One of the ways I'm able to use some of the failed posted links,
is to copy and paste them into a search engine, where even if
there isn't much to go on, sometimes the exact item appears.
The search engine can (or should, does for me with duckduckgo
search that is my set default in Firefox browser) reveal the item
and provide a working link.
The issue with the iPhone flashlight app may be that your geo-
location and other information can help someone steal data.
• from the failed link above, that goes to this discussion presently •
(http://ivn.us/2014/10/01/phones-flashlight-app-stealing-data/)
copy video URL from above page, with text below: https://youtu.be/-irnH0h3Wd8
From the web page about the problem with some of these third party apps:
"Many people have a flashlight app on their smartphone. It’s a useful tool when the
power goes out or when a user is looking for something in a poorly lit environment."
"However, what most people likely don’t realize is these apps are geo-locating the
user and stealing their data. In an interview with independent investigative journalist
Ben Swann, Gary Miliefsky, CEO of SnoopWall LLC, the world’s first “counterveillance”
company, said his group discovered that the top 10 Android flashlight apps are doing
more than just helping you see in the dark."
“They are stealing your contacts, they’re connecting through backdoor or covert channels
to other countries, and this is really crimeware, it’s malware, it’s cyber spyware.”
"These apps have up to half-a-billion installs worldwide — that is a lot of data to steal.
However, anyone who downloads one of these apps is likely oblivious to the fact that
even though the app is free, it takes more from the user than the user gets from the app."
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=http%3A%2F%2Fivn.us%2F2014%2F10%2F01%2Fphones-flashlight-app-stealing-data%2F&t=ffsb
So, the iPhone has an app or feature already built in; essentially it becomes a costly
flashlight and uses the battery. If you use it, and cannot define a real emergency, it
may lead to more troubles when you cannot call due to lack of power. Several nice
small flashlights are high powered with variable power illumination, at fair prices. I
was given one a few years ago as holiday gift that is too good to use; rechargable
and quite bright. I could signal satellites with it. Or worse. For less cost than iPhone
you should carry a real flashlight and defer to that as the primary; using the phone
as a means to see while you change batteries in the real flashlight is a good ER use.
I'd looked into this discussion awhile back and had been using go-arounds to see the
correct pages; however links to the content have been running amok; some as long
ago as 6 to 8 months... I'd thought it was a total fluke (not the electrical meter brand.)
Anyway, hopefully your experiences here are not only learning ones, but a chance to
connect to people who are from all over. Note, non-technical discussions are limited.
In any event...
Good luck! 🙂
