I saw that coming the minute a friends of mine showed me two databases that can query all info related to a registered car or phone line (be it mobile or land line) in Lebanon!
That’s how much info you can get by supplying the cars database with a car plate number
The phones database gives less info and can be queried using either the phone number or the number owner
According to Now Lebanon, Blogging Beirut, and Blog Baladi, these two database went online via two mobile applications and are now available to iPhone, iPod, and iPad users on the Apple Store, which is of course a disastrous news for each and everyone of us, as it is a pure invasion of privacy!
The fact that the two databases were stolen from the ministry of interior affairs is nothing weird, but taking advantage of it by a development company is RUDE, and it’s our privacy they’re selling!
Here’s some info about the development company (taken from their domain whois):
Ziad Salameh
DoubleU S.A.L
81St. George Bld. – Maarad Str.
Nejmeh Square ,
Beirut, Downtown, Beirut 00961
Lebanon
(961) 198-8883
Domain Name: UUAPPS.COM
Created on: 04-Mar-10
Please do report the applications to Apple by following Blogging Beirut‘s steps:
- Load the App Store
- Search for “Lebanon Directory”
- Select any of the following apps:
– Lebanon Directory
– Lebanon Cars Directory - Click on the “Report a Problem” link in the top right corner
- Select either:
– This application is offensive
– My concern is not listed here - Enter your Comments, something along the lines of:
“This application uses a stolen database of confidential personal records from the Interior Ministry of Lebanon. The use of the database outside of the Ministry is illegal. The possession of this data by a non-government agency is illegal.” - Click the blue Report button in the top right corner
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lebanon-directory/id389756749?mt=8
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lebanon-cars-directory/id394077287?mt=8
Thanks rami for helping shed the light on the issue.
Privacy hell is awaiting us – w 2al eTransaction law with privacy quotes !
is the app still online ? can we sue them or something ? any action plan u suggest.
This can be example of what can happen later and how we can deal with it.
btw. on blog i published the infograph result, you may want to take a look
Well I just hope someone from the concerned authorities comes across this or other posts about the issue and takes the appropriate action against it…
and thanks for the results!
this application is and isn’t a violation, sometimes someone callled unkown number to you, and closses u see a number, what should u do, who will give you any info of who that person is, a car hits u on the road, car company or insurance gives u no name, eno at least some info, for me its just a way of getting some info about someone, and just for more clearance people put there location and adress and phone number and everything skewl and anything u would see up in there facebook isn’t that the same! thank you
Where did u get the screenshots of the original software ? do u have it ? where can we download it ?
@Alan
A friend of mine has them and gave me these screenshots. I don’t think they’re available for downloaded because of their huge size.
Ayya privacy law ayya ballout.
This app is a service to all these out there who are victims of perverts following them. Try lodging a complaint about that without a wasta… which the bad guys have hence they don’t need this app to get your address… it happened to me in 2006 already. The problem is not the people distributing the app, the problem is the ridiculous level of “security” within the government. Can you imagine how many persons got their hands on this file before it reached the internet? If you are taking it offline you are just making it unavailable to a group of people who might have legitimate uses for it.
If you want to do something useful, sue the government. Harassing the people who put it online is only “shooting the messenger”. I understand you people want to do something about it, but you’re taking the easy way out, washing your hands of this problem and saying you did something right, when in fact you only took care of the symptoms of the illness.
Good luck.
Kiss ekhhhtttttt kelll wa77addd 3emmilll report la Hal apps b bsababo nma7o, w kisss ekhhtttt w emmm kelll wa77addd 3emmiilll doughoutat w kefa7 ta yetsakkaro el servers ba3d ma nma7o, w kell wa7ad mastoul w ghabe w 7mar la daraje yfakkir la senye enno hol el apps lezim yenlagho b2ello rou7 sheflak shi sharmouta tenteik 3enda, bas bit zahhit
Kiss ekhhhtttttt kelll wa77addd 3emmilll report la Hal apps b bsababo nma7o, w kisss ekhhtttt w emmm kelll wa77addd 3emmiilll doughoutat w kefa7 ta yetsakkaro el servers ba3d ma nma7o, w kell wa7ad mastoul w ghabe w 7mar la daraje yfakkir la senye enno hol el apps lezim yenlagho b2ello rou7 sheflak shi sharmouta tenteik 3enda, bas bit zahhit men khele2 li moustawa zakeihon byetfawwak moustawa zakei, w ma yeje yetsharmat metel ma 3emil
enno chou hal zaka, chalou men el iphone w nazzalou jame3it el blackberry.
Aboulayla, what is the link on blackberry. A friend of mine had the application downloaded through a link not through the appstore. I need to get the link if possible please for blackberry.
Regards,
How come they remove only cars directory from iphone and now it is available on android and always on blackberry .
Regards….
the name is LCD
i had it before on my blackberry.
apple re-install again an app called CARS NUMBERS then removed again ……………. till now i didnt understand how come if few people send for apple about an app , so how they remove it.
i can send them now that angry bird is also a bad game coz most of the children in lebanon need eyeglasses and also they are not studying…. chou hal masskhara
BloG +961