Carrier IQ Tracking Software Potential Claims. Our firm is investigating potential claims on behalf of cell phone users with Carrier IQ, a type of tracking software, installed on their phones. Carrier IQ can track a substantial amount of extremely sensitive information, often without the users’ knowledge or consent. In fact, some phones come pre-loaded with the software.
Carrier IQ is reportedly installed in over 140 million devices worldwide, among carriers such as AT&T can track information including user names, passwords, search history and keystrokes.
If your smartphone is installed with Carrier IQ, our attorneys would like to speak with you. Contact the experienced product liability lawyers at Parker Waichman LLP today for a free, no-obligation evaluation of your case.
What is Carrier IQ?
Carrier IQ is a type of software that gathers a wealth of information on smartphone users. The so-called “embedded analytics company” implements the software in order to gather information about how the mobile device is being used in the real-world. Many users may not realize that Carrier IQ is installed on their phones. Separate from Android, Apple iPhone iOS or Blackberry OS, the software is installed independently by the phone manufacturer or your wireless carrier.
Android developer Trevor Eckhart has shown that Carrier IQ tracks almost everything you do on your phone. The software, which comes pre-installed as a carrier requirement in some phones, can log your location, calls and even keystrokes. Theoretically, this also means that it can track sensitive information such as your passwords and credit card numbers.
Senate Investigation
Carrier IQ tracking software has grabbed the attention of a number of people, including Senator Al Franken. In November 2011, the Senator sent a letter to President and CEO of Carrier IQ, Inc. Larry Lenhart. In his letter Franken acknowledges the value of diagnostic information, but points out that Carrier IQ seems to capture “a broad swath of extremely sensitive information from users that would appear to have nothing to do with diagnostics- including who they are calling, the contents of the texts they are receiving, the contents of their searches and the websites they visit.” He went on to say that “These actions may violate federal privacy laws, including the Electronic Communications Privacy Act and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. This is potentially a very serious matter.”
Who has Carrier IQ?
Carrier IQ is installed in at least 140 million mobile devices around the world. Many users may be completely unaware that their activity is being logged. Mobile phone brands who used Carrier IQ include Apple iPhone (prior to IOS 5), HTC, Samsung and Motorola, who has the software pre-loaded as a carrier requirement. Carrier IQ is used by several wireless providers, including A T&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Cricket Communications (a prepaid provider also known as Cricket Wireless).
Below is a list of individual devices with Carrier IQ:
Carrier IQ on AT&T Phones
AT&T says that some 900,000 customers are using phones with Carrier IQ.
- Motorola Atrix 2
- Motorola Bravo
- Pantech Pursuit II
- Pantech Breeze 3
- Pantech P5000 (Link 2)
- Pantech Pocket
- Sierra Wireless Shockwave
- LG Thrill
- ZTE Avail
- ZTE Z331
- SEMC Xperia Play
Carrier IQ is also installed, but inactive in the following devices:
- HTC Vivid
- LG Nitro
- Samsung Skyrocket
Carrier IQ is also packaged in the free AT&T Mark the Spot application, available for Android and RIM.
Carrier IQ & Samsung Phones
Samsung says 25 million phones have Carrier IQ spyware. It has directly installed Carrier IQ
at the factory in the following models:
AT&T
- SGH-i727
T-Mobile
- T989
- T679
Cricket
- SCH-R500
- SCH-R631
- SCH-R261
- SCH-R380
Carrier IQ & HTC Phones
Carrier IQ spyware is pre-installed in about 6.3 million HTC phones.
AT&T
- Vivid
T-Mobile
- Amaze 4G
Need Legal Help Regarding Carrier IQ Tracking Software?
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