NZ COVID Tracer app for Android and iOS

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#2618429 9-Dec-2020 08:11

freitasm:
Dingbatt:

So

“Bluetooth tracing in the NZ COVID Tracer app implements the Apple/Google Exposure Notification Framework, a secure protocol for transmitting Bluetooth data between devices.”

Is the exposure notification framework something that is already sitting latent in the OSes? For Android particularly, if we have to wait for the standard update process of Google->OEM->Carrier then the pandemic will have run its course by the time the capability is available. If that is the case then the government needs to ‘light a fire’ under those involved in the process.

The reason I ask is this morning’s report on the radio said “rolling out to iPhones”. Imagine if you caught COVID from a (gasp) Android user...

The framework is part of Google Play services and it should not depend on OEM release.

Google recently introduced a process to review all apps submitted to the play store, copying what Apple has been doing forever, and this caused a HUGE backlog in the app upload and release times. I don't know if times have improved, but I imagine the updated app for Android is in there somewhere

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#2618430 9-Dec-2020 08:16

antoniosk:

freitasm:

The framework is part of Google Play services and it should not depend on OEM release.

Google recently introduced a process to review all apps submitted to the play store, copying what Apple has been doing forever, and this caused a HUGE backlog in the app upload and release times. I don't know if times have improved, but I imagine the updated app for Android is in there somewhere

Google Play Services is part of the Google platform on Android and is not an app - it won't be queued. The Exposure Notification has been available for months now and eligible devices should have it by now. Just go to setting and search "covid" to see it.

This is what you will see (the option will be enabled with the new NZ COVID Tracer app):

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#2618432 9-Dec-2020 08:27

Some more general information:

- Having the Bluetooth Apple/Google exposure notification framework (ENF) exchanging keys in the background is only one of the ways for tracing. Please continue to scan QR codes.

- The QR codes help you keep a private record of the places you’ve been, while Bluetooth tracing allows you to keep an anonymised record of the people you’ve been near.

- Later today or tomorrow this page will have a video explaining how the Bluetooth tracing works.

- Bluetooth tracing requires iOS 13.5 or later for iPhones or Android 6.0 or later and must also support Google Play Services and Bluetooth Low Energy. Estimates indicate Bluetooth tracing will be available for about 90 percent of existing NZ COVID Tracer users.

- ENF is used in 25 countries and only available to public health agencies.

Open source:

Following the NZGOAL SE standards for open sourcing government software, the Ministry of Health has started the process of open sourcing the NZ COVID Tracer app.

The following repositories that have been released:

• The front end code for the app
• Documentation for navigating the code

The Ministry of Health encourages software developers and security researchers to inspect the code to independently verify the data handling. The Ministry of Health does not currently have capacity to handle pull requests and issue reports on GitHub, but they are happy to correspond through an email listed on those pages. Any reports of security issues should be reported according to the Ministry of Health responsible disclosure guidelines.

The app has been released under the AGPL license. Works derived from it must also be released under the same license.

alasta

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#2618439 9-Dec-2020 08:48

Based on the press release I get the impression that it won't be turned on by default, presumably because of potential backlash. I suspect most people won't opt in even if prompted, because they won't understand what this actually does.

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#2618443 9-Dec-2020 08:54

alasta:

Based on the press release I get the impression that it won't be turned on by default, presumably because of potential backlash. I suspect most people won't opt in even if prompted, because they won't understand what this actually does.

Other questions:

Has there been any testing to determine how this affects battery life?

Are there any concerns around interoperability between different makes and models of phone?

Some people have been on the beta - I have not. From my experience with Bluetooth on all day (connected to smartwatch(es) and headphones) I wouldn't be too concerned.

As for different models, this is based on Google Play services so it's consistent between devices, regardless of OS make or version.

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#2618498 9-Dec-2020 10:22

alasta: ...

Has there been any testing to determine how this affects battery life? ...

As per freitasm reply, I normally have bluetooth on 24/7 for smart watch connection. Never noticed any obvious hit on battery life. Web browsing and GPS are much bigger hits.

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#2618507 9-Dec-2020 10:50

DS248:

alasta: ...

Has there been any testing to determine how this affects battery life? ...

As per freitasm reply, I normally have bluetooth on 24/7 for smart watch connection. Never noticed any obvious hit on battery life. Web browsing and GPS are much bigger hits.

Good point. I have a Garmin watch that I think stays connected to my phone all day and battery life hasn't been a problem, so that's reassuring.

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#2618832 9-Dec-2020 17:48

alasta:
Based on the press release I get the impression that it won't be turned on by default, presumably because of potential backlash. I suspect most people won't opt in even if prompted, because they won't understand what this actually does.

Other questions:

Has there been any testing to determine how this affects battery life?

Are there any concerns around interoperability between different makes and models of phone?

Countries can’t force people to enable it as per the specs from Google/Apple. It can only be opt in when you enable it you are prompted by the OS if you want to enable it, and you can also disable it.
I’ve got the beta installed on my iPhone and it was super simple.
And I am sure it will be broadcasting random IDs like it was before.

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#2619078 10-Dec-2020 08:27

I regret to report that the bluetooth tracing cannot be activated on my Xiaomi MiMix3 phone.

Delete cookies?! Are you insane?!

alasta

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#2619080 10-Dec-2020 08:31

On Morning Report just before they said that the update might roll out slowly over the course of the day. I don't think mine has updated yet.

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#2619083 10-Dec-2020 08:35

Pixel 4a supports bluetooth covid notifications. It took a couple of minutes of it messing about to get working. There's also a covid menu in the phone where it can be enabled / disabled.

I have a notification from NZ Covid Tracer saying "checking exposure keys" with a moving bar. I wonder if it's going to keep doing that, chewing up battery, or if it's just getting itself sorted. I have that app set to not use battery in the background, but I guess I'll have to whitelist it if I want this to work - which I'm not sure is worth the bother in level 1.

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#2619085 10-Dec-2020 08:37

Update is available for me. It took a few minutes to do some kind of processing, but then a notification came through to ask me to turn bt tracing on. Seems to be working.

Curious as to where the settings panel that freitasm mentioned is, though. I can't find it in either phone settings or google app settings. Using a LG v30, wouldn't be surprised if LG's heavy-handed skin wiped it out.

tanivula

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#2619109 10-Dec-2020 08:54

kiwifidget:

I regret to report that the bluetooth tracing cannot be activated on my Xiaomi MiMix3 phone.

Initially my Mi 9 SE said the same, then after a minute or 2, got a notification that my phone supports it. Perhaps there is some magic that happens in the background between it and Google Services to check functionalirty? 🤔

ripdog

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#2619111 10-Dec-2020 08:57

timmmay:

I'll have to whitelist it if I want this to work - which I'm not sure is worth the bother in level 1.

Uh, level 1 is *exactly* the time you want to turn this on. It's too bloody late to start recording your exposures after the exposure has happened.

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#2619112 10-Dec-2020 08:57

ripdog:

Curious as to where the settings panel that freitasm mentioned is, though. I can't find it in either phone settings or google app settings. Using a LG v30, wouldn't be surprised if LG's heavy-handed skin wiped it out.

Likewise in my Samsung - solved by using the search function in Settings which brought it up and from there I was able to track it down to the Notifications area of Settings. Doh!

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