Application Software : A Threat Of Our Privacy?

“More than three billion people worldwide now use the internet (Time), and 80 percent of them access if from their smartphones” (Smart Insights). A smartphone is a mobile phone that performs many of the functions of a computer, typically having a touchscreen interface, and much more. There is an abundant amount of smartphone brands out there in the world and while they all cost different prices, they all perform the same job. Each person uses their smartphone for various reasons, whether it’s for work or to make calls or texts. Smartphones have changed society in various ways, both good and bad. Although countless individuals think that smartphones have ruined American society, smartphones have actually benefited society because of more safety precautions, information on hand, and entertainment.

With the seemingly exponential propagation of inexpensive digital communications technologies over recent years, the general public is becoming more aware of the issues surrounding information privacy and government surveillance in the digital age. Every Tom, Dick, and Harry with a smart-phone has to be wary of how they use their private information for fear of that information being collected and used in a way contrary to their wishes. "Leaky" smartphone apps that transmit private information across the internet can be unethically used by government agencies. The issue of privacy is a balancing act; the public usually wants increased privacy and the government usually wants increased access.

Privacy! It’s an elementary principle we all value and fight to protect. However, with technological trends, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat, our lives have now become accessible to all. These social media platforms have become part of our daily lives, from sharing personal information or activities to communal networking. The fascination to be trendy and acquire followers, is compromising our privacy principles and places us at significant risk. It’s remarkably easy to pretend that we control what personal information we share, however, realistically we leave technological trails every day we login to these apps, or browse the internet. For the most part, it seems that

Over the last four decades, mobile devices have become the trademark of our society.cell phones and other mobile devices have inundated our society At any given time; we can see drivers talking or texting in a moving vehicle. According to Brenner (2013), 87% of American adults and 78% of teenagers own a cell phone. The scary part is that almost two-thirds of

One Click Away! The year is 2008, the smartphone is now becoming a common thing among the general population. With this new technology comes a new reasonability, people now can reach millions with the press of a button. This rapid delivery can be very treacherous if not cautious of the dangers when using them. Dana Fleming discuses the threat in her article “Youthful Indiscretions: Should College Protect Social Network User from Themselves and Others?”

Privacy is an increasing issue that is at the heart of many debates, companies like Facebook profit form the oversharing of personal information because of targeted advertising. To illustrate, let’s say that you were online shopping, and you look up ‘red dress’, then you log on to Facebook. Facebook will show

People in the world enjoys their privacy but company’s like Apple and others tries to invade the people’s privacy and have tracked consumers. Another issue Apple was

Imagine small third party companies watching every step you take and viewing your actions through your own cellphone camera that 's looking right at you. Watching you walk the dog, or drive in the car, or lounge around in the privacy of your own home. Here 's the catch, these party companies are making money off of you when your phone is in use, without your realization. These exploits are happening as the days go by, and no one seems to shine light on this subject. The main issue here is big companies, such as Google, are giving people free apps to download and making money. They do this not only by customers making in-app purchases, but for selling your personal information to third party companies who then make revenue by putting it on the stock market. I would like to acknowledge that the Government needs to illuminate these exploits these companies are constructing, other than playing along with them, as they are edging into violating our privacy as U.S. citizens.

In the modern era, most everybody all over the United States has a phone, computer or at least heard of them and what they do. These intimate technologies have become an inseparable part of life because they are vital to nearly every aspect of life, especially in developed countries. This dependence, however, makes everyone vulnerable to surveillance by governments. Governments have unrestricted access to how we use our phones and computers; they can track our calls and assess its content including our texts. This uncontrolled invasion of people’s privacy could lead to a dystopian society much like the one portrayed in George Orwell’s 1984.

Technology is all around us. Almost every person in the country owns some form of technology. Whether it’s a television, a computer, a laptop, or a smartphone most Americans own at least one of them. People use their phones for business and personal uses. There is so much information is on your phone. You may think that, that information on your phone is safe, but you are wrong.

Finding fun and entertaining new apps keeps us interested in our technology and also keeps the app creators linked to our personal information. It is surprising that some of the most popular apps that have nothing to do with our personal information is somehow getting a hold of our info. For example, Pandora has been a popular app for several years now,

have many similarities in the way of tracking their citizens as stated before. For example the article “That’s no Phone. That’s me Tracker” the authors, Peter Maass and Megha Rajagopalan, talk about how cell phone companies gather information through GPS technology and smartphone apps, “Every year, private companies spend millions of dollars developing new services that track,store, and share the words, movements and even the thoughts of their customers” (paragraph six, quote used by author, stated by Paul Ohm). This implies that data is constantly being recorded for the companies. Not only is this information beneficial for the government as a tactic for crime prevention/solving but also for advertisers. Apps like snapchat, instagram, facebook, twitter are all free because the companies want to be able to see the kind of things that people are interested in to advertise merchandise and other things. In the article the authors inform their audience by stating that cell phones are losing their purpose, the purpose of making phone calls. “...showed that making calls is the fifth-most-popular activity for smartphones; more popular uses are showing that social networks, playing games and listening to music. The smartphone is taking over the functions that laptops, cameras, credit cards, and watches once performed” (paragraph

Today’s technology-based society is plagued with an over abundance of mobile devices. These devices now control our homes, our transportation, and our

Privacy is what we love the most about our phones, the private email, text message, or even the picture we put on Instagram. Furthermore, with so much technology and of course the greatest discovery in the world social media, we tend not to pay attention to what we put out on the web or receive from it. My phones know more about me then then my family do, my phone is my personal diary. When I can’t find my phone I have a panic attack because I don’t want nobody know what’s in my phone. In our minds we believe that how will protect our privacy, and although this may be true, there other thing attacking out privacy, like the government, hackers and marketers.

Thesis; Along with the efficiency mobile devices render, come along its risks, in which raises substantial security and privacy concerns. It’s important to be aware of the possible threats a mobile can have, along with knowing what and how to secure information, as well as trying to prevent threats from happening.