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Recently I have installed the 2.4.24 update which is presumably the last available update to be released for Motorola Milestone 2. Since I root my phone to be able to patch things that annoy me I have checked the stuff inside the filesystem to see what's new under the hood.

That is when I noticed a new folder — /data/system/usagestats with files usage-yyyymmdd starting on a date when I installed the update. Files contain detailed list of every single application, widget and screen I have used during each day since the update.

I am not happy with my discovery at all — if the operating system is free (as in open-source, not as in beer), then the last thing I expect to find inside is spyware.

Of course, it goes without saying that Google is syphoning out much more than that. For example, you can look up your own home address just by entering your home WiFi router's MAC address. Your Android phone is wardriving all the time your WiFi and GPS are on — it is collecting WiFi MAC addresses and locations and sending them to Google. Perhaps there is an opt-out, but this must be opt-in instead because once you connect to your home WiFi using your phone you have already given up the location data before actually having the chance to opt-out.

Furthermore, once you create a GMail account to be able to access Android Market, that email will sync your contacts and calendar without asking for permission and without offering opt-out. You need to dig through the options to disable copying items from your phonebook and calendar to Google servers.

Finally, there is also a question of Google search privacy issue. I was searching for LED lighting using my phone and few days later I got the following email:

HI
Glad to hear that you're on the market for LED ITMERS.

This is Sun from Shenzhen Newcentury Lighting  Ltd.
We specialized in manufacturing high power LED project
lamp SERIES covering smd lamp,tube,bulb,spotlight etc.
All of them are with excellent quality and reasonable price!
We offer OEM service and 2-3 year warranty.

Please find below technical info and price of our products
for your referrence.

LED High Power
3*1W GU10 Spotlight           7*1W Bulb     
100-240V AC                   100-240V AC
250LM                         620LM
$3.85                         $9.78                  

Should you know more iterms,pls contact my freely,thank you!

Thanks and best regards,

Sun Cui

Sales manager

-----------------------------------------------------
ShenZhen New Century Lighting Appliance Co.,Ltd

Add: No.3,Aixin Road
     Ailian Shihuo Community
     Longgang District
     ShenZhen
     China
Tel: 0086-755-28419900
Fax: 0086-755-28419623

E-mail:sun@newcenturyled.com

Website: www.newcenturyled.com

Mind you, I did not get that email to that GMail account — it was sent to my email address which I used to register for the GMail account! So, not only Google abused my search and provided that data to third party, but they also allowed them access to reach me which is the same as revealing my identity.

My sincere advice to anyone who wants to use Android based devices — don't. There are too many privacy issues that are unresolved and you have absolutely no control over what kind of personal information the device is leaking for others to see and profit from.