Spy

 You have all heard about the sanchar sathi app which is currently in a huge controversy. Let me tell you about a related incident.

A few days ago, when I was just opening my eyes, I observed that my watch is giving me a lengthy message. On reading it with difficulty, I found out that it was asking me my apple password!

Are you kidding me? I did not shout. Nor did I jump or stomp or any such anger displaying actions. I told you, I was hardly able to open my eyes - it was early, dark, freezing morning.  

I just tapped - Not now. Like a pestering child, it asked a few more times and then remained silent. 

Until the next morning. Again the same message, at the same time. I again repeated "not now".

When this continued for multiple days, I tried giving it the password. What is the worst thing which could happen? I could always change the password. 

But no, it did not accept the password I typed with so much difficulty. Picture yourself trying to type a hidden password on a teeny tiny watch. Now picture yourself being in your sixties. Now you can imagine my frustration.

It suggested me to give the password in the phone. Which I promptly did. 

But that was not to be the end of the story. Next morning again the same request. And the same response. 

Anyways, I think I might have finally solved the problem though I don't know what went wrong. I will never know. 

So what I am trying to tell you is the apple devices which are famous for the strong security, can give you such problems. What about the android devices with open sources software?

So in such a situation, the rulers want you to have some app which will be inbuilt or added as part of OS in next update. The podcasts and channels I follow are telling me that the app has permission for almost everything in your phone - your camera, your microphone, your contacts, your sms.

If you are paranoid like me, you disable all these features in most of your apps - and justly so. But if it is a hidden app, you can't do anything about it. The app will silently listen to your conversations, observe what all you see in the camera, read your whatsapp messages, and  can send sms on your behalf.  It is like having a spy in your palm. 

Oh, I would throw such a phone and buy myself a dumb phone.