smartphone safety copy -...
TRANSCRIPT
STAY INFORMED!
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The Parent Advisor September 2014 Issue 13
2014 Summer Report
A FEW COMMON THEMES…
pwn !!
(A typo-deliberate version of "own," a slang term often used to express superiority over
others)
A FEW COMMON THEMES…
0rz !!
The suffix "0rz" is often appended to words for emphasis or to make them plural.
5 (LEGITIMATE WAYS) “FREE” APPS MAKE MONEY2. In-App Purchases
$1,118,457 !
40,000 New Users !
$99.99 Chest of Gems
Collected and sold users’ real time location information to ad networks and 3rd party marketing companies
!Amounted to a stalking app
HOW YOU ARE TRACKED1. GPS (45 seconds) 2. Assisted GPS (Speeds up the GPS locator process by using cellular
connections to gather GPS satellite data…15 seconds) 3. Synthetic GPS (Forecasts satellite positions…2 seconds) 4. Cell ID (Carriers figure out which cell a customer is using, and how
far they are from the neighboring cells) 5. WiFi (see next slide) !!
HOW YOU ARE TRACKEDWiFi #1 RSSI (received signal strength indication), takes the signals your phone detects from nearby access points and refers to a database of Wi-Fi networks. The database says where each uniquely identified access point is located. Using signal strength to determine distance, RSSI determines where you are (down to tens of meters) in relation to those known access points.
HOW YOU ARE TRACKEDWiFi #2 The other form of Wi-Fi location, wireless fingerprinting, uses profiles of given places that are based on the pattern of Wi-Fi signals found there. This technique is best for places that you or other cellphone users visit frequently. The fingerprint may be created and stored the first time you go there.
HOW YOU ARE TRACKED6. Inertial Sensors (Most smartphones now come with three inertial sensors: a compass (or magnetometer) to determine direction, an accelerometer to report how fast your phone is moving in what direction, and a gyroscope to sense turning motions. Together, these sensors can determine your location with other outside inputs) 7. Barometer…Some smartphones already have chips that can detect barometric pressure and are best used in combination with other tools, including GPS, Wi-Fi and short-range systems that register that you've gone past a particular spot.
HOW YOU ARE TRACKED8. Near Field Communication (shopper loyalty company Shopkick is already using a short-range system to verify that consumers have walked into a store. Instead of using a radio, Shopkick broadcasts ultrasonic tones just inside the doors of a shop. If the customer has the Shopkick app running when they walk through the door, the phone will pick up the tone through its microphone and the app will tell Shopkick that they've entered).
HOW YOU ARE TRACKED9. Bluetooth Beacons (Very precise location can be achieved in a specific area, such as inside a retail store, using beacons that send out signals via Bluetooth. The beacons, smaller than a cellphone, are placed every few meters and can communicate with any mobile device equipped with Bluetooth. The system can determine location to within 10 centimeters. With location sensing that specific, a store could tell when you were close to a specific product on a shelf and offer a promotion.
HOW YOU ARE TRACKED10. Terrestrial Transmitters…uses the same principle as GPS but are mounted on buildings and cell towers. Because they are stationary and provide a much stronger signal to receivers than satellites do from space, Locata's radios can pinpoint a user's location almost instantly to as close as 2 inches. Another company in this field, NextNav, is building a network using licensed spectrum that it says can cover 93 percent of the U.S. population.
KiK !uses a smartphone's data plan or WiFi to transmit and receive messages, a feature that appeals to individuals looking to avoid text messaging rates set by phone service providers (and parents). Kik offers fast text messaging service and also allows users to share photos, sketches, voice messages, and other content. Kik Messenger uses a username instead of a phone number, allowing for more privacy than other forms of text messaging.
POOF !Poof is an app that allows you to hide and unhide icons on your SpringBoard (your iPhone interface). The apps are still there, but cannot be seen unless you know how to access them. Poof requires the phone to be “JailBroken”, so if this may be a red flag app if you find it on your child’s phone.
YIKYAK !is an anonymous social media app. It is available for iOS and Android and it allows people anonymously to create and view "Yaks" within a 10 mile radius. It differs from other anonymous sharing apps such as Whisper in that it is intended for sharing primarily with those in close proximity to the user, potentially making it more intimate and relevant for people reading the posts.
SNAPCHAT !Snapchat differs from most mobile communication apps in that it specializes in sending messages with a particular feature--they disappear. (However, there are ways around this). The once thought short-lived nature of Snapchat messages has made the app controversial yet popular. The company is valued at about 10B Dollars. !
VINE !A mobile app that enables its users to create and post video clips. Video clips created with Vine have a maximum length of 6 seconds and can be shared or embedded on social networking services such as Twitter—which acquired the app in October 2012—and Facebook. !!
NEW APPS TO KNOWWHISPER !
is an online community for sharing secrets. Users are entertained by stories about everything from embarrassing moments to guilty pleasures from anonymous users. The app organizes secrets into categories including confessions, relationships, military, and faith. It even alerts users of trending searches with keywords such as “caught” and “my parents.”
SECRET !is an iOS and Android app that allows people to share messages anonymously within their circle of friends, friends of friends, and publicly. It differs from other anonymous sharing apps such as PostSecret, Whisper, and Yik Yak in that it is intended for sharing primarily with friends, potentially making it more interesting and addictive for people reading the updates.
LINE !
is more than just a messaging app. Yes, the app does allow free messaging, group chats, and stickers on all smartphone devices and even on a PC. But, users can also connect with popular celebrities, brands, and TV shows to receive exclusive news and coupons only found through Line. The app also allows free real-time voice, video calls, photo, and video sharing with other app users.
SPACE TAG !
is a breakthrough social media platform that is about to launch. The app allows users to tag specific places and objects leaving notes for themselves or others. The app recognizes any users’ location from the camera on the smartphone. This social network will be a big one from ShopCloud, the Israeli startup behind Inside Navigation providing indoor location identification with sub-meter accuracy, using only sensors on a modern smartphone.
WECHAT !
is a media-centric messaging app that connects users across platforms.BuzzFeed has recently teamed up with WeChat to deliver top viral content and news to followers. Predicting the future of content sharing lies within messaging platforms; BuzzFeed hopes the preemptive partnership will help lead the shift in the way we share content.
NOKNOK !
is an anonymous reputation app that tell users how their friends saved them as a phone contact. This provides interesting insight on how we are labeled by friends, family, coworkers, and even romantic acquaintances. With the most recent version of the app, users are able to chat with name givers while they remain anonymous. Users are able to ask them why they labeled them a certain way and who they are.
SHAREWALL !
is a new service that allows readers to access content that would otherwise would be locked behind a paywall by using social sharing as a currency. Additionally, using its recently launched artificial intelligence engine, the startup helps websites offer customized content for readers across three channels: the homepage, newsletters, and social media.
CONTACT INFORMATIONChad Williams, Director
970-261-8641 [email protected]
!!!!!
www.safeteensamerica.org www.neuralactivity.org