No, Pokémon Go Can't Read Your Email

The inevitable Pokémon Go security video. With many thanks to Simon Coxall - / mushybees - for the wonderful not-Pokémon illustrations, and to Sheila for holding the camera at very short notice! Here's the wonderful breakdown of the technical details by Ari Rubinstein: gist.github.co...
And have you, or someone you know, would like a guest slot for Things You Might Know or Amazing Places while I'm off in the Arctic, have a look at www.tomscott.c... for more details!

[@Thetomcrafter]

I wish the real app had those sound effects xD

[@TomScottGo]

I was briefly going to add actual capture effects for some of them, but then I added the "bonk" sound effect and couldn't stop giggling to myself.

[@Tophu48548]

+Tom Scott Gigglypuff? No? Okay.

[@kekkocheng]

Where do you get that sound effect anyway?

[@ShaunDobbie]

You can sometimes unzip the apk file and change the sound effects.

[@EazyVW]

I wish the real app had the elusive "MouseyGit" in the Pokedex.

[@cuboid10824]

Instead of the fake Pokemon, couldn't you have just thrown dodgeballs at innocent bystanders?

[@hetspeelkwartiertjeslaatte2624]

Peter Corti YES!!

[@Pinak1264]

I'd love to see that

[@roganhely2912]

This aged well

[@MandrakeGuy]

thats called logan paul being pikachu in japan

[@bufuhl1869]

Mandrake that is called missing refference you mentionef

[@PDWinnall]

The fake Pokémon in this video are utterly brilliant.

[@hackersunited2000]

GO! LEVIBOLLOCK!

[@valencia2405]

OH LOOK A TURTARSE!

[@chaseis1badmonkey]

Doesn't catch any, just knocks'em on there ass.

[@reizayin]

BREXIT, I CHOOSE YOU! (still sounds like a pokemon name)

[@krisztianszirtes5414]

+Thentai Brexit uses split

[@StarFoth]

I wish Pokemon go was like that. Instead of wasting 10 pokeballs and having it possibly escape, you just hurled a red orb hard enough to knock it unconscious and then caught it from there.

[@klobiforpresident2254]

That, I think, is what school children know as dodgeball.

[@GravityGuava]

Klobi for President Comment of the god damn year

[@HueyHueii]

"Red orb" why would you throw Groudon's orb?

[@lawrencecalablaster568]

Basically the Pester Balls from Pokémon Snap

[@TheBurningWarrior]

Sounds like the Safari zone.

[@bulman07]

I know what you're doing now, Tom. Those Poké-cuts let you off from doing a single take!

[@Krzzers]

Hi, i was your 1000 like on this comment :)

[@bulman07]

@@Krzzers Well there's a surprise!

[@sindri1447]

@@Krzzers here, have a cookie.

[@N0616JCProductions]

0:12 Beeftoucho [CP 42 Touches beef] 0:49 Mouseygit: [CP 28 Hates your clothes] 1:40 Peetato: [CP 28 Smells unpleasant] 2:21 Turtarse [CP 87 Part turtle part arse] 3:23 Phallcon [CP 10 Problematic nose] 4:59 Levibollock [CP 18 Don't ask] No need to thank me. Edited the timestamp for Levibollock thanks to +Asthmen

[@tomoswilliams2827]

You sir are a legend.

[@asthmen]

Levibollock's slightly off. Try 4:59.

[@N0616JCProductions]

Connor Spencer What is the purpose of you wasting your time telling me that when you could have just walked away?

[@N0616JCProductions]

***** Corrected, I knew something was off when I hit enter to post my comment.

[@N0616JCProductions]

Connor Spencer Given that response and how prompt it was, I believe that you just go on KZbin everyday looking for places to troll people and post a few videos if you so chose to. Just saying, I can be here all day long, so prepare to have your time wasted on me and feel that you have accomplished nothing.

[@voxdeharlequin8118]

Just remember: Sufficiently advanced incompetence is indistinguishable from malice.

[@lyrimetacurl0]

And "any sufficiently advanced malice is indistinguishable from incompetence" 😈 omg that's the new most evil quote ever...

[@roguishpaladin]

No. Malice is always distinguishable in some way at some point. That's the entire trade of information literacy, and cognitive science helps here as well. Don't abdicate personal responsibility for separating the two just because somebody corrupted a very pithy and true Arthur C. Clarke quote into something inane.

[@nekowerewolf9769]

I uhhh... thought that this was about alan pan for like 10 seconds...

