HTC EVO Sprint Security Issues

[Curious Droid]

OK, I'm new to the HTC EVO from Sprint. My friend gave me your site and suggested I try here. I have looked all over the internet for answers to my questions, asked many EVO users,I even went to Sprint stores, and have found no answers or even real references to my very real concerns.

Please forgive me if they sound basic, but not even Sprint will give me any clear answers!

1: Is the Information I have in the Calendar secure?
2: Is the Information I have in the contacts and contact notes secure?

3: What about email and text messages? Is that information accessable by others?

Here is a scenario to explain: I go online with my EVO, go to AOL mail, enter my passwords and then read my email. I Close the browser.
Now, Does any other person have access to the info i just read? Or the passwords I just used? And the texts I send and get, who else has access to them?

I want to sync my outlook info onto my Sprint HTC EVO but I am very afraid to do it. I don't want to find out that all my calendar and contacts info and notes has been sent out to any company that desires to get it.

4: A VERY serious Concern. Go to Settings, Applications, Manage Applications. Choose any application, and at the bottom of the list, it shows that "this application can access the following on your phone". There is a long list of things they can access! Does this mean that these companies copy our information?? also what does the "Hide/Show ALL" list mean. Does it mean that we can choose to HIDE this info? Or just SHOW ALL the info they are gathering from us?

5: There is a Facebook program on the EVO. It keeps starting itself even if I force stop it. I don't use Facebook, Never Wanted it and will never ever use it. I don't even like "social Networking" programs. Does this program access my data, even though I don't have a facebook account?? If so, WHO gets it, and what info are they taking?

6: Does the HTC EVO have the same tracing and tracking that the iphone has?
After all, what is the point of having these phones if we are all afraid to use it for daily needs?

I'm sure that all this sounds basic to you guys, but I can't find out anything about my questions or about a detailed list of just what info is getting out from my phone and just who is taking it or how to stop it. I posted these questions in a different forum online but I only got a few sarcastic comments for answers. Could your members give a new guy a break and help? Thanks.

 

[zurch]

I think as long as ur email passwords are not compromised I think everything is secure enough unless ur like the Pres. Of the U.S. .about the tracking I think Google does it some but not the extent of apple ..that's about all I know hopefully u can keep reading and learning about it and u will see it is pretty safe ...if u want absolute safety for emails messages and the such u are the blackberry type IMHO.

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

 

[illwood]

1: Is the Information I have in the Calendar secure?

It is as secure as the Calendar in your Gmail or Exchange

2: Is the Information I have in the contacts and contact notes secure?

It should be the same answer is above, yes, pretty secure.

3: What about email and text messages? Is that information accessable by others?

Your phone is as secure as any other phone for messaging, though 3G is more secure than most WiFi security for email and web browsing.

Here is a scenario to explain: I go online with my EVO, go to AOL mail, enter my passwords and then read my email. I Close the browser.
Now, Does any other person have access to the info i just read? Or the passwords I just used? And the texts I send and get, who else has access to them?


I want to sync my outlook info onto my Sprint HTC EVO but I am very afraid to do it. I don't want to find out that all my calendar and contacts info and notes has been sent out to any company that desires to get it.

There have only been a few apps that have been found to be malicious, but they were not on the Android Market. They were programs that were downloaded off Warez sites and other places where people try to get paid apps for free. You would also have to have the "non-market sources" checked in your application settings.

4: A VERY serious Concern. Go to Settings, Applications, Manage Applications. Choose any application, and at the bottom of the list, it shows that "this application can access the following on your phone". There is a long list of things they can access! Does this mean that these companies copy our information?? also what does the "Hide/Show ALL" list mean. Does it mean that we can choose to HIDE this info? Or just SHOW ALL the info they are gathering from us?

The list of access that the app has should match what the app does. For example, if you use Zedge for ringtones and wallpapers, it will ask for network access, SD card storage and modification, phone state and identity, and maybe some more, but this makes sense because the app needs network access to download ringtones and wallpapers, SD storage for where to put the ringtones and wallpapers, phone state and identity for setting custom ringtones.

5: There is a Facebook program on the EVO. It keeps starting itself even if I force stop it. I don't use Facebook, Never Wanted it and will never ever use it. I don't even like "social Networking" programs. Does this program access my data, even though I don't have a facebook account?? If so, WHO gets it, and what info are they taking?

