Pirated Android app uses shame as tool

[pauldmps]

Source: Pirated Android app uses shame as tool | Technology | Los Angeles Times

First, pirated music and movies inspired lawsuits. Now, a smartphone app is teaching digital bootleggers a lesson with a high-tech version of a public shaming.

The Android.Walkinwat purports to be a free version of another "Walk and Text" app, which costs $1.54 in the Android market and uses a phone's built-in camera to give you a live feed as you text, at least in theory preventing you from walking into stop signs or into traffic.

The free app, available from unofficial Android app markets, works as a Trojan horse once installed and redirects the pirate to the legitimate app in the Android marketplace and secretly sends the following text message to everyone on the phone's contact list:

"Hey, just downlaoded [sic] a pirated app off the internet, Walk and Text for Android. Im stupid and cheap, it costed [sic] only 1 buck. Don't steal like I did!"

Then, this message pops up to the user: "We really hope you learned something from this. Check your phone bill Oh and dont forget to buy the App from the Market."

Computer security company AVAST Software, based in the Czech Republic, concluded in a blog post that data from the pirated app was sent to a URL of Georgi Tanmazov, chief executive of Incorporate Apps, the developer of Android apps including the legitimate "Walk and Text" app. Rumors were running rampant that the app pilfered personal information including phone numbers and the device's unique identifier.

These rumors were soundly dismissed by Incorporate Apps.

"We are looking into ways of filing a lawsuit against AVAST from CZECH REPUBLIC, company which has a vast interest in spreading fear in favor of their products! We are denied contact to any officials from that company and our calls are being blocked or ignored," a letter on its website said.

[noob]

lol....

[ssk_the_gr8]

lol.... nice

[thetechfreak]

Law suit is too much.

[doomgiver]

the guy behind this must be one hell of a troll!!

[dreatica]

Lol but this not gonna work for those who usually have less then 1rs balance

[thetechfreak]

Originally Posted by dreatica

Lol but this not gonna work for those
who usually have less then 1rs
balance

To install the app you will need GPRS. And mobile companies to have atleast balance of Rs.10 to surf net. Hence a user with 1 re balance wont be able to surf net or download.

So,this trick will work

[Lala]

I have also known the same from some of my local friends.The points is that why there are many phone tools developers which is a menace to the users?Let see more of the products.

[dreatica]

Originally Posted by thetechfreak

To install the app you will need GPRS. And mobile companies to have atleast balance of Rs.10 to surf net. Hence a user with 1 re balance wont be able to surf net or download.

So,this trick will work

there was a time when you need minimum balance of Rs. 5/10 to enjoy internet. Nowadays, an Internet card and less then Rs.1 would do the favor

[thetechfreak]

Originally Posted by dreatica

there was a time when you need minimum balance of Rs. 5/10 to enjoy internet. Nowadays, an Internet card and less then Rs.1 would do the favor

But for some reason here, even if you put internet card of 98 but have lack of balance...the Internet won't work

[nisargshah95]

shame shame android shame.....

[dreatica]

Originally Posted by thetechfreak

But for some reason here, even if you put internet card of 98 but have lack of balance...the Internet won't work

lol you are a good follower but to make this conversation short, I am using it.

[pauldmps]

Min. balance required for using GPRS:

1. Vodafone: 10
2. TATA Docomo: 1
3. Airtel: 0 (not sure)

I hope that satisfies this argument.

[sameer.pur]

My BSNL 3G connection works even when i have less than 1Rs. balance.
But I am not gonna pirate that.. I am a android developer too! But this was too much... :X

[dreatica]

Originally Posted by thetechfreak

But for some reason here, even if you put internet card of 98 but have lack of balance...the Internet won't work

see above my friend

[Sam]

Originally Posted by dreatica

Lol but this not gonna work for those who usually have less then 1rs balance

currently my balance is 0 (Airtel ---> for GPRS use only)

Originally Posted by pauldmps

Min. balance required for using GPRS:

1. Vodafone: 10
2. TATA Docomo: 1
3. Airtel: 0 (not sure)

I hope that satisfies this argument.

fixed.

[dreatica]

Originally Posted by Sam

currently my balance is 0 (Airtel ---> for GPRS use only)



fixed.

You misread me, I meant to say this Android Pirate stuff will not work for users like us who use Internet with less then 1rs balance. You quoted me saying you have less then 1rs balance I am also using the same way, Airtel-3g only

PS: read the conversation again