Carrier IQ Video Shows Alarming Capabilities Of Mobile Tracking Software

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You may be aware of the growing controversy surrounding Carrier IQ, a piece of software found pre-installed on Sprint phones that, according to developers who have investigated, is capable of detecting, recording, and transmitting various user actions and inputs. Among the data CIQ potentially has access to are location, SMS, apps, and key presses.News of the software has been percolating for months on development forums, but when Trevor Eckhart recently summarized his findings, he found himself facing a cease and desist while Sprint vigorously denied the charges, saying "We do not and cannot look at the contents of messages, photos, videos, etc., using this tool."The C&D was quickly retracted, but Eckhart has now released a video that seems to give the lie to both Sprint and Carrier IQ's assurances.]]>

Sprint 'disables' Carrier IQ software

Sprint has responded to the outcry surrounding Carrier IQ by disabling the diagnostics software on all handsets used on its network.

The company says it has listened to the concerns of customers who were spooked by reports that hardware manufacturers and networks were able to collect detailed keystrokes from handsets.

"We have weighed customer concerns and we have disabled use of the tool so that diagnostic information and data is no longer being collected," the network told the Mobile Burn website.

"We are further evaluating options regarding this diagnostic software as well as Sprint's diagnostic needs."

Updates incoming

It remains to be seen whether the network is able to remotely disable the software or whether it will require an over-the air software update.

Geek.com claimed in a report: "Sprint has ordered that all of their hardware partners remove the Carrier IQ software from Sprint devices as soon as possible."

Sprint's decision comes over a week after a widespread outcry and a slew of lawsuits, alleging that Carrier IQ was capable of recording SMS message keystrokes.

The developers have since explained that its software is only ever used as a diagnostics tool to log errors and assist networks and manufacturers improve their offerings.

Samsung and HTC face wiretapping lawsuits, while Apple has admitted using Carrier IQ on previous versions of iOS, but ditched the software for iOS 5.

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Amazon Kindle Fire software fix incoming

Amazon has promised a software update for its Kindle Fire tablet, which will attempt to fix a number of nagging complaints from users.

The $200 Amazon Kindle Fire, which has been on sale for less than a month, has been suffering from Wi-Fi reliability issues, navigational sluggishness as well as problems with some of the platform's apps.

An Amazon spokesperson confirmed to the New York Times: "In less than two weeks, we're rolling out an over-the-air update to Kindle Fire."

Privacy issues sorted

The update, according to the NYT, will also address privacy issues, including the ability to edit and delete items from the list of things you've recently been doing.

That particular piece of functionality, which shows recently browsed apps and documents within the homescreen carousel, has the potential to catch-out many users.

The NYT also reaffirmed popular opinion that the first Kindle Fire will "soon" be superseded by a brand new version.

The newer iteration will probably include functionality left out of the original device in order to get it on sale for Christmas.

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