Saw this, checked and it's there

[Allinadaystwerk]

Not sure how I feel about having this download on my phone without my permission. How about you?

@lootsharks - unfortunately this spamware didn't give me the choice to have it installed on my phone.

You agreed to it being put on your phone, either by setting automatic updates or by installing the latest OS. You obviously didn't read the detail of what was included in it.

The fact is nobody was told, its pissing people off !....

That's not quite true though.

If they can install that on your phone, what else can they install ?...

Nothing. Nobody can install anything to your phone unless you let them

This thread just shows how bonkers people are and so desperate to jump on the outrage bandwagon.

Get a grip. Find out exactly what it is, how it came to be there and how to prevent it happening again, then come back and explain the issue

@fififorgetmenotforgot68

The fact is nobody was told, its pissing people off !....If they can install that on your phone, what else can they install ?...1984 is here...Big Brother is about to watch you !!

Cant tell if sarcasm or genuine tinfoil wearer.

@lootsharks - The apps on my phone work perfectly thank you. They don't need an update which adds in covid tracing functionality which may or may not work and may or may not compromise my privacy.

I suspect there are quite a number of features included in any update that you don't need. You can hardly expect the makers to provide a bespoke OS for everyone.

@2beautifulbabs - Just checked it's on my iPhone and I didn't download it must have done it when phone updated

There is nothing to download (other than the IOS). It was included in IOS 13.5, so if you upgraded to IOS 13.5 or 13.5.1, it would have been included as part of that upgrade.

@fessmess

I have the Covid App as I am on IOW and this isn't on my phone.

1. It isn’t on your phone because you haven’t updated it recently.
2. It doesn’t need to be on your phone for the ‘IOW app’ to work as this is the one they developed (and have now ditched) without using the Apple/Google tools.

@WhatWouldYouDoWhatWouldJesusDo - It's on mine too. The cheeky fuckers 😳

How is it cheeky? Apple and Google are continually upgrading their OS to ensure apps work. It's there if you want to use an app that needs it. It will do nothing if you choose not to use an app for track and trace.

For the iOS it was included in the update previous to the latest one, released on 20 May.

Sneaky. I've just looked at mine and it's switched off so I guess it's up to me to switch it on?

Should have RTFT anyway, if your phone updated in the last week or so, it will have probably been the next update 13.5.1, which will not list the Covid tracing because it was included in the previous one.

@Bercows

Sneaky. I've just looked at mine and it's switched off so I guess it's up to me to switch it on?

You can’t switch it on because it needs an app to work...

I'm on the most recent update 13.5.1 and it's no on so perhaps you need to do the update .

@tywysoges yes, I've just read more and discovered that.

On its own it is useless. It needs 3 things to make it work. Location AND Bluetooth turned on AND a compatible app on your device. The UK have abandoned the app that was being trialled on the IOW and are now attempting to write one that uses this API. It won't be ready for months. Even when it is, even if you download it unless you turn on Bluetooth and location it won't work

There for me too, wow. Big brother is watching!

@ ItsSpittingEverybodyIn - There for me too, wow. Big brother is watching!

You're only realising that now? Except with this one, unless you download an app that uses it and you turn it and Bluetooth on, nobody is watching you using this particular feature.

@ItsSpittingEverybodyIn

There for me too, wow. Big brother is watching!

If big brother is watching he is very fucking disappointed

@Rebelwithallthecause - So I just read through all the updates listed for the software upgrade and no mention at all about this

That's because it was first included in IOS 13.5 and the current update is 13.5.1. If you have a version older than 13.5 on your phone, you will need to read the details on what's included in the intervening updates too as the current one includes them too.

Fucking hell. There isn't enough tin foil to deal with the wilfully ignorant conspiracy nuts.

RTFT. Then educate yourselves on the sheer amount of data you unknowingly share and are tracked on by using a smart phone, the internet, smart hubs at home, social media etc.

This isn't big brother. It isn't 1984.

People who are interested in what's changing with a software update will find out. Either by reading the blurb in settings or by looking at the release notes.

For example, it's normal for gamers to check out blogs or YouTube videos for a summary of the release notes for games they're into, because the charges have an impact on their gameplay (new weapons/moves/characters/levels/locations, etc).

My teens can tell me exactly what's coming up in the next software update for each of their games, and DS always goes online for a summary of the new features of the iPhone updates, so I normally hear then from him.

I tend to skim read the notes in settings for an update when I remember, but if I forget, that's on me.

The information is all there for people who want to read it.

Fuck sake the amount of people that walk about with a phone and have no bloody clue what anything on it does. Maybe instead of feeding the hysteria you could actually read the bloody information. Its an API put there so that if you choose to download an app it will bloody work. It is not tracking you, it does not have the ability to track you unless you choose to download the App the it will work with.
Your phone is full of little bits of software like this. It is what makes the things you want on there work.
I just can't understand the mindset of people that seem to get all their news, updates and technical information from the likes of Mumsnet and Facebook.
Eductae yourselves b y a means other than the mass hysteria of social media for gods sake.

I haven't updated the OS or any apps on this device in several months - it's a secondary phone I don't use much. So those of you insisting we "agreed" to this update are wrong. Try to be less dismissive.

Yes it's on my phone!!

Oh I've found it was looking in the wrong place.

Fucking hell. There isn't enough tin foil to deal with the wilfully ignorant conspiracy nuts
😂😂😂😂😂