I was trying to change the Stocks market server access to work with non-US market when i found these url in the Stocks.app binary.

WTF ?

can you provide us a lovely screenshot and how you find this so that everyone knows?

Sure,

Inside the Stocks.app package, open Stocks with a Hexa Editor (e.g 0xED).

Now go to the offset 18BF8 and 1C30C.

The yahoo link is where safari opens when you click on the small Y! logo at the bottom left of Stocks.app

The Apple link is the one that retrieve the stocks data, and if you try to change the
it won't be able to retrieve anymore.

One more thing...

This let Apple knows which app you are using when connecting with your iPhone.
Obviously, they know the IP address you were using, the stocks companies you are interested to, and so they can track down their customers all around the world.

This also proves that there are probably other apps that do the same.

Weather.app is also acting the same way. (Offset 13AE0)

I've noticed a strange thing.

I tried with an iPod Touch with Socks.app or Weather.app and when it is connecting to apple, it sends an IMEI.

How come is it possible ?

Is it sending its serial number or whatever number... ?

why does this matter??? whats the difference if they have the IMEI or not?

XianLi, interesting find. I gotta take a look at this!

EDIT: I can confirm that the imei of the phone is sent to apple in BOTH weather/stocks apps.

Whether this is true or not, I don't see the relevance. Sure, it may piss some people off that their data can be traced back to them, but there's nothing really confidential or important about stocks and weather data. Now, i'm assuming that all that is being sent is your IMEI, which is what appears to be true.

You know, this really brings to light the general attitude towards Apple. Everyone is so quick to sing their praises, but even the most devoted would not trust them for a second. It's sad that we live in a world where people need to be so concerned about such things, but that's reality for you.

__________________

Apple is evil and monopolist.

1. They seal the batteries. You have to pay them $50 to $75 to replace the problematic batteries after warranty.
2. They use non-standard headset plugs. Technically, standard plug interface is enough in doing what iPods and iPhones should do with it.
3. They steal development ideas from 3rd party developers. For example, they stole widget from Konfabulator. It's just the tip of the iceberg.
4. They rob the open source community and barely contribute. For example, Apache, Virtual Desktop and so on.
5. They don't donate. While Bill Gates became the most generous donor on Earth many years ago, we barely heard Apple or its executives being on the news for the same reason.
6. Commercials, way too many commercials. If you notice, Steve Jobs and his team keeps advertising iTunes Store etc. They even put a iTunes Store icon on the SpringBoard. They charge for everything. All they talk about is money. Only money.
Too many to talk about. Just end here for now.

Hi !

I dont like that !
Did you find any way to patch this behaviour ?

So we would all be sending the same generic imei ?!

Greetings,

Ender