NZ COVID Tracer app for Android and iOS

Forums › Health and fitness › NZ COVID Tracer app for Android and iOS

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257 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#2487115 20-May-2020 13:22

surfisup1000:
ronw: There original press release implied data was restrained on phone now it appears it's actually stored in Australia

Yes that is misleading.

For an app that is all about supreme trust that would be a poor start.

Perhaps if people actually read the information that has been put out, that would be a good start. But I do worry that the way this is being communicated is not sufficient for the general public, even those with some technical knowledge.

Amazon Cognito is used for the authentication, hence why AWS Sydney is referenced. Thats where your account auth details are stored.

They are also relying on AWS to distribute the push notifications to alert devices when they have a positive location match. The check-in data is not stored there, it's only stored on your device.

There are plans to open source the code, and it has already been checked by numerous 3rd parties.

sudo

410 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#2487116 20-May-2020 13:23

So what search string in Google Play store brings up the app?

When I search "nz covid tracer" (and variations), I only see some WHO apps.

xcon

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Master Geek
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#2487118 20-May-2020 13:24

sudo:

So what search string in Google Play store brings up the app?

When I search "nz covid tracer" (and variations), I only see some WHO apps.

Same here , then found this link that i installed via web playstore

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.govt.health.covidtracer

profrink

257 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#2487125 20-May-2020 13:31

sudo:

So what search string in Google Play store brings up the app?

When I search "nz covid tracer" (and variations), I only see some WHO apps.

https://tracing.covid19.govt.nz/

OS support isn't great (only supporting from Android 7 upwards) so if it's not available that might be why.

empacher48

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Ultimate Geek
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#2487126 20-May-2020 13:32

I've installed the app and am more than happy to use it.

By being able to scan a QR code each time I enter a premises is a lot easier than my old manual system, where I would open a word document and type in where I was, what time and who I was with.

I guess at the end of the day as long as we all have some way of being able to recall exactly where and when we were in places, then the quicker we can get rid of this pain in the chest called COVID.

freitasm

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#2487130 20-May-2020 13:36

@xcon:

@sudo:

So what search string in Google Play store brings up the app?

When I search "nz covid tracer" (and variations), I only see some WHO apps.

Same here , then found this link that i installed via web playstore

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.govt.health.covidtracer

Or just use the links on the first post in this thread.

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#2487149 20-May-2020 14:09

empacher48:

I've installed the app and am more than happy to use it.

Although I'm yet to find any business that has a QR code up,

The two most common ones I've come across so far are rippl and Simple trace

Perthman

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Geek
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#2487150 20-May-2020 14:09

sudo:So what search string in Google Play store brings up the app?

When I search "nz covid tracer" (and variations), I only see some WHO apps.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.govt.health.covidtracer

Jiriteach

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#2487151 20-May-2020 14:11

From the press conference at 1pm - 92,000 downloads since release and only ~1,000 businesses have generated QR code’s as at 1pm. Many complaining about the effort to do so. Apparently MBIE is working with businesses on this.

-- opinions expressed by me are solely my own. ie - personal

frankv

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#2487152 20-May-2020 14:13

ronw:

If the data is being stored in AWS Sydney then I am most unhappy. We are already aware that the data would be subject to Australian law. Are we also gifting to Amazon email addresses etc for use later on?

This solution, including Consumer’s personal information and anonymised information, is
hosted and stored using Amazon Web Services (AWS) in the ap-southeast-2 (Sydney)
region.

This is a Ministry owned sub-tenancy of the main Ministry of Health AWS tenancy
which enforces a number of security, audit, and policy controls.

34. Data stored within AWS is encrypted. The Ministry controls access to the encryption
keys and the data.

Amazon being able to read the data would require them to have access to the encryption keys. Depending on how the MoH manage the keys, that may be practically speaking impossible. AWS users can provide and manage their own keys, and encrypt the data before sending it to AWS. You can also have private hosts, networks, and gateways in the AWS cloud, so that effectively your data is routed directly from outside the AWS cloud to your private host.

Conversely, I wouldn't be surprised if the MoH simply went with the cheapest default values, allowing Amazon to create and manage the keys. It would be interesting to see exactly how the MoH tenancy in AWS is configured.

A pile of health information must be a juicy target for data aggregators like Amazon, Microsoft, or Google (much juicier than a list of names and email addresses), so I guess I wouldn't be surprised if any of them had a secret data mining operation. OTOH, there's no evidence that I know of, and I doubt you could keep it secret for long. And the vaguest shred of evidence would be enough to undermine their entire business. You'd be literally betting the company on the ability to keep that secret.

neb

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#2487154 20-May-2020 14:19

GregV:
Set up Authy as MFA, but the app-icon within Authy shows the Australian COVIDSAFE icon

Authy takes the closest-match suggestion if there's no immediate one available, if you want a custom icon you can set it manually.

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sailedpeep

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Master Geek
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#2487166 20-May-2020 14:37

dafman:

Simple fact. Anyone who continues to promote or use the Rippl app over the newly-released Govt app is hindering NZs fight against Covid, not assisting it.

Sounds like interoperability is a goal.

Bloomfield said new registrations were taking place at about 10 per minute. He also said the Ministry of Health would be working with other app developers, such as Rippl in Wellington, to make sure information could be shared between the various contact tracing mechanisms. The app would complement contact tracing initiatives already in place rather than replace them.

https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/20-05-2020/covid-19-live-updates-may-20-bridges-confirms-leadership-challenge-contact-tracing-app-launched/

Part of me wonders whether it would've made more sense for MoH to just jump on Rippl rather than trying to build a competing app since WCC and DCC were both recommending it for businesses. Or at least MoH should've given earlier instruction to prevent governmental cross-promotion of competing exposure tracing apps.

openmedia

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#2487222 20-May-2020 15:17

Dingbatt:

This will take the place of the paper diary I have been using to keep track of where I’ve been and means I don’t need to look for announcements of what commercial premises might be the source of an outbreak.

I am wondering whether NFC could be used in addition to QR codes? I’m not sure whether there would be any increased security risk to your device. If there isn’t increased risk, then to me an NFC tag in is far less hassle than activating my phone’s camera, focusing/framing the QR code and taking the image. Additionally, if I can use the NFC in my smartwatch, even better.

Once we get our sub-dermal chips implanted, things will get even easier...... (/joking).

No one in our house has a phone with NFC, so it would have to be in addition to the QR codes.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

dafman

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#2487226 20-May-2020 15:21

What a complete mess the business registration is; I cannot believe they let this loose.

It took me 25 minutes to:

navigate the various different required sites,
find the relevant links buried in what seemed endless FAQ pages, and
contend with error messages when trying to set up and download posters.

I got there in the end but suspect many will just give up (which is the last thing we need). Someone in authority needs to urgently streamline and simplify this.

So maybe working alongside Rippl in the interim is not such a bad thing.

rugrat

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#2487236 20-May-2020 15:36

The code to confirm email address went into the promotions section of Gmail. Was wondering why code was taking so long to come through and when checked other folders it showed up there. It only notifies of new emails in primary.

Maybe because sender name was no-reply? Some people may not click to check other folders, Gmail set that folder up by default when installed, so guessing it's the same for others.

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