Airwatch App, My Rant on Big Brother

[GT1999]

My soon to be wife has Airwatch on her phone since she's a home nurse for "corporate security" purposes. They took away all their Blackberries and are giving them $45 a month as if that will cover all expenses (hah!). So I set up a GV number for her, and had to up our minutes to 1400 from 700.

What irks me is this Airwatch software. I was looking to jailbreak her iPhone (that's right, SHE owns it) and Airwatch has JB detection. It also has GPS tracking, and they can also read all of her personal emails and texts.

I get why they want to use it, but I think it's an invasion of privacy. I may buy her a new iPhone when it comes out for personal use, but then she'll have two phones.

I hate large corporations that do shit like this.

 

[TheStu]

My soon to be wife has Airwatch on her phone since she's a home nurse for "corporate security" purposes. They took away all their Blackberries and are giving them $45 a month as if that will cover all expenses (hah!). So I set up a GV number for her, and had to up our minutes to 1400 from 700.

What irks me is this Airwatch software. I was looking to jailbreak her iPhone (that's right, SHE owns it) and Airwatch has JB detection. It also has GPS tracking, and they can also read all of her personal emails and texts.

I get why they want to use it, but I think it's an invasion of privacy. I may buy her a new iPhone when it comes out for personal use, but then she'll have two phones.

I hate large corporations that do shit like this.

It would be one thing if it was a corporate phone that they pay for, but her personal device??

 

[GT1999]

It would be one thing if it was a corporate phone that they pay for, but her personal device??

I know It's probably some HIPPA law since patient information is being transmitted via their Exchange server.

 

[TheStu]

I know It's probably some HIPPA law since patient information is being transmitted via their Exchange server.

Well sure, but seriously, just provide the stinking phone if you are going to want to snoop on everything. I have 2 phones for exactly that reason. I have a work phone, that is only for work, and I have a personal phone, for you know, other stuff :sneaky:.

 

[hanoverphist]

i agree, thats a bit much. our trucks and company supplied phones have gps monitoring as well as the ability to monitor their calls/ texts/ emails. we also have the ability to turn the program off at the end of the day.my phone, and the managers phones, do not have this tracking on them.

 

[Spoooon]

Is it a convenience or a requirement for her to have use of a work cell phone?

 

[GT1999]

Is it a convenience or a requirement for her to have use of a work cell phone?

Requirement to call patients, receive emergency calls, schedule appointments, etc.

 

[AstroManLuca]

What about using the $45/mo allowance to buy a cheap flip phone? Those can cost well under $45/mo if you go through the right provider, depending on your usage. They can do whatever they want to it.

If they're requiring a smartphone but only providing $45/mo, then that's bullshit. She should file an expense report every month in the amount of her full bill.

 

[podspi]

Personally, I'd drop the phone and get a dumbphone, or get one of those prepaid smartphone plans that are around $45 a month. Yea it stinks that she would have to have two phones, but what you are describing is ridiculous.

And yes, laws surrounding patient information are quite serious, so I wouldn't screw with the phone until it is cleared for person use only

 

[GT1999]

Personally, I'd drop the phone and get a dumbphone, or get one of those prepaid smartphone plans that are around $45 a month. Yea it stinks that she would have to have two phones, but what you are describing is ridiculous.

And yes, laws surrounding patient information are quite serious, so I wouldn't screw with the phone until it is cleared for person use only

It needs to be iOS, Android, or RIM to support the Airwatch app and Exchange Server. She also uses almost all of your 700 minute plan as is, and is going to use even more calling and talking to patients and doctors now that she'll be using GV.

It is bullshit.

Hospitals are businesses too. Never doubt it.

 

[AirWatch]

My soon to be wife has Airwatch on her phone since she's a home nurse for "corporate security" purposes. They took away all their Blackberries and are giving them $45 a month as if that will cover all expenses (hah!). So I set up a GV number for her, and had to up our minutes to 1400 from 700.

What irks me is this Airwatch software. I was looking to jailbreak her iPhone (that's right, SHE owns it) and Airwatch has JB detection. It also has GPS tracking, and they can also read all of her personal emails and texts.

I get why they want to use it, but I think it's an invasion of privacy. I may buy her a new iPhone when it comes out for personal use, but then she'll have two phones.

I hate large corporations that do shit like this.

Companies using AirWatch in a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) model typically create different policies and configure privacy settings for employee owned vs. corporate owned devices.

Different policies often allow end-users to have more freedom using their devices (ex. install games, and some even allow compromised devices). Each company and industry is required to meet specific security requirements in the mobile space, so BYOD policies vary.

Privacy settings can be configured protect personal device users from data collection (ex. GPS, app lists and telecom data).

The purpose of AirWatch is to Secure devices,to protect corporate data and allows Administrators to configure profiles for devices so that end users will have access to corporate email, Wi-Fi, VPN, applications, content, etc.


The AirWatch Team

http://www.air-watch.com/solutions/bring-your-own-device-byod

 

[AstroManLuca]

It needs to be iOS, Android, or RIM to support the Airwatch app and Exchange Server. She also uses almost all of your 700 minute plan as is, and is going to use even more calling and talking to patients and doctors now that she'll be using GV.

It is bullshit.

