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

 

[p--and--t]

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

But if you don't get infected and you don't press the upload button there is nothing there anyway.

Also servers based on AU soil are bound by AU laws, not US laws.

 

[DC3]

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? .....

And is any of this tracing-by-app actually happening as yet? Very quiet if it is.

Edit: Maybe no reportable handshakes?

 

[tomlee1986]

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

I am not suggesting the US government would receive this information, but I am highlighting the possibility of this occuring

 

[jakeseven7]

I am not suggesting the US government would receive this information, but I am highlighting the possibility of this occuring

The Aliens that live just beyond Venus could also be receiving this information too. I’m not suggesting they would be, but highlighting the possibility of this occurring.

 

[OATEK]

I am not suggesting the US government would receive this information, but I am highlighting the possibility of this occuring

More likely to be hacked by the PRC than the US taking it.

 

[tomlee1986]

More likely to be hacked by the PRC than the US taking it.

I actually agree with you on that front! PRC can NOT be trusted with these information... Yes, the USA can also say that, but the check and balance in the courts are there, whereas in PRC, there are NONE!

 

[OATEK]

I actually agree with you on that front! PRC can NOT be trusted with these information... Yes, the USA can also say that, but the check and balance in the courts are there, whereas in PRC, there are NONE!

Sorry, you missed my point - but agree that trusting the PRC is difficult at present. But trusting in the Covid Safe App is very easy for me.

 

[jakeseven7]

I actually agree with you on that front! PRC can NOT be trusted with these information... Yes, the USA can also say that, but the check and balance in the courts are there, whereas in PRC, there are NONE!

OMG! What about Russia?! What if they hack it!? Next level!? What would they do with such incrediblly useful information?! Omg! Quick everyone delete your app!

 

[tomlee1986]

OMG! What about Russia?! What if they hack it!? Next level!? What would they do with such incrediblly useful information?! Omg! Quick everyone delete your app!

I doubt the Russians want it... i would be more suspicious for the PRC - I know i will be off topic.. but PRC likes to control Chinese people even if they are NOT in China...

 

[DC3]

... everyone delete your app!

New category needed for this, on the poll?

 

[serfty]

Seems the more recent release goes a long way to fix the iPhone locked screen issue without needing to wait for a new API from Apple.

The Unbroken iOS COVIDSafe application

The source code for COVIDSafe version 1.2 has been posted, and it contains two very important updates:

medium.com

 

[nutwood]

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!)

As far as I can ascertain, the app simply grabs information from every phone it can. The information grabbed includes signal strength and phone model.
If the phone owner is then diagnosed +ve, the data is analysed and those that have been at risk, based on exposure time and distance (assessed by signal strength and phone model) are contacted.

 

[Archphoto]

As far as I can ascertain, the app simply grabs information from every phone it can. The information grabbed includes signal strength and phone model.
If the phone owner is then diagnosed +ve, the data is analysed and those that have been at risk, based on exposure time and distance (assessed by signal strength and phone model) are contacted.

EDITED: I thought so too, but if this is the case, why have they bothered with touting the 1.5m distance? If it gathers every possible "ping" it can within range, this distance need isn't required for effective operation - and it would assist with my scenario of the sneezer/cougher in aisle B . . .

 

[Pushka]

I thought so too, but if this is the case, why have they bothered with touting the 1.5m distance? If it gathers every possible "ping" it can within range, this distance need isn't required - and it would assist with my scenario of the sneezer/cougher in aisle B . . .

Because it Is like soap and water. Front line defence. The app isn't downloaded by everyone.

 

[Archphoto]

Because it Is like soap and water. Front line defence. The app isn't downloaded by everyone.

Sorry, I misspoke. I was alluding to the touting for the actual app operating distance - I totally agree that we should still be keeping our 1.5m distance. The diagrams that were initially used, show the distance between phones as operating within a 1.5m, but not farther out. Or was I misunderstanding these info-charts that were popping up in various media forms?

 

[harvyk]

More likely to be hacked by the PRC than the US taking it.

The big question is why would you hack it? The vast majority of the information stored on that system is also stored in whitepages.com.au, and that can be freely searchd by anyone who cares.

But let's say I do hack in, then what? If I get caught I'm likely to get free accommodation, meals and a locked door for the next few years, it's not like its enough data to steal bank account details or get credit issued under someone else's name.

To put bluntly, the risk is high, the payoff is negligible, and there are much better targets for hacking. Apart from the glory in hacker circles, there is little point trying to break into the system, and state sponsored hackers don't normally care about glory.

 

[jakeseven7]

I can’t wait to see if all the ‘civil libertarians’ will dine out in post restriction era leaving their personal and private contact information details in unsecured cafes and restaurants all over Australia

 

[kookaburra75]

I can’t wait to see if all the ‘civil libertarians’ will dine out in post restriction era leaving their personal and private contact information details in unsecured cafes and restaurants all over Australia

You mean when they're talking loudly on the phones about inane matters, including their bank account details, where the spare key is hidden when the kids lock themselves out, when they're going away and there will be no-one home etc etc. You don't need to 'hack' anything these days, just sit there and listen.

 

[Pushka]

I can’t wait to see if all the ‘civil libertarians’ will dine out in post restriction era leaving their personal and private contact information details in unsecured cafes and restaurants all over Australia

You didn't mention the sharing of the same pen and paper unless everyone thinks to bring their own to a restaurant.

 

[nutwood]

EDITED: I thought so too, but if this is the case, why have they bothered with touting the 1.5m distance? If it gathers every possible "ping" it can within range, this distance need isn't required for effective operation - and it would assist with my scenario of the sneezer/cougher in aisle B . . .

The idea is that when they analyse the data, the signal strength and phone model assists in determining the 1.5 m. I find it hard to believe that it would be anywhere near accurate. There are a lot of variables in how people protect their phones and where they carry them. That said, I prefer the gather all "pings" idea. Clever analysis could reveal a lot about how the virus spreads. The sneezer in aisle B, the person you brushed past going through a doorway etc.