The largest mobile operator in the U.S. does not install Carrier IQ’s keystroke-sniffing software in any of its phones and doesn’t use the now-controversial company’s data in any way, Verizon Wireless officials said on Thursday.
“Any report that Verizon Wireless uses Carrier IQ is patently false,” Verizon Wireless spokesperson Jeffrey Nelson said in an email. In an email follow-up, spokeswoman Debra Lewis elaborated. “We did recently notify customers about new privacy programs; we were transparent about how customer information will be used and gave clear choices to customers about whether they want to participate in these programs,” she said (the privacy policy is here). “Carrier IQ is not involved in these programs.”
The recent discovery by Android developer Trevor Eckhart of Carrier IQ’s “rootkit” that tracks every action a user makes on Android phones has raised all kinds of questions about whether operators, handset makers and other wireless industry players are collecting reams of data on their customers. The app runs hidden and constantly at the lowest level of the Android operating system, apparently tracking every input. There seems to be no way of uninstalling or disabling it without installing a different version of Android; something most won’t know how to do. There’s even evidence of Carrier IQ code in the iPhone, though according the chpwn blog it appears to be disabled in newer iOS devices. Earlier, Kevin Tofel wrote about how to detect Carrier IQ on your rooted Android phone.
Verizon’s disavowal of the technology is significant because of the sheer volume of Android smartphones in its subscriber base. While T-Mobile USA was the first operator to launch an Android device, Verizon became a heavy backer of the Google platform as it sought to counter AT&T’s initial U.S. monopoly of the iPhone. At the end of the third quarter, Verizon had 33.6 million smartphone subscribers, the large majority of which use Android devices.
We queried the other three national operators as well, but are still waiting to hear back from them. We’ll update you as soon as we hear, though. Meanwhile, a Rogers spokesperson posted on Twitter that the Canadian operator did not have Carrier IQ installed on its customer devices. MocoNews reported that U.K. operators Vodafone (one of Verizon Wireless’ parents) and O2 both denied collecting any customer info with Carrier IQ, while both Nokia and Google said that did not use Carrier IQ’s software on any of their phones (which in Google’s case means Nexus devices; not all Android phones).
Image courtesy of Flickr user kreg.steppe
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/p1zqS5lU >> That’s one down, waiting on replies from the others
[DocDocc] Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/T1KP0UZF via gigaOM
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/tZRAJAnR
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way: Verizon Wireless, the country’s largest mobile operator and Android device seller… http://t.co/saJY5RQQ
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/JhYYuYuH @amarchugg #news
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/48mOylon @amarchugg #news
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way: The largest mobile operator in the U.S. does not install CarrierIQ’s keystroke-sn… http://t.co/l0MVD4fy
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/W1Hrcbcw
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/4ehECuJU
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/7uN72cPA
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/QWLGJOVL
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/SyFcIXPS
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/KWOZdE6x
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/cHQm7MGz
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/KXE8mRXB
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/D4TYTKIS
RT @gigaom: Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/KWOZdE6x
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way: The largest mobile operator in the U.S. does not install CarrierIQ’s keystroke-sn… http://t.co/rWbXhsrs
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/TPYa73gJ
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way: The largest mobile operator in the U.S. does not install CarrierIQ’s keystroke-sn… http://t.co/1IBvSe7Z
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way: The largest mobile operator in the U.S. does not install CarrierIQ’s keystroke-sn… http://t.co/jhyoMsdZ
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way: The largest mobile operator in the U.S. does not install CarrierIQ’s keystroke-sn… http://t.co/pm9zTiqe
http://t.co/BOCjlH1F
gigaom: Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/fLZBD24D
RT @gigaom: Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/KWOZdE6x
Interesting. Would have naturally thought they were all for this. “@gigaom: Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/KYyZpM5D”
RT @gigaom: Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/WuYARcYa < good example of taking the high ground, and quickly.
So if no one is using Carrier IQ who is holding the smoking gun? http://deadzones.com
[GigaOM] Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way: The largest mobile operator in the U.S. does not install CarrierIQ’s key… http://t.co/ZT7xezug
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way: The largest mobile operator in the U.S. does not install CarrierIQ’s key… http://t.co/1qDOkPuF #privacy
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/oKT7traT via Kevin Fitchard
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/Tz4m2zlZ #BYOD
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/S7G84pZN #BYOD
RT @chuckhollis: RT @gigaom: Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/WuYARcYa < good example of taking the high ground, and quickly.
