The implications of the second article are quite interesting. If the phone manufacturers didn't put CIQ on their phones*, and carriers like Verizon, RIM, and Nokia Europe claim they didn't either, how did it get on there in the cases where it was found? At least it's easy to determine if CIQ is installed on your android phone with Eckhart's Logging Test App v7. Removal is possible with the Pro version of this app; alternatives can be more involved, but all methods require the device to be rooted.
*) So far, HTC is the only manufacturer to admit installing the CIQ rootkit on its phones because US carriers require it. It'd be interesting to see if HTC phones supported by non-US carriers claiming not to participate in the CIQ program also contain the rootkit. As far as known, however, at least Dutch android phones do not seem to carry the CIQ spyware. In contrast, Vodaphone Portugal stated they did use CIQ, as did Sprint and ATT in the US. That said, and as alluded to above, several of the carriers denying the use of CIQ are known to use Deep Packet Inspection.
Last edited by alternaut; 12/03/1112:37 AM. Reason: Added Carrier IQ bandwagon link
