Incident: Privacy Violation: Carrier IQ Software Records and Transmits User Data

Published Date: 2011-12-01

Postmortem Analysis
Timeline 1. The software failure incident happened in November 2011. [9318, 9278]
System 1. Carrier IQ software package 2. Android-based smartphones 3. HTC's Evo 4G handset 4. Many Android handsets 5. Some BlackBerries 6. U.S. phone networks 7. Google's Android software These systems failed in the software failure incident reported in the articles [9318, 9278].
Responsible Organization 1. Carrier IQ [9318, 9278] 2. Phone networks using Carrier IQ software [9318] 3. Electronic Freedom Foundation [9318] 4. Android-based smartphone manufacturers using Carrier IQ software [9278]
Impacted Organization 1. Users of Android-based smartphones [9318, 9278] 2. Phone networks and carriers in the U.S. [9318, 9278]
Software Causes 1. The failure incident was caused by the presence of Carrier IQ software installed on millions of mobile phones, which recorded keystrokes, browsing activities, and messages without user consent [9318, 9278]. 2. The Carrier IQ software, intended for monitoring phone usage, overstepped privacy boundaries by reading private messages, web use, and transmitting sensitive data to the software creator [9318, 9278]. 3. The software's ability to log keystrokes, text messages, location data, and transmit this information raised concerns about privacy violations and unauthorized data collection [9318, 9278]. 4. Despite Carrier IQ's claims that the software was a diagnostic tool to improve network quality and user experience, the incident highlighted the software's intrusive nature and lack of transparency regarding data collection practices [9318, 9278].
Non-software Causes 1. Lack of transparency and user consent regarding the monitoring software installed on millions of mobile phones [9318, 9278] 2. Attempts by the company to suppress reports and intimidate researchers who exposed the privacy violations [9318] 3. Inadequate control for users to opt-out or fully remove the monitoring software from their devices [9278]
Impacts 1. Privacy violation: The software developed by Carrier IQ was found to log keystrokes, record SMS messages, Google searches, and location data without user consent, leading to a significant invasion of privacy [9318, 9278]. 2. Data transmission: The software transmitted the collected data to Carrier IQ, raising concerns about the security and confidentiality of user information [9318, 9278]. 3. Legal actions: Carrier IQ attempted to suppress reports and issued a cease-and-desist letter to the researcher, Trevor Eckhart, which led to a legal dispute over the research findings and allegations [9318, 9278]. 4. Public backlash: The incident sparked outrage among privacy advocates and the general public, highlighting the risks associated with pre-installed monitoring software on mobile devices [9318, 9278]. 5. Lack of user control: Users were unable to fully remove the Carrier IQ software from their devices without advanced technical skills, raising questions about user autonomy and control over their devices [9278].
Preventions 1. Implementing strict privacy policies and regulations to ensure that software developers cannot create intrusive monitoring software without user consent [9318, 9278]. 2. Conducting thorough security audits and reviews of software before it is installed on millions of devices to identify any potential privacy violations [9318, 9278]. 3. Providing users with clear and transparent information about the data being collected by software installed on their devices and giving them the option to opt-in or opt-out of such data collection [9318, 9278]. 4. Enforcing legal consequences for companies that engage in deceptive practices related to data collection and privacy violations [9318, 9278].
Fixes 1. Implementing strict privacy policies and obtaining explicit user consent before installing monitoring software on devices to ensure transparency and user control over data collection [9318, 9278]. 2. Conducting thorough security audits and testing of software to identify and address any vulnerabilities or privacy violations before deployment [9318, 9278]. 3. Providing users with the option to easily disable or uninstall monitoring software from their devices to give them control over their privacy [9318, 9278]. 4. Collaborating with independent security researchers and organizations to conduct regular assessments of software practices and ensure compliance with privacy regulations [9278]. 5. Enhancing communication and transparency between software developers, users, and regulatory bodies to address concerns and maintain trust in the software ecosystem [9318, 9278].
References 1. Trevor Eckhart, Android security researcher [9318, 9278] 2. Carrier IQ [9318, 9278] 3. Electronic Freedom Foundation [9318] 4. Sprint [9278]