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/nTsd2fg1
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/TLbLHedS
RT @gigaom Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/VAkRdWbp
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way: Verizon Wireless, the country’s largest mobile operator and Android device seller… http://t.co/bsXgao76
RT @gigaom: Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/KWOZdE6x
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/iSkUAqhP
#Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/hDEfAMyP @om #mobile
Looking at you, @ATT RT @kfitchard Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/uQ53iZ9N >> That’s one down, waiting on replies from the others
RT @jkOnTheRun: Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/iSkUAqhP
RT @gigaom: Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/KWOZdE6x
RT @gigaom: Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/KWOZdE6x
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/D4ZXvqTf
Wow! @steppek one of your images are in use in an article on http://t.co/gRvwNwE4
RT @MikeWills: Wow! @steppek one of your images are in use in an article on http://t.co/gRvwNwE4
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/c9RtsGPK
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way – Verizon Wireless, the country’s largest mobile operator and Android device seller, d… http://t.co/GajRgW4g
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way – Verizon Wireless, the country’s largest mobile operator and Android device seller, d… http://t.co/jExDN7cD
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/QGFH1Ece
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way: The largest mobile operator in the U.S. does not install CarrierIQ’s keystroke-sn… http://t.co/jIi7sUcu
GigaOM | Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way: http://t.co/sqt5SJiA
Verizon says Carrier IQ is not on any of their cell phones. http://t.co/9jdIb9Bp
RT @fbihop: Verizon says Carrier IQ is not on any of their cell phones. http://t.co/9jdIb9Bp
RT @fbihop: Verizon says Carrier IQ is not on any of their cell phones. http://t.co/OD8g6Yr6
#apple Verizon Disavows Use of Carrier IQ: Kevin Fitchard, reporting for GigaOm:
“Any report that Verizon Wi… http://t.co/Xt45uePi
Verizon disavows CarrierIQ. Read between lines… “We use something else equally evil to track our customers.” http://t.co/yP6MgJzJ
RT @fbihop: Verizon says Carrier IQ is not on any of their cell phones. http://t.co/9jdIb9Bp
Verizon Disavows Use of Carrier IQ: Kevin Fitchard, reporting for GigaOm:
“Any report that Verizon Wireless … http://t.co/WsTuMAOS
Verizon Disavows Use of Carrier IQ: Kevin Fitchard, reporting for GigaOm:
“Any report that Verizon Wireless … http://t.co/786Zf7Iw
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way: While T-Mobile USA was the first operator to launch an Android device, Verizon be… http://t.co/FFsgNsov
Verizon Disavows Use of Carrier IQ http://t.co/ZLk6hlQ9
Good news for Verizon customers: VZ doesn’t use the CarrierIQ snooping software: http://t.co/ZUPURFO5. (AT&T users, well…)
Seems some say no CarrierIq running on them.
UK http://t.co/WM7VXLTx
RIM BBerry http://t.co/KlrUb0Qg (fux news!)
VZON http://t.co/FC6DPKCI
@kensan31 Verizon said “no way”. http://t.co/OE0V7ILh Not that I would trust a carrier anyway.
Verizon Disavows Use of Carrier IQ: Kevin Fitchard, reporting for GigaOm: “Any report that Verizon Wireless uses… http://t.co/n9dMmf0k
Verizon Disavows Use of Carrier IQ: Kevin Fitchard, reporting for GigaOm: “Any report that… http://t.co/Ne3sGNqB
Verizon Disavows Use of Carrier IQ http://t.co/cBZVd9YK No weasel words? “gave clear choices to customers” = EULA CYA @gruber
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way Tech News and Analysis http://t.co/Nwk5AMjB
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way Tech News and Analysis http://t.co/zDQ4eJWB
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way Tech News and Analysis http://t.co/nFggy9Sl
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way Tech News and Analysis http://t.co/dBnWfEeB
RT @magicofpi: Good news for Verizon customers: VZ doesn’t use the CarrierIQ snooping software: http://t.co/ZUPURFO5. (AT&T users, well…)
On the flip side, unless you opt-out, Verizon uses Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) packet-snoopers to compile your browsing history on non-SSL websites, and sells it to partners. They can’t sniff out HTTPS/SSL requests the way CarrierIQ is alleged to do, but it still is pretty creepy.
