DATA DOCTORS

Avoid coronavirus contact tracing apps for the time being

Apr 18, 2020, 4:45 AM

(Pexels Photo)...

(Pexels Photo)

(Pexels Photo)

Q: Do you think any of the COVID contact tracing apps will be effective and worth using?

A: If you look to see how other countries have been tracing the interactions of those that have tested positive for COVID-19, the smartphone plays a central role.

There is a race in this country to find some effective way to use a smartphone app to help us develop a reliable contact tracing system, which would go a long way to restarting our economy.

A very enlightening video on YouTube has been posted by a Japanese filmmaker who lives in Nanjing, China showing how intricate their approach to contact tracing has evolved.

Our perspectives on privacy and civil liberties are quite different from China, so I don’t see our contact tracing ever getting as detailed as what is shown in the video.

The only way contact tracing can be effective is if everyone is using the same data set of interactions.

Location-based Tracing

Our smartphones automatically track our location at all times and have been used to illustrate how quickly the virus can spread around the country as seen in this video.

As obvious as it may seem that this approach would be effective, it’s actually not a very reliable method for determining close physical interaction despite two phones being in the same place.

Proximity Tracing

The more likely way that contact tracing apps will function is through proximity tests using the Bluetooth radio in our smartphones.

Bluetooth by design is a short-range interactive technology, which can be used to measure signal strength, which would allow an app to estimate if two people were close enough to potentially transmit the virus.

Google and Apple Join Forces

Google and Apple are the creators of the two operating systems that virtually every smartphone in the U.S. runs on, so they have joined forces
to develop a universal contact tracing technology.

This is important because if two different approaches were used, the resulting fragmentation of data would make both of them a lot less effective.

The first phase of the joint effort is focused on releasing an API (Application Programming Interface) to anyone trying to create a contact tracing app sometime in May.

The second phase of the plan will incorporate the Bluetooth exchange capability right into the operating system. This will make it a feature that can be turned on by those that opt-in and provide app developers with better integration of the primary measuring process.

Privacy Concerns

To be sure, there are always serious privacy concerns with technology that performs any kind of tracking. Throw in the desire to get something developed quickly, the potential for misuse and other unintended consequences to add to the privacy concerns.

Wired published an article on many of the concerns being voiced along with some potential solutions to the biggest problems.

The Current Reality

All of these attempts are ‘works in progress’ and won’t be of much value unless they are widely adopted. For those reasons, I’d strongly recommend avoiding any app that presents itself as a COVID contact tracing solution for the moment.

Another reason to be wary is that scammers will undoubtedly try to use fake tracing apps to compromise smartphones.

Data Doctors

(Pixabay photo)...

Ken Colburn, Data Doctors

What to know about Apple intelligence

What to know about Apple intelligence and its features? This guide by Data Doctors makes its simple.

4 days ago

How to pause the problematic Windows update...

Ken Colburn, Data Doctors

How to pause the problematic Windows update

I’m seeing all kinds of problems online with the latest Windows update and worried that it will be installed automatically. What should I be doing?

18 days ago

Google Photos local storage tech tips...

Data Doctors

Google Photos vs. Local Storage

What’s the best way to get my thousands of photos and videos on Google Photos downloaded to your computer?

25 days ago

Streaming apps can be be hard to sign out of: 6-step trick...

Data Doctors

How to remotely sign out of streaming apps

Do you use several streaming apps, like Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime or HBO/MAX? Then you'll likely find this technology guide useful.

1 month ago

technical differences between low-cost cellular companies and major carriers...

Data Doctors

MVNOs vs. major carriers: Understanding the key differences before you switch

What are the technical differences between the low-cost cellular companies and the major carriers? This guide by Data Doctors makes it simple.

1 month ago

Here are a few tips you can use to make your gadget usage more eco-friendly. (Pexels File Image)...

Data Doctors

Going green with your gadgets

Here are a few eco-friendly technology tips that smartphone, laptop and computer users can follow to minimize their environmental impact.

2 months ago

Sponsored Articles

...

Collins Comfort Masters

Act Now: Secure Your HVAC Equipment Before Prices Rise in 2025!

Phoenix, AZ – As the year draws to a close, Collins Comfort Masters is urging homeowners and businesses to take advantage of current pricing on HVAC equipment.

...

Collins Comfort Masters

Collins Comfort Masters: Leading the Way in HVAC and Plumbing Services in Arizona

Tempe, AZ – Since its inception in 1985, Collins Comfort Masters has been a cornerstone in the HVAC and plumbing industry in Phoenix and the surrounding Valley.

...

Day & Night Air Conditioning, Heating and Plumbing

It wouldn’t hurt to get your AC checked after Arizona’s excruciating heat wave

A well-maintained air conditioning unit is vital to living a comfortable life inside, away from triple-digit heat in Arizona.

Avoid coronavirus contact tracing apps for the time being