Are you Going to use the COVIDsafe App?

[serfty]

I did research this a fair bit and I decided I was happy to:

Privacy Policy

The COVIDSafe app speeds up contacting people exposed to coronavirus (COVID-19). This helps us support and protect you, your friends and family. Please read the content on this page before downloading.

www.health.gov.au

 

[drron]

Us Westerners obviously like being scared about privacy.Both the US and Canada are having doubts expressed re Covid tracing apps.

Welcome to Precision Vaccinations News

Precision Vaccinations News publishes vaccine news patients can trust to make informed immunization decisions in partnership with doctors, nurses, and pharmacists.

www.coronavirustoday.com

Coronavirus contact tracing poses serious threats to our privacy

Contact tracing is being touted as essential to controlling the spread of COVID-19, but it comes with alarming concerns related to our rights to privacy.

theconversation.com

 

[luxury-lizard]

Hum - just read in the SMH that the UK will "ask" all arriving travellers to download their tracing app. Not sure when and exactly whom this would apply to and what "ask" means.

Also I asked a friend yesterday if she had downloaded the app - her response was along the lines of "huh, what? small laugh Should I? " Now this person is a middle aged doctor but is technology challenged. I told her she should and she said "oh OK". This may seem like a trivial data point but somehow I think this reason may apply to many of the people who have not downloaded the app.

It also seems that the federal and state officials giving the daily CV updates no longer stress the importance of downloading the app.

 

[Pushka]

Hum - just read in the SMH that the UK will "ask" all arriving travellers to download their tracing app. Not sure when and exactly whom this would apply to and what "ask" means.

Also I asked a friend yesterday if she had downloaded the app - her response was along the lines of "huh, what? small laugh Should I? " Now this person is a middle aged doctor but is technology challenged. I told her she should and she said "oh OK". This may seem like a trivial data point but somehow I think this reason may apply to many of the people who have not downloaded the app.

It also seems that the federal and state officials giving the daily CV updates no longer stress the importance of downloading the app.

I'm hoping not a GP kind of Doctor?

 

[jb747]

Interesting claim I read yesterday from the UK. Supposedly their app is not affected by Apple‘s security measures....having found a way around them. They also released the source code. You’d have to expect that if they truly found a way to circumvent Apple security, then Apple will have that patched in no time. Mind you, it had the sound of fake news to me. TBA I guess.

We had a phone stolen off the top of a table last year. Thankfully it was locked. There is no way I’m going to have an unlocked phone for any longer than I have to.

 

[moa999]

Interesting claim I read yesterday from the UK. Supposedly their app is not affected by Apple‘s security measures....having found a way around them.

We've also now released source code.

And the Apple app has been reportedly updated so it's slightly better (works when Covid app is in foreground, then locked) - same as UK.

But it really needs Apple to release their new APIs

 

[Archphoto]

Interestingly, my dad's 5C has been updated and the app automatically disappears into the background when you tap on it. My new SE2 and old 8 keep the window open and you need to double press the home button to get it to head to the background.

I'm guessing its working as it isn't actually closing, but gee it's a weird change, not to mention I had to reassure him (even though I'm still confused.)

 

[Daver6]

Interestingly, my dad's 5C has been updated and the app automatically disappears into the background when you tap on it. My new SE2 and old 8 keep the window open and you need to double press the home button to get it to head to the background.

I'm guessing its working as it isn't actually closing, but gee it's a weird change, not to mention I had to reassure him (even though I'm still confused.)

I'm no Apple expert, but I think that might mean that it's crashing on launch.

 

[OATEK]

We had a phone stolen off the top of a table last year. Thankfully it was locked. There is no way I’m going to have an unlocked phone for any longer than I have to.

Then again, you are probably not like those oft photographed couples who seem to be seated together but communicating by phone rather than verbally!

 

[jb747]

Then again, you are probably not like those oft photographed couples who seem to be seated together but communicating by phone rather than verbally!

Those I’ve seen doing that are probably not communicating with each other.

