A few months ago I told you that BitDefender, the famous Romanian company that develops antivirus solutions and more, published an application called Clueful in the App Store. That app analyzed everything the apps on your iDevices were doing and was able to tell you which ones were logging location information, sending information to developers, plus much more. Although Apple initially published the application in the App Store, after a few months the company changed its mind and withdrew it, and users were left without a necessary utility that helps them quickly find out how applications access/use information from our iDevices.
Because the application Clueful was no longer published in the App Store, BitDefender thought of creating an online platform to provide users with the same type of information about the applications in the App Store. I'm talking about a web application available on cluefulapp.com, an application that can be accessed from iDevice/PCs and provides you with all the essential information about how the applications use the information from your terminals. The web application has a database with information collected about many applications from the App Store and using the search engine available in it you can find out if the applications in your terminals, or those you want to install, collect location data, log other types of information, can display ads, encrypt/not encrypt data, plus many others.
Those from BitDefender have an extremely well-thought-out database that is very useful for all people who want to have all their information protected. If you belong to this category of people, then access the web application following this link, add it to your HomeScreen and before installing an application from the App Store check it to see how it accesses your information. If you do not understand the information provided for each action of the application, then access the Details menu and there BitDefender has provided you with detailed explanations for each of the actions listed for the applications.
Clueful doesn't seem to be returning to the App Store, but there's no need either because now you have a much simpler and much more useful method to find out how applications work on iDevices.
The Clueful application, withdrawn by Apple from the AppStore, returns in the form of a web platform
BUCHAREST, August 27, 2012 – Clueful, the security software that helps iPhone owners recognize privacy-infringing apps, is back. Clueful – 'the web app' is a web platform that emulates the application originally launched on the iOS operating system and withdrawn from the App Store, following Apple's decision. Bitdefender thus confirms its intention to expand its product portfolio for application privilege monitoring.
Available for free at http://www.cluefulapp.com, the new Clueful adds extensive functionality, allowing users to check online for free all the privileges of apps they already have on their iPhone or plan to install. In this way, it will be possible to identify software careless with passwords or authentication data, those that unreasonably track the location of iPhone owners, read and use the contact list or calendar, or drain the phone's battery. Users will also be able to know in advance which apps are showing them ads and which are monitoring their phone usage behavior.
In addition to the information available on the site, users can add comments about their experience with software programs developed for the iPhone.
"The iPhone is an extremely personal device because it stores very large volumes of private information valuable to those who know how to monetize it. An app with Clueful features is far too useful and provides far too important information for the user to keep away from the public. We will come back soon with other news related to Clueful'', says Cătălin Coșoi, Chief Security Researcher at Bitdefender.
The leader of the local market of solutions antivirus will continue to work with Apple to bring the original Cluful app back to the App Store.
These guys are crazy... If iOS6 has an integrated function to see what applications are accessing, why don't I understand that Apple doesn't have the application
In iOS 6 you only see part of the information, and you must have the application already installed, here you find out everything in advance, without actually installing the application.
Typical Romanian…….if you don't want me, I want you
Mario, I don't understand you. that application is useful to CONSUMERS. the fact that apple doesn't want it doesn't make it more useful. I bought it after he presented it and it was useful. you find out all kinds of things about what the applications access (without you knowing).
Some of those who comment here are beyond limited in their thinking. Apple withdrew the Bitdefender application (because it would mean admitting that the AppStore is not as safe as they say) and they turned it into a FREE web application available to users and the same users are now coming I say that Bitdefender are beaten in the head. Typical Romanian.
I don't know if Bitdefender will be angry with me, but it is available pirated.
1. The pirated version is the old one, withdrawn by Apple.
2. If even for a Romanian application we were not inclined to take a few lei out of our pocket....
@Radu: You have nowhere to buy it. There is no other possibility to have it on an iPhone, if you haven't bought it and saved it on your computer.