[@nin2494]

@@roguishpaladin what a garrulous criticism that doesn't actually communicate anything other than: I KNOW BIG WORDS AND AUTHORS. Sufficiently advanced incompetence *can't* be distinguished from malice, when someone creates a social media function that's rife for abuse it's impossible to tell whether it was created with malicious intent or whether they were rushed for time. You require additional information.

[@celestialtree8602]

@Nobody comments are not funny you troglodyte "We got a real rocket surgeon" I'm stealing that.

[@TheTyrori]

Ain't a soul alive better at touching beef than beeftoucho.

[@beaniepollard8290]

amen

[@bluetannery1527]

amen

[@robotahu629]

Аминь

[@plyfrm]

break

[@Shima33BB]

*complicated, widely sampled drum pattern*

[@valty3727]

"Beeftoucho" Wtf

[@TomScottGo]

When Simon sent that to me, it was titled "Hamtoucho" and somehow that just seemed worse.

[@MichaelSorace]

I wholeheartedly agree.

[@NarCoocoobrainTeam]

Phallcon thi

[@theangrycheeto]

+Tom Scott Beeftoucho is brilliant!

[@ayrtonwaite9488]

"mouseygit" 0:48

[@DJSkunkieButt]

The fake Pokemon, stupid sounds, and stupid animations got me every time xDDD

[@baronfrazworth8433]

Tutarse is my spirit animal. Part turtle part arse.

[@slaughterround643]

Tom, it's really cool that you're essentially lending your channel to fans while you're away! I rather admire that, well done! Keep up the good work!

[@grande1899]

Can I do an Amazing Places about Skellige?

[@cataclysmicat9551]

didn't expect to find your channel here ;P

[@JEDiGamer007]

+Quinn Parzych (Meowth Plays) Grande is literally everywhere :P

[@MsZsc]

You have to go to the link he gave

[@cataclysmicat9551]

+JEDi Gamer Gee, really..

[@BrandonDoran00]

We wouldn't want Tom being torn apart by Drowners would we

[@xolotlnephthys]

Someone needs to make these into real Fakemon.

[@beaniepollard8290]

Beeftoucho is my man.

[@vukpsodorov5446]

especially the turtarse and levibollock. i just laughed when i saw those.

[@mdenz3]

The Fakemon app better actually read all you emails.

[@J4hk2]

"real Fakemon"

[@diegoxavier9107]

It's been six years, but I must laud you for having Lilligant as your pfp. That is all, have a nice life

[@CombatWombat1212]

that extra level of production value that goes into your videos that always amazes me often times isnt put toward your visual effects but instead your on-screen skills. It must take a stupid number of tries to finally get that one perfect explanation all in one take and thats what makes your videos really special.

[@donavonheim559]

I thought the title said "No Pokemon, you can't go read your email!"

[@mauvsstuff4742]

*_"We've been over this time and time again, Pokemon, you can't go read your goddamn email!"_*

[@kevinwong_2016]

😅

[@primarypenguin]

The sound it makes when you hit the fake pokemon could be a perfect kick drum sample

[@someeggs7367]

Snare maybe, not kick

[@254kvistas6]

kick

[@primarypenguin]

I had a metal kick in mind. with some eq to shave off the high mids maybemaybe. i could see a snare too haha

[@doubtfulguest5450]

4:39 I imagined "cock up before conspiracy" quite differently to Tom's explanation. Quite differently indeed.

[@c182SkylaneRG]

So the "security issue" that I was made aware of was that you gave the app access to your camera, and then it's taking pictures of your surrounding area and possibly noting security flaws that you haven't. Obviously my company security department was the only one particularly concerned with that one, but still good to keep in mind.

[@Evanski]

This can be summed up by a movie misquote "Well yes, but actually no"

[@DontMockMySmock]

"part turtle part arse" yeah that sounds like a pretty reasonable pokemon

[@bryanngo821]

The Pokemon in this video are borderline cheeky.

[@unslept_em]

borderline? I'd say there's some full-blown cheekiness going on here

[@Heijk]

"Problematic nose"

[@roguishpaladin]

Turtarse is only borderline cheeky? What, does it need to evolve to Tortkeister to be fully cheeky?

[@ThisIsMattyTrying]

“Part turtle part arse” funniest thing ever

[@rajatjadhav3493]

Realising how this video was posted 4 years ago and that pokemon go is 4 years old make me feel really old

[@icicleditor]

“But just me talking to the camera for a few minutes isn’t particularly interesting” no. you are wrong good sir.