Hospitals are businesses too. Never doubt it.

So they are requiring her to have a smartphone but they're not providing her with one nor paying her enough to cover the cost of the service? And then requiring her to put what is essentially malware on her own personal device?

What if someone who works there doesn't already own a smartphone? Do they provide one? What if they don't have a cell phone at all? What if she "loses" hers?

 

[GT1999]

Oooo, I feel special. Big brother just chimed in. This just made my day.

 

[cheezy321]

Lol the airwatch team joined in! SCARY.

As for your situation I definitely agree. If its BYOD, they shouldnt have that much control over it.

 

[GT1999]

Lol the airwatch team joined in! SCARY.

As for your situation I definitely agree. If its BYOD, they shouldnt have that much control over it.

Yeah, I hope this thread becomes epic. I'll let everybody else ream the "AirWatch Team" out.

I've edited the tags below accordingly.

Cheers.

 

[pm]

Just a reminder that this is a technical discussion forum. Please keep the discussion at a technical level. GT1999, if you have concerns with the software, this seems a good opportunity to ask specific questions about it.

Moderator PM

 

[GT1999]

Dear AirWatch Team,

From a technical perspective, do you believe it is fair to be making money off of corporations who are forcing their employees to use their own personal cell phones, rated data plans which they are also charged for (almost certainly at a cap or charged per KiB in worst case scenarios)? Because of your software, my cell phone bill went from $100 a month to $165 a month (and that's with a corporate discount).

Is there a way to determine what security policies are in place from the phone itself or does the employee have to work with their IT department, or your company? Can IT consultants query this information, or only the employee/corporation?

What happens if someone jailbreaks an iPhone or roots an Android phone that has the AirWatch app installed?

Lastly, what do you think Steve Jobs in 1984 would have thought about your software?

 

[Aikouka]

From a technical perspective, do you believe it is fair to be making money off of corporations who are forcing their employees to use their own personal cell phones, rated data plans which they are also charged for (almost certainly at a cap or charged per KiB in worst case scenarios)? Because of your software, my cell phone bill went from $100 a month to $165 a month (and that's with a corporate discount).

I'm pretty sure the person covered this. They provide a service and your SO's company (hospital) has implemented it. The hospital is who set the policy that they would no longer provide phones and the hospital is who set the policy that restricts the phone (including your SO's) to that level.

The company isn't to blame. That's like a college kid blaming Packeteer for their college implementing Packeteer's packet shaping hardware that screws up BitTorrent downloads.

Lastly, what do you think Steve Jobs in 1984 would have thought about your software?

Should they care?

 

[AstroManLuca]

I'm pretty sure the person covered this. They provide a service and your SO's company (hospital) has implemented it. The hospital is who set the policy that they would no longer provide phones and the hospital is who set the policy that restricts the phone (including your SO's) to that level.

The company isn't to blame. That's like a college kid blaming Packeteer for their college implementing Packeteer's packet shaping hardware that screws up BitTorrent downloads.

Yeah I'd agree with this. Obviously there is a demand (even a need) for the kind of software Airwatch makes. It's up to their clients to implement it in a way that both accomplishes its goals and respects the freedom of the end users. I think the biggest issue here is that your wife's company is putting this on her own PERSONAL device and isn't even paying enough to cover the cost of the necessary service. I don't know if that's illegal but it seems like it ought to be. I don't think it would be a problem if her company provided her with a phone; if they did, they could lock it down however much they want and I wouldn't see an issue. But doing it to her own device that SHE owns, not the company, is wrong.

 

[Blaze1911]

So, company issues cellphone with AirWatch (for Hippa purposes) installed. Employee doesn't want personal text messages saved on a server. Can the employee use a 3rd party app like "Free Text" to get around this?

 

[paperwastage]

yay thread necro

it depends what the company set up on their company-issued cellphone, whether installing new apps are allowed...

they have a policy for a reason. don't try to circumvent it

i'd rather just keep my personal and company life(and cellphone) separate.

 

[Lorino]

I also have to install airwatch on my company ipad. If I turn off location services, anyone know if this makes me untraceable?

 

[cpacini]

Wow a necro thread that had been necro'd before, does that make it a double necro?

 

[rcpratt]

Wow a necro thread that had been necro'd before, does that make it a double necro?

At least it's somewhat relevant.

 

[Cruisin1]

yay thread necro

it depends what the company set up on their company-issued cellphone, whether installing new apps are allowed...

they have a policy for a reason. don't try to circumvent it

i'd rather just keep my personal and company life(and cellphone) separate.

DING DING DING!!

I'm a solutions architect that designs datacenter and corporate policies for said companies for products that include airwatch. The main reasoning behind airwatch is all these employees with their multitude of devices demanding that they have access to corporate data. Well it's double edged sword. If you want a corporation to allow you access to that data then you have to allow them to protect their data. I'd go as far to say it's negligent of that company NOT do be doing this. Just look at all the leaks over the past few years of laptops being misplaced and SSNS and customer information getting out. This is essentially SOLVED with products like airwatch.

If you are going to complain then keep your wifes PERSONAL cell phone separate and get a completely different device and plan for company purposes (afterall they do give her a stipend of $45/month for cell phone... she can easily pick up a free phone on contract and a plan for that with no issue).