I think it’s time to pay more attention

[Chrisj CMA]

Did y'all notice apple put a Covid 19 tracker app on your phone. Apparently it's been added to android phones as well but I don't have one of those anymore. Anyway, it doesn't appear to be fully functional yet but the intent seems to be to not only have access to your medical information but to track everyone so your phone can tell if it came near someone with covid.

Settings

Privacy

Health

It will be right at the top

I'm not a geek on these things. Maybe someone like Serk can shed more light

[old2soon]

  c'mon man gubmint gonna say it's fer our own good. What could possibly Not be good bout this?  RIDE SAFE.

[Valkorado]

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,109640.msg1124713.html#msg1124713

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,109640.msg1124774.html#msg1124774

[Serk]

I'm not a geek on these things. Maybe someone like Serk can shed more light

Yeah, we discussed these in the "Poop be getting real" megathread:

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,109640.msg1124694.html#msg1124694

What I had to say about it from there:

What you're seeing is just the OS side part, without installing a contact and trace app to go with it it does nothing.

And once said app is available, I'll be installing it. You do you.

They've taken great pains to make the system workable but NOT tracking your name, location etc...

--------------------------------------------

are you 100% sure the app does not track your name, location, etc? 

why would you want to install this app and how does it really work to be effective?

Yes. It doesn't use GPS or other geo location data, it doesn't use your contact list, or anything like that.

Your phone generates a random number every 15 or so minutes and broadcasts that number  so that other phones near you running the app can "hear" it, and combine their random number for that time period with your random number for that time period.

Your phone does know what numbers it has at what time, and what other numbers it "heard".

If you test positive, you tell the app that you tested positive, and that allows other phones to query the list of recent positives, combine their random number with yours to find out if you were close to that person for a set amount of time (Just passing in the grocery store won't be enough) within the last 2 weeks, and thus if you should pay extra attention, possibly get tested.

That's all it does.

Slightly deeper dive if you're interested:

https://www.wired.com/story/covid-19-contact-tracing-apple-google/

[Chrisj CMA]

Thanks Serk. Ya, I have not been scouring the general board as much these days. I can see how all of this could be used for good. I just don't trust people like Gates to not have some ulterior motives behind it.

Maybe I'm somewhat paranoid about it but I can imagine the day when if you have your phone in your pocket an alarm will go off in the airport, or a store. And you will be whisked off to isolation for two weeks based on these so called numbers being collected.

The level of intrusion into my Personal life is already getting uncomfortable, I suppose it's only going to get worse.

[Serk]

I totally get your concern. (It's not paranoid if they're really out to get ya'!)

Knowing this will only work if a critical mass of people use it, they've gone way out of their way to make it as anonymous and privacy respecting as possible while still doing what it needs to do.

[scooperhsd]

When it was first announced - I thought why not participate ?

Now with all the politcal BS going on over C-19, I'm not so sure....

I'm already going to rebel anytime anybody asks me about a mask. Only required, not requested, etc.

[Sorcerer]

Like most computer things, garbage in garbage out. Just because your phone was in a ping area how close to that ping. 6'- 12', 15'. For Covid only? BS. A demonstration, pick your agenda. Comrade your phone was pinged that you were part of a protest. Now bite down on this peace of wood cause this is going to hurt. But I was at the dentist which was a cross the street on the 13 floor. Comrade I would suggest you bite down on the wood.

[cookiedough]

probably be a good thing to install the app Serk for I heard TX and Florida virus is spreading a lot.

[Serk]

probably be a good thing to install the app Serk for I heard TX and Florida virus is spreading a lot.

There isn't an actual app yet, but when one becomes available I will.