Are you Going to use the COVIDsafe App?

[serfty]

I did research this a fair bit and I decided I was happy to:

Privacy Policy

The COVIDSafe app speeds up contacting people exposed to coronavirus (COVID-19). This helps us support and protect you, your friends and family. Please read the content on this page before downloading.

www.health.gov.au

 

[moa999]

Amazon technologies is Amazon Web Services (if my memory serves me right)

Correct. One of the largest cloud / web hosting companies in Australia with local servers, local support and a bunch of government contracts.

I hope Bandt continues his local crusade by refusing to fly on any aircraft that isn't manufactured in Australia as well

 

[tomlee1986]

I hope Bandt continues his local crusade by refusing to fly on any aircraft that isn't manufactured in Australia as well

I highly doubt that would happen lol

 

[DC3]

.... If an individual who has installed the app calls someone who has not installed the app 'selfish' then isn't the former bringing emotion into it before an allegation of shaming can be made in reverse? The former does not know why the latter has not installed the app

Agree with that.

Beware of bully-like behaviour that creeps in to some threads.

On AFF we are expected to respect the views of others and not to demean fellow AFFers when making a point.

Edited

 

[samh004]

So here's the thing, I downloaded it, it recognised me and let me log-in, but since downloading I've been to a number of places and forgot every time to take my phone out and leave the app open onscreen. At least on my iPhone, it's completely useless. If they adopted the Apple/Google API in the future then I imagine it would track my risk better.

So I guess I'll be included in the statistics for the number using the app, but 'active use' will probably remain at 0. I wonder if they'll be reporting that metric in the future. I can imagine a number like 70% market penetration, 0.2% active users

 

[RooFlyer]

More on pollies from the Oz story referenced above:

Nearly two million Quiet Aussies have downloaded the app, including former prime minister Julia Gillard and ACTU boss Sally McManus.

“I downloaded the COVIDSafe app because I just assume they track everything I do anyway and at least this might save lives,” McManus tweeted.

But not One Nation leader Pauline Hanson — who earlier this month promised to protest against Victoria’s social distancing rules by lying down in her Queensland paddock.

“I don’t want them tracking me, I don’t trust the government,” Hanson told the Nine Network on Monday.

Strange times, indeed

 

[moa999]

At least on my iPhone, it's completely useless. If they adopted the Apple/Google API

Agreed - Apple needs to bring out new APIs quickly. At least they will be distributed quickly (unlike if it was an Android issue).
From what I understand though in background though it can still communicate to incoming requests from Android or Apple devices, but Apple-Apple users are less likely to be recorded at present.

 

[RooFlyer]

forgot every time to take my phone out and leave the app open onscreen.

I don't think either of those things are necessary, are they?

From COVIDSafe app

To be effective, you should have the COVIDSafe app running as you go about your daily business and come into contact with people. Users will receive daily notifications to ensure the COVIDSafe app is running.

I don;'t know of any Bluetooth using application that needs the app to be on the onscreen (I use iPhone)

 

[Pushka]

So here's the thing, I downloaded it, it recognised me and let me log-in, but since downloading I've been to a number of places and forgot every time to take my phone out and leave the app open onscreen. At least on my iPhone, it's completely useless. If they adopted the Apple/Google API in the future then I imagine it would track my risk better.

So I guess I'll be included in the statistics for the number using the app, but 'active use' will probably remain at 0. I wonder if they'll be reporting that metric in the future. I can imagine a number like 70% market penetration, 0.2% active users

Unless you close the app by swiping up, isn't it always open?

 

[tomlee1986]

Speaking of iPhone... this article is useful

Want the COVID-19 tracing app to work properly? Keep your iPhone charged

The Government wants 40 per cent of Australians to use its contact tracing app COVIDSafe — but questions remain about the technology's performance on iPhone.

www.abc.net.au

Agreed - Apple needs to bring out new APIs quickly. At least they will be distributed quickly (unlike if it was an Android issue).
From what I understand though in background though it can still communicate to incoming requests from Android or Apple devices, but Apple-Apple users are less likely to be recorded at present.

