• Coding
  • The OGERO and CARS databases.

Taken from +961 website:
Here’s some info about the development company (taken from their domain whois):

Ziad Salameh
DoubleU S.A.L
81St. George Bld. – Maarad Str.
Nejmeh Square ,
Beirut, Downtown, Beirut 00961
Lebanon
(961) 198-8883

Domain Name: UUAPPS.COM
Created on: 04-Mar-10
And here is how you can report the application on app store
Load the App Store
Search for “Lebanon Directory”
Select any of the following apps:
- Lebanon Directory
- Lebanon Cars Directory
Click on the “Report a Problem” link in the top right corner
Select either:
- This application is offensive
- My concern is not listed here
Enter your Comments, something along the lines of:
“This application uses a stolen database of confidential personal records from the Interior Ministry of Lebanon. The use of the database outside of the Ministry is illegal. The possession of this data by a non-government agency is illegal.”
Click the blue Report button in the top right corner
And this is the article http://www.plus961.com/2010/11/04/iphone-applications-violating-our-privacy/

The more I think about the issue the more I see how horrible this is and the amount of problems it can lead to. Just think how this can facilitate the work of thieves and criminals in tracking down potential victims and easily finding them. Just imagine how many people would be hurt from this stupid application from which these people are making money out of. We already have very bad security on the level of protecting individuals, now it has become worse. Now that this information is online people from foreign countries can track down every single person.

When I first saw that application I though t of it as a bit "cool" but then when you think about it you realize that this is extremely immoral leaving legal stuff aside. Even if something is legal, it doesn't mean it is moral. We need a revolution on all levels in this stupid country, we need a stronger and more ethical government.

I am with you guys about fighting against this application and spread of the database. Just imagine somone with malicious intents using it on you or someone you know.
The dangerous thing is that someone can find my phone number from the database and then?
Or perhaps link my name to a certain position? I think once you are on that list, you're already not an MVP, so it's a "safe" list that people would quickly discard you from being a big fish.
Is it illegal to do some data-entry from the white and yellow pages and post them on the AppStore?
That's all on one front.

The other end is: If everyone has access to the DB, why are you advocating closing this thread and removing awareness about the subject. Imagine Wikileaks being closed. Awareness is much more important as a security precaution than hiding info from the villains (peoples are usually blisfully ignorant while mischievous people are on the prail.. you're only helping the bad side).

The real issue here we need to stress on is: The government has no protection procedure at this very basic level (I'd expect them to want to protect this data for some reason). They fail at that. This should be all over the media! It's not. How can we change that. We need to see some people embarrassed from all of this.
Shall we launch a petition and distribute it across the web to explain this issue for all Lebanese people...
And perhaps, we can contact TV's, Radio Stations, Newspapers and other media tools to make it more popular...


I'm totally with this. And willing to contribute as much as i can.

What do you think ?
arithma wroteThe dangerous thing is that someone can find my phone number from the database and then?
Or perhaps link my name to a certain position? I think once you are on that list, you're already not an MVP, so it's a "safe" list that people would quickly discard you from being a big fish.
Is it illegal to do some data-entry from the white and yellow pages and post them on the AppStore?
That's all on one front.
Ok say I'm driving and I see a girl in the car next to me. Testosterone flies to my brain and I go all caveman, I start honking at her. I find a way to get next to her in traffic, and engage an intense conversation with my classy language (something along the ways of "shu ya ahsta?"). Now the girl is not weak and knows how to defend herself. She answers in such a way that btebkha3ne. I feel frustrated like hell, and start seeing red.

Then I calm down. No need to get upset. There's a really easy way to get my revenge. I note her car number, go home. Thanks to the work of some genius computer developers, I can get her name, address and phone number. I now start calling twenty times a day, send perverted SMS, basic harassing techniques. I'm having fun, feel like I'm getting my revenge from the time she embarrassed me.

Oh and the girl is your mother/sister/girlfriend/wife/...

Do you now see a dangerous thing?
This road goes both ways. The car thing I guess is dangerous. But the phone thing goes both ways. I am sure there are things the law can do against harassment as well. On the contrary, if I get prank calls from anyone, now I can reverse look them up and report them or whatever. Harassment is as bad remotely as well as in person. Knowing my phone number means shit to me. There are ways to black list people and report them to authorities.
Okay guys I have just sent Antoine Tannous who is the presenter of Tech Today show on OTV and is a friend on facebook and I had some chats with him some time ago. I demanded from him to connect with us more and help us in spreading the word in the media. He also has relations with the minister of telecommunications. I think he will surely help, lets hope so. I will keep you updated about everything.

Btw, I think we should start taking precautionary acts in order to prevent other developers from initiating projects for similar apps for other platforms such as Nokia, Blackberry and Android. I know the marketing manager of Nokia in Lebanon I can contact her and inform her about the situation so that she can take action to prevent the publishing of the app on the ovi store. What do you think?
I totally agree with arithma on this one. I really hate it when someone keeps calling me (or someone I know) and sending nasty sms without saying who they are. It happened to one of my friends before. Some guy used to call her 20 times a day, sometimes late at night while she's asleep and then he starts saying some horrible stuff and threatening her. You try to report the number to the officials, but no one even tries to help you track that number and punish his/her owner.

Having that database (if used ethically) would prevent those bastards from harassing others. At least they would know they will be busted via their phone number. But, I've noticed the database is terribly outdated. So it's kinda useless. There should be an official party that has access to this database which should be updated regularly. Then when someone receives an annoying call and/or sms, this person should provide proof of harassment to this official party who then should track down the number's owner and send him to jail where he belongs.

