Downloading the government's COVIDSafe contact tracing app sacrifices a small bit of privacy for a larger good, a cyber security expert says.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Murrumbidgee Local Health District and Albury Wodonga Health said on Monday the app would make it easier to isolate and notify close contacts of those who test positive to COVID-19.
The app records the Bluetooth connections a phone makes with other phones so authorities can identify people who were in contact with an infected person.
Murrumbidgee Local Health District director of public health Tracey Oakman encouraged residents to download the app.
"The more people that download the app, the more information we have, the better informed we'll be about the risk of transmission should someone become positive," she said.
Cybersecurity expert and CSU professor Tanveer Zia said those working in healthcare, emergency services and essential businesses should consider downloading the app as they were most likely to come into contact with numerous people each day.
He said unlike social media apps, the app does not store location information and was only triggered to record data when phones have been in close proximity for more than 15 minutes.
Professor Zia said he had downloaded the app which asks for a name, phone number, age-range and postcode.
IN OTHER NEWS:
He said generally people's concerns around the app centre on trust: whether the host US-base Amazon Web Service could be trusted to keep all information within Australia, and whether the government can be trusted to use the information only as promised.
"Realistically we share a lot of personal information anyway to Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn ... we give a lot of information away to access free apps and services," he said.
"So why not sacrifice a bit of privacy for a bigger cause, to ensure we all come out of this difficult situation as soon as possible."
Albury Wodonga Health chief executive Michael Kalimnios said being able to quickly notify close contacts of a positive case would "assist in controlling the spread of the virus and quickly address any outbreaks".
Business NSW Murray-Riverina manager Andrew Cottrill said social restrictions would only be lifted when governments were confident new outbreaks could be contained.
"To get back to work and launch our economy into a strong recovery we urge locals to download the app," Mr Cottrill said.
Professor Zia warned residents having bluetooth switched on as required by the app could open them up to malicious attacks by hackers.
Albury GP Michael Bartram congratulated the region on responding so well to COVID-19 restrictions.
He said given there were no significant outbreaks in the region it was tempting to lessen restrictions.
But, Dr Bartram said, if we want freedom from isolation the trade-off has to be increased tracing through COVIDSafe, more frequent testing, and isolation of symptomatic people.
He said he would download the app and recommend his patients do the same.
"Each person in a pandemic has the power to prevent unnecessary illness or death," he said.
"Doing our bit for others should become a clear priority for us all."
Digital journalists with The Border Mail.
Digital journalists with The Border Mail.