 

[Pushka]

More on pollies from the Oz story referenced above:





Strange times, indeed

Well yes. I was totally conflicted when Barnaby said he was going to download the app then Pauline said she wasn't? Although in her case I can understand her issues.

Post automatically merged: Apr 28, 2020

Speaking of iPhone... this article is useful

Want the COVID-19 tracing app to work properly? Keep your iPhone charged

The Government wants 40 per cent of Australians to use its contact tracing app COVIDSafe — but questions remain about the technology's performance on iPhone.

www.abc.net.au

Yes I read yesterday that Low power mode turns it off. Probably you can do a manual switch on. I didn't find any degradation yesterday and I always have Bluetooth on.

 

[Andz]

this app has no personal info except your name and mobile number, this can easily be captured by anyone with a scanner sitting near you.

what surprised me is that non informed people think they are James Bond. The government knows everything about you. Hackers know everything about you and if they don't they could get it very easily. When you travel between mobile towers, when you use your credit card, when you pass toll gates, when you travel internally or externally, when you fart, the government knows and its captured.

 

[DC3]

.... when you fart, the government knows and its captured.

And that may be pushed to Scomo via the app?

 

[Pushka]

Politeness I think?

 

[SydneySwan]

Mrs SS downloaded the app but it just won't accept her phone number. She has tried to input her number about 20 times both with and without the leading 0. She is using iPhone 8. Anyone know if the app is using a faulty algorithm?

 

[tomlee1986]

Mrs SS downloaded the app but it just won't accept her phone number. She has tried to input her number about 20 times both with and without the leading 0. She is using iPhone 8. Anyone know if the app is using a faulty algorithm?

According to the media - there had been some issues with iPhone but I am not sure how to fix this issue

 

[RooFlyer]

Speaking of iPhone... this article is useful

Yes it is, thanks. I see there may be an issue with the app's effectiveness if an iPhone goes into low power mode (maybe some problem if ....). Personally, i always tell the phone not to go into LPM, so its not a biggie for me. I also see that the 'app open on the screen' applies to the Singapore version.

I'm sure any real glitches will be sorted, not just the "but questions remain" type.

No-one's claiming that the thing is perfect, or even that its going to replace manual checking. Its an additional tool to be used in contact-tracing, where the sooner they get to an infected person, the better the spread will be contained. Simple as that.

 

[VPS]

I am one that often just goes through and closes all my apps so had to be very careful when I went out today to make sure I left it open. It would have been nice for it to be able to say - are you sure but I coped.

 

[OATEK]

I am one that often just goes through and closes all my apps so had to be very careful when I went out today to make sure I left it open. It would have been nice for it to be able to say - are you sure but I coped.

My phone did an OS upgrade last night, and when it restarted the Covid app did not restart with it. I only noticed after I got home from shopping this morning. The instructions say of the app stops showing on your screen, then restart the phone. Hmm, perhaps not. Restarted the app, so will just have to check before I go out.

Edit: If I was in to conspiracy theories I could wonder if Huawei is involved - it is one of their handsets!

 

[p--and--t]

I don't understand your point here......

That "personal" information the app requires (which is name/age bracket/mobile number) the government already has.

Its even less than that. They really know nothing except the phone number they sent the pin to.

The app appears to do zero validity checks on the bare details added. So you can be "Donald Duck" show your "tinder" age and a suburb "postcode" you wish you could afford.

 

[SydneySwan]

The app appears to do zero validity checks on the bare details added. So you can be "Donald Duck" show your "tinder" age and a suburb "postcode" you wish you could afford.

All the money must have been spent on phone number validation which is way too rigorous. Anyone know Donald Duck's phone number? I will get Mrs SS to try that.