30 January 2019

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Facebook pays to install VPN Facebook Research App which Spies on users

Facebook pays to install VPN Facebook Research App which Spies on users

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

The Facebook has been paying people aged between 13 and 35 to install a data harvesting VPN tool. The "Facebook Research" VPN was offered to iOS and Android users who were paid up to $20 per month  plus referral commissions  to provide the social network with nearunfettered access to phone, app and web usage data (a Root Certificate is installed to give a terrifying level of access).

TechCrunch investigation found that Facebook has been paying people aged between 13 and 35 to install a data harvesting VPN tool. The "Facebook Research" VPN was offered to iOS and Android users who were paid up to $20 per month – plus referral commissions -- to provide the social network with near-unfettered access to phone, app and web usage data (a Root Certificate is installed to give a terrifying level of access)

In 2014 Facebook acquired data-sniffing business Onavo. Onavo app helped users track and minimize their mobile data plan usage, but also gave Facebook deep analytics about what other apps they were using. In June Apple banned Facebook’s Onavo Protect app and that was removed in August.
Apple proceeded to inform Facebook in August that Onavo Protect violated data collection policies and that the social network needed to remove it from the App Store
Facebook shut down the app when it was discovered following privacy criticism

TechCrunch commissioned Strafach to analyze the Facebook Research app and find out where it was sending data. He confirmed that data is routed to “vpn-sjc1.v.facebook-program.com” that is associated with Onavo’s IP address, and that the facebook-program.com domain is registered to Facebook, according to MarkMonitor. The app can update itself without interacting with the App Store, and is linked to the email address PeopleJourney@fb.com. He also discovered that the Enterprise Certificate indicates Facebook renewed it on June 27th, 2018 — weeks after Apple announced its new rules that prohibited the similar Onavo Protect app.

It found that Facebook has been using the research program for some time to "gather data on usage habits". Facebook's Research was made available through a range of beta testing services, and in this way the app was able to "sidestep" the App Store. TechCrunch says that users were asked to install the app and provide "root access to network traffic in what may be a violation of Apple policy so the social network can decrypt and analyze their phone activity".

Once installed, users just had to keep the VPN running and sending data to Facebook to get paid. The Applause-administered program requested that users screenshot their Amazon orders page. This data could potentially help Facebook tie browsing habits and usage of other apps with purchase preferences and behavior. That information could be harnessed to pinpoint ad targeting and understand which types of users buy what.

 Facebook even asked users to screenshot their Amazon order history page. The program is administered through beta testing services Applause, BetaBound and uTest to cloak Facebook’s involvement, and is referred to in some documentation as “Project Atlas” — a fitting name for Facebook’s effort to map new trends and rivals around the globe.

 The sign-up page for the Facebook Research program administered by Applause doesn’t mention Facebook, but seeks users “Age: 13-35 (parental consent required for ages 13-17).” If minors try to sign-up, they’re asked to get their parents’ permission with a form that reveal’s Facebook’s involvement and says “There are no known risks associated with the project, however you acknowledge that the inherent nature of the project involves the tracking of personal information via your child’s use of apps.

the BetaBound sign-up page with a URL ending in “Atlas” explains that “For $20 per month (via e-gift cards), you will install an app on your phone and let it run in the background.” It also offers $20 per friend you refer. That site also doesn’t initially mention Facebook, but the instruction manual for installing Facebook Research reveals the company’s involvement.

Installing Root Certificate hands Facebook continuous access to the most sensitive data about you, what you do on your mobile phone.
The root certificate gives following access or say powers to facebook
Facebook will have the ability to continuously collect the following types of data:
1-private messages in social media apps,
2-chats from in instant messaging apps – including photos/videos sent to others,
3-emails, web searches, 4-web browsing activity,
5- even ongoing location information by tapping into the feeds of any location tracking apps you may have installed
An agreement users of one of the beta services signed up to gives a glimpse into the depth of the data collection:
By installing the software, you're giving our client permission to collect data from your phone that will help them understand how you browse the internet, and how you use the features in the apps you've installed. This data will only be used by our client, and won't be shared with unaffiliated third parties. This means you're letting our client collect information such as which apps are on your phone, how and when you use them, data about your activities and content within those apps, as well as how other people interact with you or your content within those apps.
In response to TechCrunch’s inquiry, a Facebook spokesperson confirmed it’s running the program to learn how people use their phones and other services.

Last year when Tim Cook was asked what he’d do in Mark Zuckerberg’s position in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, he said “I wouldn’t be in this situation... The truth is we could make a ton of money if we monetized our customer, if our customer was our product. We’ve elected not to do that.”
Anyone who is short on cash adult or kid will sign up for such programs which will make them sell their private life for pennies without understanding the real price of data.
Huffpost reported that  Facebook now tolded  TechCrunch it will shut down the iOS version of its Research app in the wake of  report.
Facebook did not publicly promote the Research VPN itself and used intermediaries that often didn’t disclose Facebook’s involvement until users had begun the signup process.
It is impossible to know which type of data Facebook saves and deletes.  I think Facebook saves 100% data nothing is deleted.
Do you think now Apple needs to ban Facebook fully?
If Apple does not ban Facebook then Facebook will find new methods to collect data from IOS users.

Now Facebook has ceased the program on iOS

Now let us see what Google does for Android Users.

Now question is Will Google dare to ban this app or Facebook?

Listen to article Facebook pays to install VPN Facebook Research App which Spies on users



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