Smartphone App Users Unknowingly Sacrifice Privacy
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)— You may think it's a sign of status to have as many apps downloaded to you smartphone, but what many users may not know is that certain apps could be prying into your personal information.
According to an investigation by London's Sunday Times, Facebook has admitted reading its app users' text messages as they plan a messaging service of their own.
"There's no question it's happening. The question is what are they doing with it and I think we need to be aware of it and concerned, but also not to panic," said KCBS Technology Analyst Larry Magid.
Facebook denies accessing users text messages.
KCBS' Dave Padilla Reports:
The newspaper report also boldly claimed that YouTube's application could even take pictures on your smartphone.
Magid advised that users slow down and read the fine print before downloading apps.
"Many people are so anxious to play with that app. They just click, click, click and they don't read them," he said.
Maybe it's not a big deal, but at the end of the day, he said, if you do read them, at least it's up to you whether it is or not.
(Copyright 2012 by CBSSan Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