Software Taxonomy of Faults

Category Option Rationale
Recurring one_organization, multiple_organization (a) The software failure incident related to privacy violations and data tracking by Carrier IQ has happened again within the same organization. The incident involved Carrier IQ's software being installed on millions of mobile phones, including Android devices, to monitor user behavior but was found to be reading private messages, keystrokes, and transmitting data to Carrier IQ [9318, 9278]. (b) The software failure incident involving Carrier IQ's data tracking and privacy violations has also occurred with other organizations or their products and services. The incident highlighted how Carrier IQ's software was running on over 130 million mobile devices worldwide, including those made by Nokia and Research In Motion, indicating a widespread impact beyond a single organization [9278].
Phase (Design/Operation) design, operation (a) The software failure incident related to the design phase can be seen in the articles. Carrier IQ's software, which was intended for monitoring and diagnostics, was found to be logging sensitive user data such as keystrokes, SMS messages, Google searches, and location data without user consent [9318, 9278]. This design flaw allowed the software to overstep privacy boundaries and transmit private information to Carrier IQ without users' knowledge. (b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase can be observed in the articles as well. Users were unable to easily opt out of the data collection by Carrier IQ, as the software was deeply embedded in the devices and could not be fully removed without advanced technical skills and rebuilding the phone from source code [9278]. This lack of control over the operation of the software led to concerns about user privacy and data security.
Boundary (Internal/External) within_system (a) The software failure incident related to the Carrier IQ monitoring app can be categorized as within_system. The incident involved the Carrier IQ software, which was installed on millions of phones to monitor how customers use their phones. The software was found to read private text messages, Google searches, keystrokes, and location data, transmitting this information to Carrier IQ [9318, 9278]. The failure originated from within the system itself, as the software was designed to collect and transmit sensitive user data without proper consent or transparency.
Nature (Human/Non-human) non-human_actions, human_actions (a) The software failure incident occurring due to non-human actions: - The software developed by Carrier IQ was found to log each keystroke and send them off to unknown locations without the direct involvement of users, indicating a failure due to contributing factors introduced without human participation [9278]. - The Carrier IQ software was installed as standard on many U.S. handsets to allow phone networks to monitor usage, but it was discovered to significantly overstep privacy boundaries by 'reading' private messages and web use without direct human involvement [9318]. (b) The software failure incident occurring due to human actions: - Carrier IQ, the company behind the software, initially took offense to claims made by Android security researcher Trevor Eckhart and sent him a cease-and-desist letter, demanding an apology for calling their software a "rootkit," showcasing a failure due to contributing factors introduced by human actions [9278]. - Carrier IQ attempted to suppress reports and demanded that Eckhart turn over contact information for individuals who obtained files from him, as well as replace his analysis with a statement disavowing his research, demonstrating human actions contributing to the software failure incident [9318].
Dimension (Hardware/Software) software (a) The articles do not mention any hardware-related failures that contributed to the software failure incident. (b) The software failure incident reported in the articles is related to software. The incident involves the software developed by Carrier IQ, which was installed on millions of mobile phones, including Android-based devices. The software was found to log keystrokes, record text messages, track location data, and transmit this information to Carrier IQ without users' consent. The software was described as a "rootkit" due to its ability to access device data while concealing its presence [9278]. The software also raised privacy concerns as it was collecting and transmitting sensitive user data without clear disclosure or opt-in mechanisms [9318].
Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) malicious (a) The software failure incident described in the articles is related to a malicious objective. The incident involves the software developed by Carrier IQ, which was found to be logging keystrokes, recording SMS messages, tracking user activities, and transmitting this data to Carrier IQ without users' consent [9318, 9278]. This behavior was not disclosed to users and was done covertly, indicating a malicious intent to collect sensitive information without user knowledge or permission. Additionally, Carrier IQ attempted to suppress reports and issued a cease-and-desist letter to the researcher who exposed the software's activities [9318]. (b) The incident does not involve non-malicious factors as the software's actions were not transparent, and users were unaware of the data collection and transmission processes happening in the background. The software's behavior of logging sensitive information without user consent and attempting to conceal its activities points towards a malicious intent rather than unintentional actions [9318, 9278].
Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) unknown (a) The intent of the software failure incident: - The software failure incident involving Carrier IQ's software was not due to poor decisions but rather intentional decisions made by the company. The software was designed to monitor how customers use their handsets, but it overstepped privacy boundaries by reading private messages, keystrokes, and transmitting sensitive data to Carrier IQ [9318, 9278]. - Carrier IQ initially attempted to suppress reports about the software's capabilities and sent a cease-and-desist letter to the researcher, Trevor Eckhart, who exposed the privacy violations [9318]. - The company denied that its software was designed to spy on users and claimed that it was meant for performance monitoring, not for recording keystrokes or providing tracking tools. However, Eckhart's demonstration clearly showed that the software was recording and transmitting sensitive information [9318, 9278].
Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) development_incompetence (a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence is evident in the articles. Trevor Eckhart, an Android security researcher, discovered that software developed by Carrier IQ was logging keystrokes, recording SMS messages, and transmitting sensitive data without users' consent [9278]. Carrier IQ, the company behind the software, initially tried to suppress Eckhart's report by sending him a cease-and-desist letter and demanding him to issue an apology for calling their software a "rootkit" [9278]. This behavior indicates a lack of transparency and ethical practices in the development process. (b) The software failure incident related to accidental factors is also present in the articles. Carrier IQ, the company responsible for the software, initially sent a cease-and-desist letter to Trevor Eckhart, claiming that his research infringed their copyrights and made false allegations about their software [9318]. However, after the Electronic Frontier Foundation intervened, Carrier IQ apologized for their actions, stating that their initial response was misguided and caused concern [9278]. This indicates that the company's actions may have been accidental or reactionary rather than intentional.
Duration permanent (a) The software failure incident in the articles seems to be more of a permanent nature. The software developed by Carrier IQ was installed on millions of mobile phones, including Android-based devices, and was designed to monitor users' activities. It was reported to record keystrokes, read SMS messages, track location data, and transmit this information to Carrier IQ without users' explicit consent. The software was deeply embedded in the devices, making it challenging to fully remove without rebuilding the phone from source code [9318, 9278]. The incident involved a significant violation of privacy as the software was collecting sensitive user data without clear disclosure or opt-in mechanisms. The software's behavior of logging and transmitting user information was not a one-time occurrence but rather a continuous process, indicating a permanent failure in terms of privacy invasion and data collection without user knowledge or control.
Behaviour omission, value, other (a) crash: The software failure incident described in the articles does not specifically mention a crash where the system loses state and does not perform any of its intended functions. (b) omission: The incident involves the software omitting to perform its intended functions at instances. The Carrier IQ software, installed on millions of phones, was found to log keystrokes, record text messages, and transmit data to Carrier IQ without the users' explicit consent [9318, 9278]. (c) timing: The incident does not involve a timing failure where the system performs its intended functions too late or too early. (d) value: The software failure incident does involve a failure related to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly. The Carrier IQ software was found to record sensitive information such as keystrokes, text messages, and location data, which raised privacy concerns [9318, 9278]. (e) byzantine: The incident does not involve a byzantine failure where the system behaves erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions. (f) other: The other behavior observed in this software failure incident is the software behaving in a way that invades user privacy by collecting and transmitting sensitive data without clear user consent or knowledge [9318, 9278].

IoT System Layer

Layer Option Rationale
Perception None None
Communication None None
Application None None

Other Details

Category Option Rationale
Consequence property Property: People's material goods, money, or data was impacted due to the software failure. The software failure incident involving Carrier IQ's monitoring software on Android phones resulted in the recording and transmission of private information such as keystrokes, text messages, Google searches, and location data to Carrier IQ without users' consent [9318, 9278]. This invasion of privacy and data collection without user knowledge or permission can be considered a significant impact on people's data and privacy, constituting a property-related consequence of the software failure incident.
Domain information, finance, other (a) The software failure incident discussed in the articles is related to the industry of information. The incident involves a monitoring app called Carrier IQ that was installed on millions of mobile phones to monitor how customers use their phones, including reading SMS messages, Google searches, and keystrokes, and transmitting this data to the software creator [9318, 9278]. (h) The incident also has implications for the finance industry as the software failure involves privacy concerns and potential data tracking of users' activities, which could impact financial transactions and data security [9278]. (m) The software failure incident is also relevant to the telecommunications industry as Carrier IQ software was used by phone networks to monitor how customers use their handsets, but it overstepped privacy boundaries by reading private messages and web use [9318].

Sources

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