A bogus warning is spreading across Facebook, telling parents of young children to watch out for a rogue iPhone/iPad app that (the warning claims) steals children's names, details of where they go to school, and even takes secret pictures of their faces.
The chain letter warning about the "Talking Angela" iOS app is being unwittingly spread by Facebook users, presumably with the thinking of "better safe than sorry" rather than "maybe I should just check the facts before forwarding this scare onto my friends".
The truth is that "Talking Angela" appears to be entirely benign, and there are no obvious privacy concerns that differentiate it from thousands of other iPhone apps.
Indeed, the "Talking Angela" app is no different from other similar popular children's apps from reputable iOS developer Out Fit 7 Ltd, including "Talking Tom Cat", "Talking Ben the Dog" and "Talking Gina the Giraffe".
Here's what a typical warning looks like when it is spread on Facebook:
WARNING FOR TO ALL PARENTS WITH CHILDREN THAT HAVE ANY ELECTRONIC DEVICES , EX : IPOD,TABLETS ETC .... THERE IS A SITE CALLED TALKING ANGELA , THIS SITE ASKS KIDS QUESTIONS LIKE : THERE NAMES , WHERE THEY GO TO SCHOOL AND ALSO TAKE PICTURES OF THEIR FACES BY PUSHING A HEART ON THE BOTTOM LEFT CORNER WITHOUT ANY NOTICES . PLEASE CHECK YOUR CHILDREN'S IPODS AND ALL TO MAKE SURE THEY DO NOT HAVE THIS APP !!! PLEASE PASS THIS MESSAGE ON TO YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS THAT HAVE KIDS !!!!
The inference from the all-caps warning is clearly that "Talking Angela" is somehow a risk to children.
However, whoever started this scare has got their facts in a muddle.
For one thing, "Talking Angela" is an iOS app - not a website (although there is an optional Facebook component).
Also, the app's purpose is to wait until the child says something and then mimic what they say back to them (albeit in a Parisian feline fashion) rather than to pilfer details of where they go to school.
None of this, of course, is to say that you shouldn't be careful about what smartphone apps you install, and which Facebook applications you grant access to your social networking profile.
Furthermore, it's always a good idea to keep a close eye on what children are doing on the internet - in case they get themselves into a spot of bother.
But the warning spreading across Facebook appears to be nothing more than a scare - setting the cat amongst the pigeons unnecessarily.
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People forwarding chain letters (!) on Facebook (!!) about online security (!!!).
"maybe I should just the facts before sharing this scare onto my friends"
Me fail English? That's unpossible! :o)
It should probably read "I should check the facts". Also, you don't "share onto"; you can share with, or pass onto.
Could almost pass as an anti-marketing campaign, do they have competing apps by Russian developers?
can i just say that, for an app that does asks questiong about a childs identity is not right, and ihave asked my child if this has happened and she has said yes, she has typed in details that it has asked her, so if it is safe y did it want my childs name, school and then take pics of her saying how beautiful she is
General Rule:
DO NOT automatically forward any message that says "Please pass this message on to family and friends..."
In the sixteen years in which I have used the Internet daily, I cannot recall a single instance wherein such a message was either true or useful. People who forward things without first verifying them are part of the problem.
Perhaps this was started by a competitor trying to negatively affect their sales?
This app asked my daughter for her name - have now deleted all talking apps from her iPod. My daughter was freaked out ( she has special educational needs) I'm not going to take the risk
The app asks players for a name, so that the Parisian cat can call you by that name.
You can enter Slartibartfast or Xena Warrior Princess if you want. Regardless, personally identifiable information doesn't get shared with the app developers.
There's a statement from the app developers in the Snopes report: http://www.snopes.com/computer/internet/angela.asp
The way adults are treated by social networks is appalling. To quote one industry expert :- 'many people do not understand what the comodity is on such sites. The comodity is you and your personal information'.
It would seem that the people who run talking angela(and, very sadly, the people who run this site) think that just because we are apathetic to this fact means that this apathy extends towards our children.
IT DOES NOT!
I have warned my children about the dangers of giving out personal information to such sites./ Im not saying that talking angela has any sinister intention but the fact that they have not considered that they are trawling data from children makes them, in my opinion, unsuitable to and untrustworthy for running a site for children.
You can not use 'well, other people(apps) do it too' as a defence.
okay, one more thought.
If you saw a man in a cat costume going down your street, asking young children what thier names were what would you do?
Is it less dangerous or in any way different when this happens online?
I did check it out for myself and was amazed that this app is allowed!
Angela sits there and asks questions as if your on a date with her and if you offer her a gift the camera pops up and takes a picture without warning. more surprising was the fact that you can pet her and she moves her body, winks and says how much she liked that!
I wouldn't say that this warning is wrong as I would share it on facebook any day after checking it out for myself. Not a happy Mom about that app that's for sure!!
My husband told me that he saw my 6 year old son talking to the cat and the cat said "let's talk about love". Sounds dodgy to me, especially when they can see the person they are talking to. Thoughts anyone?
I heard about it, and my 11 year old had the app, but never used it. The cat talked about getting angry and scratching her friend and talked about meeting her boyfriend Tom in a seedy club and that he liked to give her presents, but always expected a kiss in return! Needless to say it is well and truly deleted along with all the other Talking Apps!
warning to all parents and cares delete talking angela she asked my daughter to come and see her one day and told her to tell her about her life story .............. be care full
Permissions
This application has access to the following:
Hardware controls
take pictures and videos
Allows the app to take pictures and videos with the camera. This permission allows the app to use the camera at any time without your confirmation.
Network communication
full network access
Allows the app to create network sockets and use custom network protocols. The browser and other applications provide means to send data to the internet, so this permission is not required to send data to the internet.
Phone calls
read phone status and identity
Allows the app to access the phone features of the device. This permission allows the app to determine the phone number and device IDs, whether a call is active, and the remote number connected by a call.
Storage
modify or delete the contents of your USB storage modify or delete the contents of your SD card
Allows the app to write to the USB storage. Allows the app to write to the SD card.
System tools
prevent tablet from sleeping prevent phone from sleeping
AND THIS IS GOOD ?????????????? What are you Cracked?????????
Angela has a mimic function, "child mode" but she also has a conversation mode, "adult mode". Adult mode will interact in the manner described (but I assume without all the data mining and sharing).
I have never actually played with the app before. I fired it up and the first thing it did was say, "nice photo, is that a zit?" and then took my photo. I knew it happened and I can see the pic.
She asked me if I own a fake Rolex... and why not? You don't like it because it's illegal? Or that you haven't had the opportunity to buy one? And then how Clint Eastwood's daughter burned a Birkin bag as an art project. Hey, I'm learning stuff!
I think it's always good for a parent to play these apps themselves before turning their child loose... looks like I have a lot of work to do haha.