Carrier iq

IQ Agent is a client software usually pre-installed on mobile devices by manufacturers or telecom operators and intended for collecting, storing and transmitting diagnostic information to their address. Transmitted data may include diagnostics of the device itself (firmware version, battery level, application performance, performance on the Internet), information on voice and data transfer efficiency between the device and the operator’s tower. What kind of data will be collected individually determined by mobile device manufacturers and telecom operators, by setting collection criteria also known as the “subscriber profile”. ^{[3] The} IQ Agent runs in the background, unnoticeable to the user of the device, and regardless of whether the device is turned on or not. ^[four]

The IQ Agent regularly transmits data to the Carrier IQ MSIP mobile intelligence platform, which then transfers this data to the carrier network to monitor and diagnose performance last. Whenever the IQ Agent transmits the next piece of information, it downloads the subscriber profile to change the criteria of the collected data in case of updating the profile.

The first implementation of IQ Agent came in 2006 and used the built-in phone features. Since then, versions of the spyware client have been written for many embedded operating systems ( Android , BlackBerry , iOS ) and are pre-installed on many smartphones , tablet computers and wireless modems . ^[five]

MSIP (Mobile Service Intelligence Platform) - literally, a mobile intelligence platform. Carrier IQ server software that receives audit data directly from mobile devices with the Agent IQ spy client installed. The software collects data from many devices and displays key performance indicators on their basis, which are then transmitted to telecom operators and can be used by them to assess the quality of the services they provide, determine the location of mobile devices and their communication problems.

Analytical domains are components of the MSIP platform that enable you to calculate key performance indicators . Carrier IQ’s first implementation of analytic domains exploited CDMA technology , later versions included support for UMTS ( 3G in GSM networks), LTE ( 4G LTE ), and specific implementations for specific mobile devices that collect information on their stability, battery charge, and application performance. .

IQ Insight is a collection of GUI applications for collecting, analyzing and graphing key performance indicators from MSIP. It is possible to present data in geospatial and tabular forms (for example, data on missed calls or located outside the access zone) and a summary analysis of indicators from several analytical domains.

IQ Care is a carrier’s desktop representing information from many IQ Agent spyware clients. When a network user calls his telecom operator with a request to support or troubleshoot the network, the telecom operator can view the characteristics of the device (for example, the serial number of the mobile device and the firmware version) on the desktop, the history of operation (for example, the number of installed applications, the autonomous work) and other information (data on failures of the device and applications, analytics of a radio communication, etc.).

On November 12, 2011 , hacker Trevor Eckhart (Trevor Eckhart) stated in his androidsecuritytest.com blog ^[6] that the Carrier IQ client registers (without notifying the user and not being able to refuse to register ^[7] ), such information as his movements and detailed statistics about all keys pressed. ^[8] Therefore, this client is spyware and potentially violates US federal law. ^[9] On November 16, 2011, Carrier IQ sent Eckhart a copyright infringement notification by posting on his blog the training data belonging to Carrier IQ linked to “false accusations”. ^{[10] [11]} Eckhart turned for help (and got it) to the lawyers of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF).

On November 23, 2011 , Carrier IQ retreated and apologized. ^[12] But in this statement, Carrier IQ denied the keystrokes of a mobile device and offered to work with the EFF. ^[13]

On November 28, 2011 , Eckhart posted a video on You Tube showing a demonstration of the Carrier IQ keystroke software in plain text. ^[14] The demonstration included the display of password seizure to secure sites and software activity that continued while the cellular network was turned off. Thus, the processing of keystrokes, data about the browser and the content of text messages was confirmed, but there was no indication that the collected information was transmitted. Carrier IQ responded that “indicators collected by their software, like software developed by them, are not intended to provide such information and the company has no intentions regarding the development of such software”. ^{[15] [16]} The description of the Experience Manager software on the Carrier IQ official website clearly states that consumers can “capture any data, including screenshots, data on website visits, keystroke sequences, and service data on network problems”. ^[17]

If the information provided by Eckhart is correct, the data sending process conflicts with Carrier IQ’s own privacy policy, which states: “after the deployment of Carrier IQ products, data is collected only in cases when the end user needs to receive information or participate in solving operational issues”. ^[18]

There are a large number of applications that can detect the presence of a Carrier IQ spy client on a mobile device. For such a definition, as a rule, rutting , jailbreak , etc. operations are not required. However, to remove the spy client these operations are necessary ^[19] . That, in turn, in some cases is considered by manufacturers and telecom operators as a violation of operating conditions and leads to the cancellation of guarantees.

Claims filed against Carrier IQ include:

• State of Massachusetts (civil and criminal lawsuits);
• US Department of Justice (criminal lawsuit);
• Federal Trade Commission (civil action);
• Sprint Nextel (civil lawsuit);
• T-Mobile (civil action);
• JMLECS Umbrella Companies (civil and criminal lawsuits); ^[20]
• Hagen Berman from California (status of the claim is unknown). ^[21]

• The FBI refused to provide data on the use of Carrier IQ // 3dnews, 12/14/2011
• How to remove Carrier IQ from Android, Blackberry and iPhone smartphones // 3dnews, 12/14/2011
• "The root of evil" or Carrier-IQ // w3bsit3-dns.com, 11/24/2011