In a response to privacy concerns over controversial software made by Carrier IQ, wireless provider Sprint has announced it will disable the data collection tool on its handsets. Carrier IQ software is designed to be installed in handsets to give wireless carriers information about how their networks are being used. However, a 17-minute video uploaded to YouTube by security researcher Trevor Eckhart recently demonstrated that Carrier IQ software could be used to obtain highly personal information from mobile phones.
I was under the impression that Sprint is in fact removing CIQ from users phones. Since it's baked into the OS, the easiest way for this to be done on a wide scale to help the non-tech users, would be an OS update. They have already instructed the manufactures to remove CIQ from the OS.
That said, removal and rollout of an OS update that affects some 26 million users on various phones and OS's isnt something that will just happen overnight. My guess is, that once CIQ removal is finished for each phone the updates will be done in stages to ensure they dont bog down their network with updates.
If this isnt fast enough for you, one could always DL the ADK, root and remove it oneself. Or opt for a custom ROM that has already removed it.
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Sprint Puts Carrier IQ on Hold but Doesn't Hang Up
Posted by: Rachelle Dragani December 19, 2011 11:10 AMIn a response to privacy concerns over controversial software made by Carrier IQ, wireless provider Sprint has announced it will disable the data collection tool on its handsets. Carrier IQ software is designed to be installed in handsets to give wireless carriers information about how their networks are being used. However, a 17-minute video uploaded to YouTube by security researcher Trevor Eckhart recently demonstrated that Carrier IQ software could be used to obtain highly personal information from mobile phones.
That said, removal and rollout of an OS update that affects some 26 million users on various phones and OS's isnt something that will just happen overnight. My guess is, that once CIQ removal is finished for each phone the updates will be done in stages to ensure they dont bog down their network with updates.
If this isnt fast enough for you, one could always DL the ADK, root and remove it oneself. Or opt for a custom ROM that has already removed it.