Covid App: Yay or Nay

[Reynard]

If I spent a lot of time among people or lived in an urban area, then yes, I would download it, as it makes sense.

But as I live in the boonies and may go days without seeing a soul, it's a bit like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

 

[steve292]

Oh, and I wouldn't trust Dido Harding to run a bath.

Perhaps because there are a fair few dodgy data miners hovering around this government, it doesn't feel like it's actually from the NHS, it feels like unaccountable people have used public money to get their hands on NHS's data and the right to freely use the NHS ''brand name'' to boot. Having Harding, with her history of appalling data hygiene, to head things up isn't exactly confidence inspiring either. I simply don't trust any of the people involved with it.

Nay. For these reasons

 

[Ming the Merciless]

With the Bluetooth on, it signals to any handset, Bluetooth enabled, that they have come into close contact with someone who has tested positive. Last two tests were returned as negative.

Walk through a town centre giving a false/misleading location being given out.

I'm old fashioned, when it comes to mobiles anyway, always turn mine off before entering or on hospital grounds

It doesn’t give a location out. It just detects handsets in range. Nothing to do with where your weather app on your phone says it is.

 

[classic33]

It doesn’t give a location out. It just detects handsets in range. Nothing to do with where your weather app on your phone says it is.

It's not a weather app saying where "I am", that's network location.

Location is recorded via the QR codes on specific locations. All these locations marked via postcodes. Travelling between two such locations, it remains active, broadcasting the handset ID.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

It's not a weather app saying where "I am", that's network location.

Location is recorded via the QR codes on specific locations. All these locations marked via postcodes. Travelling between two such locations, it remains active, broadcasting the handset ID.

Either way the app isn’t using network location. A specific venue is recorded by the QR code and it’s got bugger all to do with network location. Your phone could be saying the North Pole, it’s irrelevant.

It’s doesn’t broadcast a “handset id”. It broadcasts a random id that changes every few minutes.

 

[Illaveago]

I would like to clarify a few points I made earlier.
I own a mobile phone but hardly ever use it . I prefer using a land line . So in that case it is pointless in me downloading it .
Several of my friends use mobile phones but they are the old simple versions as they are easy to use and probably be unable to install the app .
I don't go out much so the chances of coming into contact with people with the virus would be pretty slim .
I can see that it could be a useful tool in contacting people who may become infected and lessen the spread of the virus,but how often will people have to isolate and will they be able to get a test ?

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Yay for me but it's 2 different apps for Scotland and England as far as I can tell.

Yes, I have the Scot Gov app. I'm satisfied that it balances my privacy with population benefit of complementing the other covid measures that are in place. I particularly liked this part of the FAQs:

Edit to add link to FAQs: https://www.protect.scot/faq

 

[tom73]

The wasted time and money of the 1st app has left a lot of baggage around it. The privacy really is not a problem with this app it's not the same set up as the 1st. So that's not a problem for me on reflection it's a nay from me though I have downloaded it in case matters change.
I just don't have my phone on me enough when I go out. I'm not back at work and even then I can't have my phone. The only time I really have my phone is out on a ride which is just me and I don't stop off anywhere and it's always turned off. Or If we go off for day and on holiday that's not really happening either. Eating out is rare only time we've gone it in covid times is long before this app came out. When shopping which is quick in and out all I need is on my watch. Now if it was watch app too then I'd happily use it without a problem even with it's faults as i don't have to remember to have it with me. I fully understand why it can't and is not a failing of the app. In the end it's a personal choice unlike other more effective measures which for many who can just comes down to I can't be bothered.

 

[Fnaar]

I have installed it, but at the mo I'm based at home and not really going anywhere apart from the supermarket, out for walks with my daughter (my 'bubble') and solo cycle rides.

 

[Low Gear Guy]

I installed it on my work phone as my main risk is at work and travelling there. I won't be needing the app on solo bike rides or at home.

 

[MrGrumpy]

Got to laugh at the conspiracy theories bounded about here, posting on forums, cookies from internet web browsers etc. Some on here will also use the social media apps as well ( mind you not the luddites of which there are loads on here ) . Nobody is immune from some sort of tracking. I get you might not have the phone to use it with but if you do and you mix with other people be it work or whatever why would you not ??? We need to get out of this sh...t show !

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Did you check that it was the app that drained your battery twice as fast?

All I can go on is that my Chinese Government backdoored phone normally lasts me 2-3 days between charges. Bluetooth is normally switched on for when I get into the car for it to sync to the Bluetooth in there, but when I used the app it appeared to drop the battery 50% overnight whilst it was sat on the bedside cabinet, normally that is about 5% it could well have been something else, but that was the only thing that changed the previous day.

 

[Dec66]

Yes, I have. Yes, I let it run.

Yes, I'm pretty sure I have Covid at the end of March. No, I don't presume to be immune to another bout.

Yes, I'm partaking in the ONS Covid-19 survey.

No, I wouldn't trust this government to run a tap, let alone a country.

 

[rogerzilla]

We need to get out of this sh...t show !

When "big data" Cummings and "offshore concentration camps" Patel have been consigned to the backbenches, maybe. It's a show of their making.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Downloaded it and happy to use it although I'm not in anybodies presence for anything other than a brief as moment as I can manage (apart from Lovely Wife) and I'm religiously keeping 2m apart from everyone else (apart from the idiots passing closely in eg supermarkets).