 

[Archphoto]

I'm no Apple expert, but I think that might mean that it's crashing on launch.

I thought that too, but if I double-tap the home button, the window is still open - but who the heck knows!

Edit: Just checked the notes on the app page (updated 16/5) and it now says any iPhone older than a 5S is not supported - guess that answers the question as to why it's now doing weird sh&%.

 

[wendlle]

I don't know what all the fuss is about regarding this app.
I am sure that most people don't realise that Amazon, Facebook and Google already know everything about them anyways.
At least this app can help in some way.

 

[DC3]

.... At least this app can help in some way.

Yes. We trust that this the case, although I haven’t seen anything on how it has helped, to date. Maybe missed this.

Any reports on how the “handshake” has been actually providing useful data?

 

[DC3]

297 to date. Maybe the poll will need to be further-extended?

 

[wendlle]

Yes. We trust that this the case, although I haven’t seen anything on how it has helped, to date. Maybe missed this.

Any reports on how the “handshake” has been actually providing useful data?

WEll, I don't think if our numbers stay low that we will see it help at all. But if they were to rise I think it would help people at least know if they need to be tested after coming into contact with another infected person.

 

[DC3]

... I think it would help people at least know if they need to be tested after coming into contact with another infected person.

I keep my distance these days. However, I’m a bit concerned with joggers, and others, coughing and spluttering at me as they pass by. The app needs 15 minutes of close contact for some reason.

 

[Archphoto]

I keep my distance these days. However, I’m a bit concerned with joggers, and others, coughing and spluttering at me as they pass by. The app needs 15 minutes of close contact for some reason.

Which is kind of weird - I remember seeing how a sneeze in Aisle B of a supermarket could linger and also transfer to Aisle A and C. In which case you'd only be passing through the droplets and possibly breathing them in. If the shopper was infected, the app wouldn't record the contact because A) further away than 1.5m and/or B) not long enough in the same vicinity as the infected person.

Appears to be more geared towards confined spaces of 15 minutes or more - but not a lot of help if you're in a packed train carriage, bus or elevator for less than the required (?) timeframe . . .

Or does it "ping" all Bluetooth devices with the app installed, regardless and keep the data anyway? (I can see that bloating quickly if you travel every day for work on the Public Transport system alone!)

 

[tomlee1986]

I don't know what all the fuss is about regarding this app.
I am sure that most people don't realise that Amazon, Facebook and Google already know everything about them anyways.
At least this app can help in some way.

As stated before.. i am willing to explain to you.. most people say companies cant do much against you, but now i heard the amazon server is also bound by us government laws that the details may be passed on to US government without warning.. maybe Australian government can explain that too

 

[ayebee]

We (me, spouse, + 2 daughters who are living with us for the moment) all downloaded the app a week or so back.

As we are still mostly having an "isolife", the main possibility of me being near anyone for more than 15 minutes is when I wander randomly round the golf course. Since many are in the more at risk age group, I thought the decent thing to do would be to have the app loaded.
The surprise for me was when I asked 7 others in my 4s (2 rounds so far) if they have the app, not 1 had it loaded.
When I asked why, there were no concerns about privacy or government snooping, but it was mostly "haven't got round to it yet".

 

[Archphoto]

I wonder if a report of an infection, quickly traced back via the CovidSafe app and locked down before it can spread, will show how important it is in stopping a possible far-reaching outbreak in its tracks, and thus see an increase in downloads?

Just musing; would definitely prefer no further mass-outbreaks, but maybe some people need to see it's relevance in the field, rather than just lip-service that hasn't yet proven its worth.

 

[moa999]

But now i heard the amazon server is also bound by us government laws that the details may be passed on to US government without warning.. maybe Australian government can explain that too

Firstly. I can't see much information that would be useful for the US Govt created by the app.
Secondly it's hosted on an Australian based Amazon AWS server (one of the largest web hosts in the country).
They also host most of the streaming websites, newspapers and will host the 2021 Census as well

Census 2021 digital services handed to PwC, AWS

Security front of mind after 2016 debacle.

www.itnews.com.au