iPhone dev accused of harvesting player phone numbers
by Justin McElroy 
{ Nov 7th 2009 at 2:30PM } 
The company acknowledged the number harvesting in August, calling it a "bug," though the suit claims only specific code could have recorded and transmitted the numbers. So ... apparently that's a thing that happens. Have a great Saturday!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
dark_inchworm (stronger than never, ever before) @ Nov 7th 2009 2:36PM
Who ya gonna call?
Gusj @ Nov 10th 2009 5:32AM
Your customers.
RKN @ Nov 7th 2009 2:41PM
Brains...........phone numbers..............brains.........
brian @ Nov 7th 2009 3:29PM
CHaaangeee
Chibi Chaingun - blackhivemedia.com @ Nov 7th 2009 5:47PM
OMG Zombies! ...no seriously that's a game on the app store. :)
NBShermanator @ Nov 7th 2009 2:42PM
So what does that mean to me, the consumer?
Kamaka @ Nov 7th 2009 2:58PM
u might get a call from Perez. & if u do, plz take the opportunity to punch him square in the face.
Anthology @ Nov 7th 2009 3:15PM
Yes. If you get a phone call make sure to punch him. Through the phone.
sonicspike41 @ Nov 7th 2009 3:17PM
It could mean they are selling this information. They might send a copy of your name/number which they could then sell to "third parties", aka telemarketers and the like.
Shoyz @ Nov 7th 2009 3:19PM
Perhaps your numbers are being sold to telemarketers? :D
TRON.dll @ Nov 7th 2009 3:29PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=un_PjRXV5l8
Sly @ Nov 7th 2009 3:26PM
so this "bug" just happened to transmit numbers to them? bullshit. oh well, i'm happy. they were horrible mafia wars ripoffs.
TRON.dll @ Nov 7th 2009 3:28PM
Hah, I know someone who has every one of these "live" games. They're all exactly the same and revolve around pressing a "Do mission" button that gives you XP you can use to purchase items that give you more XP that you can only use on purchasing items that give you more XP.
Lurkero @ Nov 7th 2009 3:50PM
90% of phones are on the "Do Not Call" list anyways. This form of marketing has become useless
Martin @ Nov 7th 2009 3:58PM
That's not really relevant here. It's a privacy concern, not "oh no I don't want to be bothered by telesales." I rarely give out my cell phone number anymore. I certainly don't want to do it without knowing and/or having a say in the matter.
And I call BS on the "bug" explanation too. They knew what they were doing.
Smoke_me_a_Kipper @ Nov 7th 2009 3:59PM
Good thing I'm on the No Zombie call list.
SyR @ Nov 7th 2009 4:08PM
I'm sueing them for a hundred and fifty million dollars!
Sly @ Nov 7th 2009 4:21PM
*holds pinky to mouth*
Akio Morita ... Deader than you @ Nov 7th 2009 4:52PM
I don't own a iPod so forgive the ignorance but I though Apple had a store with tight controls on the functions of software allowed on there?
Akio Morita ... Deader than you @ Nov 7th 2009 4:53PM
Oh...and why the hell won't my avatar picture ever change? I've been uploading a new one for days now.
Anti-Villian @ Nov 7th 2009 7:52PM
at least you got one working in the first place
BIGGEN (LIVE-PSN: BIGGEN1103) @ Nov 7th 2009 6:16PM
i downloaded the lite versions for both of these and got tired of them in about 10 minutes. i realized quickly that i like to actually see what my character does instead of text telling me what my character does. these are very lame.
Anthony @ Nov 7th 2009 6:22PM
Well I'm glad I don't play any of those RETARDED GAMES THAT SPAM THE APP STORE.
Really, what joy can someone get from clicking buttons and reading text. I hate those types of things. I'm amazed things like that are popular on the app store or at places like facebook.
Anti-Villian @ Nov 7th 2009 7:54PM
Notice all these games revolve around some kind of pretentious fad?
Gangster, Zombies
people don't play it because its fun.
nosedive51 @ Nov 7th 2009 6:23PM
You know another really good way of getting phone numbers...a phone book.
2peteshakur @ Nov 7th 2009 6:38PM
How u get to change avatar or even register/login to this site?...
Sly @ Nov 7th 2009 9:42PM
apparently you've done both so why are you asking?...
Scott @ Nov 7th 2009 7:11PM
Omg anyone that is a programmer can say that that "bug" is complete bullshit.
I'm sorry you can't accidentally data collect and send that data back to yourself. Not possible.
They deserve to get sued. I would never think of ever putting something like that in one of my apps. Even mailing bug reports back with anonymous data should have user consent.
whylekat @ Nov 7th 2009 10:58PM
Seriously why do people play these (Generic Subject) Live games?! Zombies, Mafia, iMob.. They're all pointless and Terrible stat strategy games.. Why are they so popular??