[@AgentM124]

So many youtubers making pokemon go videos. Tom doesn't have the rights...

[@jackcarnie6488]

This way is better. Especially with the bonk sound.

[@HubrisInc]

neither do anyone else, but Tom's actually respecting that

[@JHA854]

Better safe than sorry.

[@XovietYunion]

This wouldnt fall under fair use unlike theory/game play videos

[@jackcarnie6488]

IPoopedInYourCoffee It should do since this would fall under educational/news content.

[@robingaffney2405]

Should have called them "Fauxkémon".

[@biscuits16]

"Phallcon" was fantastic phantastic?

[@drazlet]

biscuits16 google “phallus”

[@Brahvim]

xD

[@OpasgegenLinks]

matt t Congratulations, you got the joke.

[@ranger_1472]

*Throws pokeball* *Pokeball smacks Beeftucho in the fave* "Eh, good enough."

[@EnglishViewer]

You are a brilliant man that makes complicated topics clear and easy to understand! Keep up the great work.

[@Chewychewychoochoo]

I will never know why 39 people disliked an informative and nearly unbiased(if any) video like this...

[@LeiosLabs]

Some of those fakemon were pretty well designed!

[@ganaraminukshuk0]

Which is more amazing, the fake Pokémon, or the fact that the acute mark ´ is even on the E?

[@hyperhedgehog7]

are those new pokemon from sun and moon

[@ferdousalrafi6126]

this comment is gold!

[@fuckyshityfuckshit]

Mouseygit “Touches your clothes” Brilliant

[@KJJ3DS]

Hates your clothes

[@geebeedee9509]

It sorta just reminds me about the whole Talking Angela hoax supposedly having camera access and a pedo in her eyes.

[@Droggelbecherbot]

"Well moderated Apple App Store" - good one, Tom.

[@RAWRGreenDragon]

It's really nice to have somebody, who is very knowledgeable. Talking calmly and clearly about these issues. Pouring ice water on the hysteria so many love to spread. :D

[@philadeos]

One of my biggest life maxims, "Never attribute as malice what can easily be attributed as incompetence". Well said.

[@spikeguy33]

If you haven't read the pokemon names and descriptions, watch again. Laughed my ass off. Great video.

[@rosaliamiranda4808]

Watched the whole video again just to do that😹😹😹😹😹😹 died of laughter in the process this is my ghost transmitting the message.

[@allwd4449]

Those Pokemon are awesome XD"Turtlearse: part turtle part arse"

[@PvblivsAelivs]

The long explanation you give is that Pokemon Go _doesn't_ read your email. But it _can_ read it (it has all the access needed to do so.)

[@QwertyuiopThePie]

It could, until they fixed it.

[@McSSJust]

2:45 I almost thought you actually watched it based on you commenting it being a "long explanation".

[@PvblivsAelivs]

McSSJust I did watch it. Your "almost thought you actually watched it" tells me you have nothing to say.

[@MrFlarespeed]

He also explained that the latest update can't.

[@jonathandpg6115]

I'm sure you did which is why you missed the part where says that it got fixed on the new version....because that part was so well hidden.

[@matousekdrizhal]

Your motion tracking actually looks better than the real one :3 (Even though Pokémon GO's AR has to be real-time, my Xperia Z3 comes with an AR camera that has tracking amd 3D analyzing which looks a lot better than Pokémon GO, so it *can* be done live.)

[@tinord8193]

Probably should have mentioned that Google have an administration page for connected apps, where you can view all the permissions active on your account in detail and the ability to revoke them.

[@AcornElectron]

Tom, you seem to have clipped the end portion of this just as citation needed. Informative video though, thanks!

[@TomScottGo]

That'll be the new "end card" annotations. They're still in beta, so if you can't see them, it might cause some problems! They are so pretty and so easy to use, though, that I'm sticking with them.

[@Fungamerplays]

They are super convenient when watching your videos on mobile, so please keep them^^

[@tylerisawolf2286]

I can't see them sadly, I'll try on my iPod. UPDATE: I saw them on my iPod, they look so much better than annotations. Why didn't they have these since the beginning?

[@megasonicgeo]

They look amazing I actually did a little gasp in real life.

[@CJBurkey]

+Tom Scott how do we use those? As in create them?

[@TigerzieNow]

Had to rewatch and enjoy these awesome special effects again -animation & sound effects => amazing! 😄

[@Femaiden]

we need a tier list to see where levibollock falls on the meta

[@Hacker_lyx]

I enjoy how your title is the answer to a question rather than a click bait garbage question because when I come here I know what I'm going to see.

