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Showing 1 of 9 conversations about:
LynnS
49
May 17, 2017
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Anyone thinking of buying this, I would download their app first, read the Terms and Privacy info, and be sure you are comfortable with this before buying this product. The app makes you register, provide email info, monitor and have access to your telephone dialing functions as well as camera and such. A lot of access for an app that is just supposed to remotely take readings from your scale. Be sure you are comfortable with the terms on the app before buying.
May 17, 2017
spthomp
85
May 17, 2017
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LynnSAny idea what type of "control" I have over my data. I like being able to manipulate my data in Excel but find that sometimes I can't export my data at all.
May 17, 2017
NotaDr
125
May 17, 2017
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LynnSHypothetically, what could someone who steals this data do? I understand the desire for privacy and security regardless, but still curious what people achieve with this information.
May 17, 2017
Ihardlyusethis
12
May 17, 2017
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NotaDr(I've not downloaded their app, seen their permissions nor dead their terms and conditions; this is all from a general perspective). I don't know exactly for what purpose this app would have access to the camera (probably if a user would like to track progress), but that does mean that this app is able to see through the camera of your phone; so anytime your phone has this app in the background it could be utilizing your camera. It is unlikely it would use your camera for no reason (be running in the background) but it's possible in theory that someone could gain access to having control over the app and thus be able to take video/pictures with your camera. Phone calls is one I don't really understand for about any app. Some apps request access to your contacts so that you may advertise their product to your friends, but I really see no other purpose for having this permission. I don't know what malice could come of it. It seems unlikely to me that the app has the capability to actually monitor the phone conversations. If it has a microphone function then my previous statement is null (although the guy didn't comment saying the app has microphone access). Some apps (Facebook and Facebook messenger) use your ambient conversation to direct more specific ads to you (this is highly fucked up and a huge privacy breech). While it is unlikely a hack/breech will occur, you may want to consider how much information your apps may be collecting on you. Also know that information is valuable, and any company with enough of it is going to sell it. "If the product is free then you're the product".
Past a certain OS version of apple and Android you can choose to deny apps permissions (for example, blocking Messenger for microphone data). From what I've been told, android will send static/filler in its place.
May 17, 2017
LynnS
49
May 17, 2017
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NotaDrIt's not what they could do with just the info they collect on their app, but what that info, combined with other info in the cloud on you, pieced together could do as a whole. To begin with, they have your email address, your physical dimensions which you are updating regularly. Just with that, they know your constant body size attached to your email address, which could be matched up with other more direct identifiable information that say an insurance company could use to decide what you will pay for your health insurance. You tend to gain weight and lose weight, maybe they consider you a high risk based on info this single app gathered on you, and you're rates go up. Could be used for any number of judgemental factors any number of places, when gathered with all the other metadata the cloud has on you that can be matched up to this single apps data, to manipulate your life to better suit a company's needs, not yours necessarily. With all the places you touch on the web, you leave a piece of you behind in one form or another, bots can search out and find that, places can piece it all together and have a full detailed report on your entire life and use it to judge you in may ways, maybe some good, maybe some bad. It's bad enough that entities can listen in on your mobile devices and you not even have your phone on, just have a battery in it. When an app tells you they are going to have control to manage your phone, camera, mic, but the app doesn't appear to need any of that, you should be asking WHY? I'm not in tin foil hat mode here, I completely understand the age of complete internet privacy is over. I just think the less you voluntarily give access to things that don't need it, the more it may help slow down something bad happening because of it.
May 17, 2017
JakeTheSnake2322
61
May 17, 2017
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LynnS I have used the application and you can simply choose to not allow access to those certain things and you are still able to use the app.
May 17, 2017
LynnS
49
May 18, 2017
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JakeTheSnake2322I only download the app, don't have the scale, so I'm not certain if things can be disabled and the scale still function correctly. Do you have both the app and the scale to confirm that you can disable all these access points and the scale still work?
May 18, 2017
JakeTheSnake2322
61
May 18, 2017
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LynnSYes the scale worked fine without allowing everything to be accessed.
May 18, 2017
graefeln
28
May 18, 2017
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LynnSIt seems like you would be able to turn off everything except location (though it would affect what features are available). From their FAQ:
Why does my Android device ask to grant Yunmai access?
The access agreement that appears on your phone is a requirement by the Android system; you won't see a notification on an iOS device. Other mobile applications on Android devices, like MyFitnessPal, show a permission request similar our app.
Outlined are the latest permissions and what we are accessing: Device & app history − Allows access your historical app data and lets the app save additional information. It also needs to be activated for your data to sync with other apps like Google Fit. Identity − Allows your application to access previously saved accounts and to change any personal information saved to the device. Also, it allows you to login to the app using other accounts (like Facebook). Location – Android, using software Android 6.0 or later, requires this access when Bluetooth is turned on. Photo/Media/Files & Camera – Allows you to upload or take a profile picture for your account. WiFi connection information – Allows the application to upload data to the cloud. Bluetooth connection information - Allows the scale to sync data collected to the mobile app through the Bluetooth connection. Device ID & call information - Since our application can sync with up to 16 devices, the scale needs to know which device to sync to and the Device ID facilitates this.
May 18, 2017
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