Multitasking button on smartphones to spy on you

[la_mode]

It depends on the android brand if there's a clear button. It's not present with Motorola.

I'm really not surprised it went from only showing the app you most recently used in gingerbread, to having a snapshot of how you last used the app with anything beyond gingerbread. Pretty soon, TSA will start asking to see smartphones. Only a matter of time.

Like I said above, if they want info, they will analyze your internet traffic, they can track you using only cell phone signals (it doesn't work like in the movies where you have to keep the guy on line for x seconds, they can see your location as soon as your phone can receive the cell phone signal) and if they take the phone to forensics, they will use this device to copy everything from your phone and they will see anything they want to see (unless you use the option of encrypting your phone, it's located somewhere in settings). Unless you're using Tor or a trusted paid VPN they can capture your traffic and find out anything they want about you. The screenshot is gone the moment you press it, restart your phone or swipe it away - it's just unreliable to be used as evidence, since getting rid of it is as simple and easy as turning off the phone. And what can they do about your app list? Yes, you started an opera mini browser, a facebook chat application and a camera. What next? Are you ashamed of your app list or something?

It's a matter of simply knowing anyone can see your information like that. A friend can borrow your phone, click multitask, and it's all there.

Also, the fact that it's intentionally been made impossible to turn this off.

The US will get to a point that police will start asking random people to look through their phones. It's annoying knowing your every background process is saved unless you erase it constantly. Showing the app is one thing (like in gingerbread), a screenshot of the app even after you've signed out of a particular app (if it required sign-in) is ridiculous.

 

[mental]

It depends on the android brand if there's a clear button. It's not present with Motorola.

I'm really not surprised it went from only showing the app you most recently used in gingerbread, to having a snapshot of how you last used the app with anything beyond gingerbread. Pretty soon, TSA will start asking to see smartphones. Only a matter of time.

Like I said above, if they want info, they will analyze your internet traffic, they can track you using only cell phone signals (it doesn't work like in the movies where you have to keep the guy on line for x seconds, they can see your location as soon as your phone can receive the cell phone signal) and if they take the phone to forensics, they will use this device to copy everything from your phone and they will see anything they want to see (unless you use the option of encrypting your phone, it's located somewhere in settings). Unless you're using Tor or a trusted paid VPN they can capture your traffic and find out anything they want about you. The screenshot is gone the moment you press it, restart your phone or swipe it away - it's just unreliable to be used as evidence, since getting rid of it is as simple and easy as turning off the phone. And what can they do about your app list? Yes, you started an opera mini browser, a facebook chat application and a camera. What next? Are you ashamed of your app list or something?

It's a matter of simply knowing anyone can see your information like that. A friend can borrow your phone, click multitask, and it's all there.

Also, the fact that it's intentionally been made impossible to turn this off.

The US will get to a point that police will start asking random people to look through their phones. It's annoying knowing your every background process is saved unless you erase it constantly. Showing the app is one thing (like in gingerbread), a screenshot of the app even after you've signed out of a particular app (if it required sign-in) is ridiculous.

You're constantly ignoring what I've written and nitpick reasons. It's your phone, no one can take it without a warrant. Friend sees your apps, so what? Can't you password protect the screen or something? Besides, you can see the installed apps in every phone if you borrow it, what's the difference if they see which ones you ran? How's it any different from putting your app shortcuts on the home screen or on your computer? I feel this is a thread that's about making android look bad.

 

[la_mode]

Because there's a snapshot of the app exactly how you used it, opposed to the unopened icon. Meaning, if you checked your bank statement today, they could see that by simply pushing the multitask button.

You always have to remember to swipe the screens away.

Password protecting the screen is a different thing and really has nothing to do with the multitasking, which is only accessible when you're past the lock screen.

 

[mental]

Because there's a snapshot of the app exactly how you used it, opposed to the unopened icon. Meaning, if you checked your bank statement today, they could see that by simply pushing the multitask button.

You always have to remember to swipe the screens away.

Password protecting the screen is a different thing and really has nothing to do with the multitasking, which is only accessible when you're past the lock screen.

Huh. Can they get your bank account password? Your Facebook password? Your PayPal password? Swipe just the app you don't want anyone to see and that's it. And don't give the hamster logic of lock screen not having to do anything with multitasking. The lock screen is exactly what it says on the tin - a screen that locks your phone so they cannot use it in any way if they don't know the password/lock pattern/PIN. That's why people put the passwords on all devices that they don't want strangers to access. Lock screen = no more problem with multitask button. Why do you constantly complain about this when the fix is easy?
1. You don't want a certain window to be seen - swipe it.
2. You don't want any window to be seen - password protect the screen.
3. Refuse to give the phone - no warrant = no taking of phone.

 

[la_mode]

It's that you have to constantly swipe it and there's no way to not have it save the snapshot.

I've worked in office environments before when people forget their phones, battery is low, Tmobile didn't get reception, etc.

Let's say, someone asks to borrow your phone, before it didn't matter on gingerbread, it only showed the apps you used after long pressing the home button. If you don't have the clear button on multitask (some do not) then you have to swipe away every screen, which can just look strange. It's not like you're gonna stand directly behind the person either. In a split second now they can see your phone history and before it wasn't like that. Even after you've logged out of paypal, it still shows the screen from when you were logged in. Nothing to do with them getting the password, it's that they can see your balance unless you swiped it away. Refusing to let someone borrow the phone if they need to would be sort of strange as well.

There's no way to turn this off on ios7 or any newer android platfrom beyond gingerbread. I only think there should be an option for it, but for whatever reason there is not. Also a waste of RAM and slows the phone down.

 

[Grit]

"Hey can I use your phone?"
-"Sure, give me a minute to clear my search history."

At best this sounds sketchy.

 

[la_mode]

Some of you are walking the line of the some of the blue-pill morons on cell forums, basically, a position of "if you don't like it, too bad, that's the way is".

It's really not a huge deal, I'm only pointing out they've made it impossible to deactivate that and I believe it's intentional. Certain people in this world are very sneaky and not to be trusted, I'd prefer having that multitask thing turned off.

It's also the same with ios7 now.

 

[Tail Gunner]

It's your phone, no one can take it without a warrant.

It has not been like that for years, my friend. If what la-mode says is true, he has great cause for concern.

Here is an article from 2011. It has gotten worse since then.

In a case explicitly decided to set a precedent, the California Appellate court has determined police officers can rifle through your cellphone during a traffic violation stop.

This is not the first time such a law has been under scrutiny. In April, the Blaze told you about the extraction devices police were using in Michigan to download the entire contents of your phone.

Florida and Georgia are among the states that give no protection to a phone during a search after a violation has been committed. In particular, Florida law treats a smartphone as a “container” for the purposes of a search, similar to say a cardboard box open on the passenger seat, despite the thousands of personal emails, contacts, and photos a phone can carry stretching back years.

But after initially striking down cell phone snooping, California has now joined the list of states that allow cops to go through your phone without a warrant if they decide to impound your car.

It all began with a traffic stop, and a driver with some gun photos on his phone.

You can read the rest of the article here:

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/201...ves-cell-phone-searches-during-traffic-stops/

 

[mental]

Ok, I got your points. Still think this isn't a big deal, but since this is your lucky day, I found something - just launch any app using this app and it won't show in recent apps list, or create a widget on your homescreen for any app you don't want shown.