Cameralert not updating account

[lostyoda]

Hi
After 3 hrs of trying to install Cameralert on Iphone 7 with IOS 15.5, I finally managed to get the program to run with the out of date database and quite frankly the well out of date program.

Following Cameralert IOS operating manual I tried to restore account using user name and password for my new 12 month subscription only to find the "restore account" button has "No effect" at all with "No response" of any kind, so cannot update speedcams.

I am not spending another frustrating 3hrs trying a re-install.

To try my account I installed SpeedTrap alert on my Android 10 notepad, worked first time and installed subscribed Pktgps UK and EU speedcams without problem, notepad to large to use in car.

Unfortunately SpeedTrap program not available on Apple, my thoughts, PktGps speedcams fairly useless without an up to date program to intergrate with other directional map programs.

I tried a "support centre" request about the new subscription problem, reply try the forums.

Helpfull suggestions on restore account problem or alternate Iphone program appreciated.

[MaFt]

Are you able to view your device ID within CamerAlert app?

If so then reply to the support ticket with that and we can manually link your account to the phone.

MaFt

[lostyoda]

Hi MaFt

Thanks for the reply

Device ID in Cameralert where would one find that ID,

the only mention of Device I can see is under Database Server version.

lostyoda

[MaFt]

I've not used an iPhone for many years so not actually sure. I *think* if you go to the settings in CamerAlert then it should show the ID (a long string of letters and numbers) at the top of the screen? Or perhaps if you tap the (i) at the top right in the settings?

MaFt

[lostyoda]

Hi MaFt

With regard to Cameralert setting there is no long string of numbers/letters to be found, probably why the phone will not link to PktGps database.

I presume as Apple allow the app in the app store they link the iphone to the Cameralert app on download, however as Cameralert has not been updated since July 2020 all the new IOS security updates have left it behind and now the app may not pass muster.

Just for info :-
There are several ID's on the iphone IMEI/MEID, iphone ID with numbers only, ICCID links the Sim card to the phone, numbers only no letters and SEID a secure ID for NFC payments only, this has letters and numbers but is for Apple use only and a security risk if disclosed.

After trolling through the forums and the website for info I get the impression PktGps is suffering the same out of date battered feeling as Cameralert, much of the information has not been updated for years especially reviews.

I admit to being left disappointed as I have followed PktGps for many years, the fact that one still has to insert each POI individually in GPS such as TomTom is a sure sign of being outdated.

I have therefore decided to move forward using SpeedTrap alert or other which auto load the PktGps database, thus giving Cameralert the thumbs down.

I thank you for your time but PktGps is not what it used to be, modern times need modern methods and up to date information, new blood perhaps not waining interest.

Kind Regards
lostyoda

[akkipaa]

I think device id means UID, right? You can find phone's serial, UID and ECID from iTunes. Take it to your laptop, connect phone with cable and when you open it, click phone icon and clicking above serial number, you find other id's well.

[MaFt]

[lostyoda]

Hi
As the haze around Cameralert clears the inability of the "restore account" issue becomes clearer.

After reading other forum members posts referring to the "restore account" problem, all resolutions seem to centre on a request for the iphone UDID, this the unique chip ID used within each individual apple product, a code that should not be disclosed as it links the personal data of a user to their iphone account.

Indeed the following statement was issued by Apple to app developers in 2013 :-

"Apps are not permitted to access the UDID and must not use the uniqueIdentifier method of UIDevice. Please update your apps and servers to associate users with the Vendor or Advertising identifiers introduced in iOS 6. If method names in your source code match the private Apple APIs, altering your method names will help prevent this app from being flagged for non compliance in future submissions. In addition, note that one or more of the above APIs may be located in a static library that was included with your app. If so, they must be removed."

Apple considered linking an iphone UDID to an app a high security risk to personal data, severe enough to state they would remove any app requesting the UDID of the user.

By asking for the UDID after download to "restore account" PktGps are bypassing the Apple store security protocols.

Apparently the darkweb is awash with millions of UDID numbers and associated personal data of apple owners after hacking of app companies, the very reason apple banned the practice of linking the UDID to an app, instead app developers should use a personal identifier issued by Apple upon download of an app. This identifier shown in each app store account purchase history.

Personally all the Apple Store apps encountered seem to have complied with using Apple issued personal identifiers, one has to seriously question why PktGps and Cameralert have not complied and still request the UDID considered to be a unacceptable risk to data protection.

As stated in a previous post, time to move on and find an up to date app.

[MaFt]

Well, the personal data would be the details of your subscription with us...

However, as you've said Apple don't allow us to use the UDID anymore I suspect there's another identifying ID on the iPhone. Just looked through the backend and we haven't used UDID since 2013/2014.

I've not had an iPhone for about 6 years though so I'm not able to check through the settings to see how it can be manually linked (if at all). Not sure why you're unable to connect your account though.

I know some users have issues with special characters in passwords when connecting via CamerAlert so might be a workaround to change your password temporarily to something alphanumeric, connect the app, then change it back?

MaFt

[lostyoda]

Hi MaFt

Looking back the UDID was not my idea, however it now seems superfluous to reason as Apple have just admitted they had been warned by security specialists for the past six years that most of their electronic items could be hacked by two large Hacking groups.

Being forced into admission Apple's recent flurry of security updates seems to confirm this, however they do admit they still have not yet addressed all of the vunrabilities.

Back to the Cameralert problem, I tried your suggestion of using a simpler password and it worked, the account has linked (restored) and database has loaded,congratulations on solving the problem and many thanks for your assistance.

I now only hope Cameralert is as good as PktGps claim, I have been using Radarbot for 12 months, freestanding it is very good but fails to intergrate with other navigation apps/maps, working in the background only and giving voice alerts for approaching speedcams, these can easily be missed.

I am now looking forward to using Cameralert in the car, it is a pity it does not seem to load on Android 10 so one can use it on the notepad, a problem for another day perhaps as I can use Speedtrap alerts instead.

Again many thanks for your help,

Regards
lostyoda

[lostyoda]

Just for update

It appears Cameralert can only use a simple account password using no special characters to link the account for updates, if you change your password back to include special characters Cameralert disconnects from your account again and will not reconnect.

As Databases are reportedly updated weekly, constantly changing to a more secure password and then back to a simple password via the internet website weekly would be really laborious.

It therefore would appear that only numbers and letters can be used to achieve weekly updates, a simple password, make it as long as possible minimum 15 characters, not very secure, another reason to update this program.

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