Here is the story that is going around. I sure as hell hope it's not happened to android/other smartphone users. This has only been brought to light because a hacking group got to the fbi computer. Makes you wonder how safe we are on our phones. Of course we benefit from the many features, but it seems there are others that do too! Not good.

http://www.firstpost.com/tech/hacker...rs-443233.html

seems very odd that the FBI would have 12m of these data sets. they can't claim it was in any way targeted. that is something like 75% of the iphones in the US.

there was speculation that the data was from a rogue app developer. but what app is on 12m US iPhones?

Well seems pretty obvious they have been caught red handed doing something they shouldn't be doing. I mean even if you called it an investigation, 12m iphone users? really?? How will they get out of this one?

Patriot Act ? Mention the war on terror and then quickly move on...

The quirk on this story is the FBI file on Steve Jobs

There was a near 200 page FBI file on him which obviously is quite normal for a guy of his power and influence. Yet compared to 'ethical Wozniac', Jobs would have been an easier recruit.

Truth is the FBI hasn't changed since Hoovers day, so nothing is beyond belief.

I recall hinting or maybe even saying that the 'Apple is not collecting your location data' was because it was for government agencies to use..
It always seemed quite unlikely that an ever increasing size of database location log was unseen by Apple.

In all honesty I'm not even against some tracking, in that the open internet we get from more general computers is both god and bad.

Im surprised that you are surprised, im sure all of our data is being held somewhere too, why not?

Even before we had smart phones, if you had a registered phone in your pocket, it's a tracking device. Hardly surprising it would evolve.

At what point would it start to bother you?

Does it not even bother you that they can't hold on to this data?

Somehow link it to terrorism/protecting children/the evils of pornography

it bothers me but what are you going to do. They can get location data from everyone carrying a phone, it doesn't get any more invasive than that. All calls and texts are monitored already anyway.

Here is what the FBI had to say. Anyone buy that??

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tech/new...ts-laptop.html

well that is exactly what i would expect them to say if it were true.

Temple Run! Seriously though it would have to be something in the operating system. I can't see any app being that popular.

there may be some. Youtube. facebook.

The link away from the FBI is that the dataset had the header "National Cyber-Forensics & Training Alliance"

Assuming it was the FBI guy Christopher Stangl 's laptop the data came from then it is could be assumed that this intermediary passed the data to the FBI for any of thousands of reasons.

Of course there is also the possibility that the file name was invented and/or Stangl was named as a diversion.

Logic could have it that Stangl now works for the NCFTA

'Gawker Writer Wearing a Tutu with a Shoe on His Head'

http://gawker.com/5940444/here-is-a-...oe-on-his-head

Way to get an exclusive!

Leak has been traced to BlueToad.

Or blue toad agreed to take the blame in a deal with the NSA and CIA depending on how you feel.

I'd go along with the rest being made up by the hackers.

It would surely be more likely a more anonymous FBI guy would have been hacked.
So maybe they just chose Strangl FBI guy because they knew the name.

An SQL server hack?

It's always SQL injection isn't it.