If you never sign into it, it doesn't access anything.

6: Does the HTC EVO have the same tracing and tracking that the iphone has?
After all, what is the point of having these phones if we are all afraid to use it for daily needs?

Kind of, if you think about it, using Google Maps to find something nearby will need to find your location and it needs to keep a reasonably short listing of locations to do its job when you aren't in a strong GPS signal area. See this article to get some more details on how Android handles it and why it is better out of the box than the iPhone.

http://www.androidcentral.com/editorial-if-you-want-know-where-ive-been-all-you-have-do-ask

 

[Curious Droid]

Thank you all so much! I would have answerd sooner but watching CNN.........
So, if the "app" shows it will access let's say, the calendar and contacts. The program accesses it but no information is being sent OUT to anyone or to the maker of the program (providing it is not a non-market program that might be a maliscious one).

Also, what is the hide/show listing under the orange list? Does it mean that I can Hide/Show that info to the program? or is it letting me see the actual list of items it DOES access?
AND BTW This site is so very good, I sent it to my friend tonight who just got a Droid X.

Also, just what is that NOVA program?

 

[RkyMtnHigh]

NOVA is a game... Your phone is safe...If you're not safe WITH your phone, then yes, you'll probably lose everything. Someday. Maybe.

Did you buy the phone before thinking about any of this?

 

[illwood]

Also, what is the hide/show listing under the orange list? Does it mean that I can Hide/Show that info to the program? or is it letting me see the actual list of items it DOES access?

I meant to address this in my reply below. The "Hide/Show" is only changes what is shown to you for access, you can't limit the access by using the "hide" feature.

 

[Curious Droid]

Thanks to you all......
to RkyMtnHIGH: Yes I asked the salesman about security and he said that it was, but then he also told me that the battery was good for 6-8 hrs, that the hotspot was a free service and a few other things that turned out to be very untrue. And I have also seen in forums that said all too different and very vague, and when I asked my questions I was treated like an idiot or given sarcastic answers. One response was telling me 'the more apps the better'. So, you can see why my concern would turn to caution. So, As I began to ask deeper, I became more cautious and concerned. Before I put all my info into it, i wanted to know as much as I could about the phone.
I was finally directed to this forum by a friend of mine who told me to contact AC and get the facts in the proper way. I have read through many of your threads, learned much more and will continue to. I will begin to sync my phone tonight after reading through the how-to's in this forum. And you are right, "......If you're not safe WITH your phone, then yes, you'll probably lose everything. Someday. Maybe......." That is firm and sound advice that must be remembered - and I will!

Thanks again to the 3 of you! You should all be proud of this forum and how it treats us all.

 

[illwood]

Thanks again to the 3 of you! You should all be proud of this forum and how it treats us all.

You're very welcome. I agree that AC is a very good forum and the members / moderators do a good job of answering questions and helping out without the attitude.

Best of luck with your phone, and I'm sure our posts will cross again

 

[CarrieK]

Hi and welcome! Just thought I'd mention Lookout. It checks apps that you download to ensure they are safe and has backup features. Also, you can remotely disable your phone should it become lost or stolen. You can find it in the Market. Enjoy your new EVO and hope to see you around

 

[Curious Droid]

I Sank - I sunk - I sinked - I Sunked! Using the HTC Sync, and the forum. I ran into a few snags, but after a few minor setting changes, everything went smooth. Just to let you know how it went.
Thanx!

 

[RkyMtnHigh]

I Sank - I sunk - I sinked - I Sunked! Using the HTC Sync, and the forum. I ran into a few snags, but after a few minor setting changes, everything went smooth. Just to let you know how it went.
Thanx!

The good news is after you get Sync set up, it goes smooth after that. I only used mine once, and that was for my address book. I use the gmail calendar as it seamlessly syncs all the time. You're gonna' love your phone!

 

[CarrieK]

I Sank - I sunk - I sinked - I Sunked! Using the HTC Sync, and the forum. I ran into a few snags, but after a few minor setting changes, everything went smooth. Just to let you know how it went.
Thanx!

Awesome! You are going to love this device. I play with my EVO all the time and am constantly learning something new. Before you know it you will be rooting it and installing a custom ROM.