Hi Fazal, thanks for commenting. I agree with you that operators can do that, but do they? My understanding is the wireless operators know more about you than your own mother, but they can’t use that info because of privacy concerns. They can’t even use much of that info to market to their own customers.
I think the biggest point he was making was all of them track information to an extent, I would focus it more on CIQ rather than the providers. Verizon tracks information but does it internally so it never gets out. Its funny how it took ATT for people to forget what crap verizon was for years.
DF Verizon Disavows Use of Carrier IQ http://t.co/8z4iDCnp
DF Verizon Disavows Use of Carrier IQ http://t.co/8z4iDCnp
Verizon: No Carrier IQ, No way: The largest mobile operator in the U.S. does not install Carrier IQ’s keystroke-… http://t.co/qF3dlTMw
Verizon: No Carrier IQ, No way http://t.co/5q7Om9NA
Verizon: No Carrier IQ, No way | http://t.co/iqlgPY4U
Verizon Disavows Use of Carrier IQ http://t.co/ZXkCRu0p – soon we’ll hear other similar statements but carriers are missing the bigger pict…
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way: 1, 2011, 8:44am PT 2 Comments The largest mobile operator in the US does not inst… http://t.co/fioTL111
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/GAmG3A6Y
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way — Tech News and Analysis http://t.co/TEtyCAlt
Verizion #FTW http://t.co/drhmTwxK
Verizon: No Carrier IQ, No way — Tech News and Analysis: Verizon Wireless, the country’s largest mobile operator… http://t.co/YcqZjv6d
Ummm, yeah…my Droid X from Verizon definitely has the software installed. So is Motorola to blame or Verizon?
My Verizon Droid X does not appear to have this rootkit installed, so I’m not blaming anyone. I’ll have to look into the Deep Packet Inspection item, though.
Verizon: No CarrierIQ, No way http://t.co/ZS1i50f8 via @zite
Verizon Disavows Use of Carrier IQ http://t.co/XBWiQg2o … One check for Verizon, not so for AT&T & Sprint
Those of you who think just buying an i-phone or updating your OS is a fix, need to listen up. ALL CELL PHONES are tracked, and anything on them can be using against you so long as the phone is connected to a “network”. The “cell” in cell phone refers to the towers themselves, to guarantee quality of service your provider needs to know where your device is at all times, so ALL CELL PHONES “smart” and “dumb” are tracked. Recent news mentioned a device called the stingray that can be used like a “portable cell tower” to find your phone wherever it is.
Now the tricky part is how exposed are you? To answer that you need to consider how “smart” your phone actually is? Does it have GPS? Does it have internet access? Does it have a camera? Does it have expanded capabilities to run applications? Well… Since it is connected to an active network, not only can the cell phone service provider locate you down to a few feet thanks to the GPS but so can a jealous partner or employer with software available online, an application designer / owner, a tech savvy computer geek, or someone with the monopoly of power like government, can use everything on that device that you can and more. Find us on facebook under “caged ideas LLC” for more information and a patented solution.
Attn all my fellow smart phone users! The interwebs are ablaze this week with news of a company known as “Carrier… http://t.co/7XuyY8AF
Seems that Verizon doesn’t install CarrierIQ, apparently. http://t.co/eXuwe4vY (via @julian0liver) amazing, everybody is so innocent, angels
@Slate Verizon: No Carrier IQ, No way http://t.co/1cOJxBkz
Verizon: No Carrier IQ, No way http://t.co/DnW4H2qH
Did anyone note that they denied using that company but say they have OTHER programs to track statistics? I wasnt notified of that. Also, do you folks realize that a bluetooth stealth program can be purchased that alows you to target anyones bluetooth enabled phone and be cloned into theirs? Not only can you watch and listen—you can call from their phone to others! You can turn on their speaker and listen to whats happening even iftheir phone is off. $49 bucks all over the net. We are SHEEP, being herded wherever they want .
I can just imagine how effectively VERIZON NOTIFIED USERS of either changes in their privacy policy or users’ability to opt out of VERIZON’S equivalent spyware version to CarrierIQ. Hah!