A man who identifies himself on Craigslist as a Pokémon master named Mike B.is offering paid rides around Baltimore for those Pokemon GO players who want to make the game a little easier for themselves. This, says the BBB, could be opening them up to potential malware.
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Many users are trying all kinds of tricks to download the app as it is not yet available in all countries worldwide. Players have to physically visit locations, as tracked by their phone’s Global Positioning System, to capture Pokemon.
“It was in someone’s backyard basically”, he said, as he and a friend hunted Pokemon in front of San Francisco City Hall. “It’s ridiculous and I turn 30 in two-weeks”. The way Pokemon GO works is that it uses Google maps to integrate Pokemon into the real world.
If you’ve wondered why the heck the app needs access to “things like your precise location, your email address, IP address, the last website you looked at”, then you’ll be glad to know that Senator Al Franken has your back. Foursquare said it was too soon to tell the impact of Pokemon GO.
Gamers should also take extra precautions to stay safe when playing the game, especially considering some tech-savvy criminals have already used the application to rob several people.
Safety: Players should use the same safety precautions while playing the game that they would in any other outdoor setting, including caution in unusual locations.
Though the app is free to download, there are in-app purchases such as “lures” which attract Pokémon to you. “As the augmented reality market evolves, I ask that you provide greater clarity on how Niantic is addressing the issues of user privacy and security, particularly that of its younger players”.
It also requires access to your phone’s camera, contacts, whereabouts, storage, Bluetooth, Google Play billing, and more on Android. Limited data plans might lead to a hefty bill.
As THR explained, AR games raise legal concerns over trespassing, players stumbling across crime scenes, personal injuries and risks to minors.
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However, Hanke says he is concerned about how this model, as well as a more traditional advertising campaign, would be introduced to the game.
