protect our rights to protect our data but I'm not sure, in this case, it's evil attempt is the outstanding issue, considering we are already are tracked 1000 ways (probably higher) every time we use our phones and internet.
 
There are already countless other ways they could do it. And I guarantee someone HAS been. How else would my state be getting data from companies that they can then use to “grade” counties based on how good or bad of a job the people are doing at complying with the stay-at-home order?

https://www.google.com/covid19/mobility/

https://www.apple.com/covid19/mobility

Both Apple and Google providing such city/county data on open websites.

https://www.unacast.com/covid19/social-distancing-scoreboard

Here’s another from 3rd party data mining co. you can play with. Every state and every county (tap on state) graded. Even color coded by grade.
 
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https://www.google.com/covid19/mobility/

https://www.apple.com/covid19/mobility

Both Apple and Google providing such city/county data on open websites.

https://www.unacast.com/covid19/social-distancing-scoreboard

Here’s another from 3rd party data mining co. you can play with. Every state and every county (tap on state) graded. Even color coded by grade.

Looks like only major cities. Cant find several rural yet touristy places I've lived and currently living in.
 
If Google and Apple are doing this for altruistic reasons, I take it that this will run on older iPhones, Android devices and maybe even Windows phones. That way people in the developing world can have the same benefit.

When someone gives you a gift, don’t tell them it’s not good enough and you want a better gift. Be happy they’re already doing something they really don’t have to do.
 
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We're relying on governments to competently and quickly develop apps themselves?
While your concern is valid, governments would have to integrate this somehow anyway into their processes.

For example, it will be the government deciding who has tested positive and providing codes to enter into the app. This would have to go through a certification/qualification process with Apple/Google, taking months to set up.

Also, governments want to have control over how close you need to be to someone tested positive for how long and how the app should react. Is it just a popup telling you to self-quarantine or will a testing slot be reserved for you nearby? Stuff that again would need to be integrated into the official Apple/Google app, requiring additional APIs and processes.

Also, Apple could then be blamed for delays, lack of cooperation, misleading instructions, localizations, insufficient APIs etc. It's easy to see why they don't want to set up teams consisting of hundreds of devs, support agents, consultants etc. and take responsibility for doing this for the whole world.
 
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I'll gladly give some access temporarily if my data can help contribute to saving lives. Because if we aren't in this to save lives, then what's the point.
 
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If used by many, this APP can significantly help contain the corona pandemic. This is shown by mathematical model calculations at Oxford University. It is wrong to put hope solely on vaccines. Many past epidemics were defeated long before vaccinations were given. This app can make a contribution - similar to e.g. Have done hygiene measures for cholera.
As far as possible, data security is taken into account
  • Data is initially only stored locally on the individual smartphone. The data stored on a smartphone does not allow contact to be made with another smartphone.
  • Only when a user has tested positive will their data be uploaded to a central server with their consent. However, contact tracking is not possible with this server data alone.
  • Instead, the warning that one could be infected is caused by the fact that every smartphone cyclically queries the server for the data of those who test positive, and which contains one of its own random numbers.
I live in Berlin (Germany) and I think my government's restrictions are very reasonable. Without question, however, they restrict a number of basic rights (freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, freedom of culture ...) for all citizens. If you reject this app because of data protection, you should make sure that you accept much more extensive restrictions for all citizens. This app
  • can help that chains of infection can be traced much faster, thus slowing down the spread.
  • has the potential to limit the restrictions to those who tested positive or were most likely infected. In this way, it can make a significant contribution to returning to normal.
 
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No, this will NEVER be used nefariously by a police state.

thats right, this Api is no use for a police state, it is there for a tracing app, not a tracking app. So of no interest for a police state, it is of interest for you. You want to find out if you might be infected and need a test. Since nobody else can find out that you got the allert, the police state is left hanging dry.
But if you live in a police state, you should not use a smartphone at all, or dumb phone, or any phone. You certainly should not write on an open forum where you are easyly identified and a post like yours brings your social score down by double didgits.
Do you know what a police state is?
 
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