Privacy Issues?? What is, "Data Collector" Program Shown In Applications?

[DocsDad]

I see it now. I was looking for an App with an icon... (duh me).

I am not overly worried about it.

[bruben7886]

Motorola or Verizon....it's on my Droid 2 global.....been there since day 1.
But not for long, I pick up my maxx tomorrow

Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using DroidForums

[SallyC]

I was looking at all Apps in my app drawer. Not under All in Manage Apps. I got it too.

I guess it makes sense that we'd all be on the watch list - no doubt Apple devices are exempt.

[ltcalex]

I was looking at all Apps in my app drawer. Not under All in Manage Apps. I got it too.

I guess it makes sense that we'd all be on the watch list - no doubt Apple devices are exempt.

SallyC, glad you're posting. Security shouold be high on everyone's lists, but as we know, it isn't. It's about getting the fastest best information available at a finger touch. This thread deserves a LIKE, if not for any other reason than security is important. ltcalex "Likes"

[Zandar]

How do you know they are from Motorola? I don't see a description about the apps on mine.

Because I asked my good friend Teh Intertubez. He knows everything.

[jpcalhoun]

SallyC, glad you're posting. Security shouold be high on everyone's lists, but as we know, it isn't. It's about getting the fastest best information available at a finger touch. This thread deserves a LIKE, if not for any other reason than security is important. ltcalex "Likes"

You may feel this thread deserves a "like" but I don't understand why. But to the point: Are the two files in question a security concern? I don't think so. If Motorola wanted to collected information they shouldn't be collecting I doubt they'd be stupid enough to call them what they have called them. There is a lot of information, not private or incriminating, that your cell phone provides not only to the carrier but also to the manufacturer every time you turn your phone on. This information/data is used to evaluate software, hardware, network operations and any number of other functions. It is used to improve the delivery to the customer of improved services and better hardware.

[mmcompute]

I agree that Motorola or Verizon would be smart enough to rename the software something else besides, "Data Collector" if they were being clandestine about the whole thing but there is zero proof that these are from Motorola or Verizon. At least not yet. I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who has them but that does not confirm that Moto or VZ installed them only that they exist in multiple places. Could these be malware from the Market? Possibly.

Can anyone with a rooted phone try to uninstall the apps? Can you? IF so, what happens?

[milkshed27]

I'm rooted and have frozen all data collection/provider apps using Titanium backup. I haven't notice any negative affects although it does cause the Android System to hang (this can be seen in running services after freezing the apps). A simple reboot fixes the issue however. I definitely wouldn't delete or uninstall these or any other system apps as it's always possible that it may cause problems going forward. Not to mention it will most probably cause problems when installing OTA updates.

[nubia]

I'm rooted also and thinking about freezing them. I'm just worried about any adverse affect it may have.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

[mmcompute]

Freeze, test them, then reboot. If your phone hangs, unfreeze them.