So yes, having those sorts of databases are essential for conserving the privacy of people and preventing harassment, but that cannot be achieved by the releasing the databases to the public. Why? Because you cannot guarantee that all people will use these databases ethically (refer to the scenario presented by rahmu). Therefore, there should be an official trusted party responsible of protecting those databases and employing them for good purposes.
Kassem wroteHaving that database (if used ethically) would prevent those bastards from harassing others. At least they would know they will be busted via their phone number. But, I've noticed the database is terribly outdated. So it's kinda useless. There should be an official party that has access to this database which should be updated regularly.
Well actually the last time my friend showed me that phone DB was Spring and it it was updated for late 2008, that might not sound so updated for then but keep in the mind There are still lots of people who keep using their same number for years, which means they are still vulnerable to potential stalkers. What surprises me is that again, these Databases were available to the public(who would seek them) for years and now the wide audience just found out by a blogging site?...heh :/

honestly I wouldn't be surprised if in the beginning someone paid a Government official for get them easy, considering the amount of corruption and lack of security in the telecommunications sector of the Government.

As for forming a quick solution? I doubt we'll any action taken in the light soon. We will act, but it will take a good amount of time(that is if we succeed) so let's form some ideas and put our heads together.
6 days later
jadf24 wroteWell, I don't think this is such a big deal, since we all know that these 'databases' have been widespread across Lebanon for a while now, and easily accessible to anyone who admired to get his hands on them. Making an app is just making it more public, and more accessible; nothing more. Our privacy has always been invaded here in Lebanon. And 'this' comes as no surprise. Illegal, yes I do agree! But Lebanon has been rated of one of the most corrupt countries. So basically, it comes as no surprise that my private info here in Lebanon is actually not that private. It's common sense when you live in such a country. Protest against it. Go ahead. But your privacy won't be any more private that it actually is in reality!
Well yeah but doing nothing about it will only help the situation get worse!
sounds stupid i know, but i really would be interestedt in the car database,

BUT

just the cars and models

if someone can send it me without licences plate numbers and names and so on it would be cool

Juts like

MAKE CLASS MODEL VARIANT
MErcedes C 320 Esprit
VW Golf 1.6
BMW 5 516i Touring
Thank you guys and hats-off for the ones trying to spread the awarness.

If YOU may not care, doesn't mean that it is ok, there is still a right to privacy that has to be defended and how we lobby/deal with this can be an example or a "practice" on how to deal with other stuff like for example "medical database" getting leaked - transaction databases ....
5 days later
I have only seen those databases in the form of iOS apps, available for $6.99 on the iTunes store. Not that I want them, but does anyone have an idea if these databases are available as PC applications?
Hello all , intresting topic.My friend once told me he has the databases ( cars and ogero and mtc and alfa) as mdb stored on his pc .. but he refused giving them to me,saying they are top secret ...
samer wrote
http://mulhak.com/phonebook.aspx?number=03xxxxxx
That was the URL used to retrieve the numbers.
It is now down, so the apps should not be functional anymore.
The URL is down, but there are two phone directory apps in the app store. The cheaper one, is still regularly updated. I have noticed this since i requested a database update, and the address listed with my mobile number was changed to match my new address
Aha so the database and web service is back up and running there. I am still waiting for Mr. Antoine's reply he didn't reply yet and yesterday I tried to chat with him but it looks he is trying to avoid me I am not sure. The government hasn't taken any action about this issue and they call this place a country. No its not a country this is worse than a farm, a farm with crazy animals running it.

I will try to contact another guy from another tech t.v. show just to see if he is interested in talking about the issue in the media or reporting to higher authorities as all these people have lots of PR. I hope that he will respond. I will keep you updated about this issue.
since service back up, let us collaborate and do a more organized thing and raise some awarness on privacy issues and get the guy arrested at least or heavily fined.
I don't see the availability of the telephone database as an intrusion of privacy. Telephone look-ups and reverse telephone look-ups are quite popular all over the world. We have the yellow pages(www.yellowpages.com.lb) and Ogero(1515) that offer such services. These apps and websites just make it easier to find the information you need. The only crime the developers are guilty of, is using these databases without permission and consent of their proper owners, i.e the Lebanese government.

Is the car database also in a similar form, i.e the link, or is it completely different. In other words, is it also publicly available for free as a web address? And by the way, the website Lebtel(also available as a Facebook app) has also incorporated the car database into its services, Here is the URL http://lebtel.heroku.com/. I checked the page source of the website but couldn't find any link to the car database, someone else try, maybe i missed it.
This is not just illegal, it's pretty dangerous. The creator of this website should be put to jail.
I entered my car number it said "Akalet Zabet?" :(?
My name and my address is publicly available now that you've done it bye bye lebtel

ok lets gather everyone with this ill talk to my hacker (friend) and decide what he wants as a payment to delete that website anyone wanna contribute ?

Edited: using the guidelines from etiquette requested by Samer :D
Nah after checking back only my general street address was written , the color of the car , the company name of the car , what year it was released to street.

Ive checked another random car number, the telephone number and building was mentioned :| O.o |:
Fyew maybe im lucky with that even if my name was written any thieve cant do anything with that info he needs my exact location to get into me which is not available hurray :D

But even so if anyone wanna take revenge to that guy i can speak with my friend dont worry hes from russia ;)