Forum Topic

Someone tell Hancock and Johnson

Ireland has donated the source code of its working Covid tracing app to the Linux foundation ...https://eandt.theiet.org/content/articles/2020/07/ireland-donates-covid-19-app-code-to-linux/

Michael Ixer ● 2088d11 Comments

I guess it's the drive towards "cheapness"  plus ease of use ... these were interesting stories:https://news.sky.com/story/hackers-try-to-steal-1m-transfer-fee-during-football-club-cyber-attack-report-reveals-12034017

Michael Ixer ● 2086d

That is horrific and very frightening indeed!

Ivonne Holliday ● 2087d

Ivonne. I was on a call from one of the infosec industry groups Tuesday. Basically, there is no solution other than if you receive a call from Track and Isolate don't give out any details but then log onto the Track and Isolate web site and register your details. That was from an authoritative source (can't identify as Chatham House rule in place) but alsoit corresponds with my understanding. There's no way of reliably identifying incoming phone calls or emails.

Michael Ixer ● 2087d

Well, there is a massive difference between £11.8 million down the drain and some £800,000 for a working tool! Be it Bluetooth or not.  Something that works would be really welcome! As for the problem with scammers, I think you are in a better position than me to offer solutions.  I can think of a few, but equally, I can see the problem with every single one! Not good!

Ivonne Holliday ● 2087d

Ed. According to this £11.8 million:https://www.digitalhealth.net/2020/06/nhs-contact-tracing-app-cost/There's a lot of scepticism about whether the Bluetooth apps  will help (although geo location might help), or if the call centre approach to the overall programme can work because of all the scammers and no one trusting phone calls. Best option is local knowledge and knocking on doors ...

Michael Ixer ● 2087d

The UK has two apps.The one they abandoned I believe was over £11m.

Ed Robinson ● 2087d

Perhaps it is a "cheap" app (I can her my mother-in-law saying "there is no such thing as cheap!").  But we do not know how much the UK Government spent on the now-defunct track and trace app.  It would not surprise me it was exponentially more than the cost of the Irish one.

Ivonne Holliday ● 2087d

Cost £773,000 - similar app is used in Gibraltar and NI.World beating? Lets see if it adds any value to tracing. No real evidence that Bluetooth apps do.I personally believe just Bluetooth alone is not good enough to contact tracing. You need the context of the encounter. Geo coordinates would be useful.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/20/cheap-popular-and-it-works-irelands-contact-tracing-app-success

Ed Robinson ● 2087d

Oh, I think it is not.  After all, the British one is world beating — it does not work!

Ivonne Holliday ● 2087d

But is it world beating?

Clifford Cowell ● 2087d

That is very good news!  I hope they acknowledge it!

Ivonne Holliday ● 2088d