[@zacheryhawkling4326]

The strict laws about who has the rights to use pictures of pokemon are hilarious

[@OcarinaSenpai]

Woah woah, enjoy your expedition to the Arctic!! I'm expecting cool videos filmed while you're out there (in both senses of the word) :P

[@oliverhilton6086]

My Mouseygit is at level 45

[@camacaron06]

Noob. My Levibollock is level 100 and ready to kick your ass

[@Kentanimationnnnnnnnn]

love the sound effects

[@searchbarwebs]

Moral of the story: You CANNOT trust anything on the internet. Security is good as the developer who makes it, and how many 12 year old kids make apps these days??????????? A LOT!

[@WeeziMonkey]

So I can not trust you either because you're on the internet too?

[@searchbarwebs]

WeeziMonkey Yes, you cannot trust anything and anyone. Why would i trust you?

[@WeeziMonkey]

Sam Host I don't know why you would

[@RavenousRobyn]

YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH.

[@cyclone19692000]

same as anything that comes from strangers "trust but verify" always double check your links and if you want extra security check community posts/comments that are third party hosted so less moderated (by the Apps Dev's)

[@ytrajant]

Loved the not' Pokemons in the video. So well explained and illustrated.

[@jonahlee8894]

Dude, you gotta shake the pokéball, you'll get more Xp! 😂

[@geoffjames992]

Best Faux-kémon names. Ever. Quite how these are not in the real game, I will never know! +Tom Scott, you need to do more of these not-Pokémon (Faux-kémon) videos - just for the hilarity-factor; sound effects, names and all.

[@RobbieSherman]

Those are some pokemons you caught. Are they only available in Notts?

[@plasmodius9449]

What? No, those are fake pokémon.

[@haveitboi999]

woosh

[@ScarletGEHenn]

+GD Plasmodius I love how you didn't know he was joking.

[@plasmodius9449]

+Scarlet Encarnacion ok

[@jackbaker4190]

+GD Plasmodius XD you're an idiot.

[@TheMrRaoul]

absolutely great information Tom! Loved it

[@themikep82]

BEEFTOUCHO I SELECT YOU!!

[@vkillion]

Tom, I love your videos. All your different series make the channel an amazing channel to follow. I especially love the sci-fi shorts you've done. You highlight terrifying possibilities of our future. Do you plan to make more of those? Do you have any suggested reading for someone that enjoys reading this type of technological dystopia?

[@Snout007]

You might like channels like: vsauce, vsauce2, vsauce3, Field Day, Historia Civilis, Nerdwriter1, PBS Space Time, SciShow Space, Veritasium, vox.... Maybe

[@vkillion]

Thanks for the suggestions. I already follow the vsauce trio, PBS Space Time, SciShow Space, and Veritasium. I'll definitely check out the others though.

[@Snout007]

Vincent Killion That;s great. Maybe you have something to recommend as well?

[@KevinVanGelder]

The title here is misleading. They *CAN* read your email, but they *probably* won't.

[@BenRing]

I was surprised how many comments I had to go through just to find one like this where somebody actually understood the situation. Thank you.

[@BenRing]

I was surprised how many comments I had to go through just to find one like this where somebody actually understood the situation. Thank you.

[@TristanBomber]

Well, they actually can't. Not since the update.

[@timonix2]

it should be. They could read your mail, but probably did not.

[@rondowar]

+Tim Jadeglans this, too many people here keep saying they CAN read your email, while "they COULD'VE" is more accurate

[@RexWenger]

Tom what you do is amazing and I am so surprised you don't have more followers please never stop.

[@justanotherpiccplayer3511]

Tom, could you get Dan from NerdCubed to do something??

[@unslept_em]

yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[@ParallaxScene]

Ashens would be a fun episode too. Maybe they could duo it.

[@gutoguto0873]

Hey look a fan of nerdcubed! Gladiador to know that there are fans here!

[@MultiSciGeek]

+ShadowRecon yeah Ashens

[@tylerisawolf2286]

*sighs* their. On a channel that made videos about languages and you can't get that right.

[@astrobot3000]

i love the pokemons descriptions in this

[@CornusXBL]

Why can't you use footage from the game like everyone else that's using gameplay for let's plays?

[@Rowow]

Because its technically not allowed, and hes pointing out the stupidity in that so more people are aware...

[@chrissiavictors6655]

Yeah, it seems weird that he wasn't able to!

[@m8e]

He's in the UK so US's "fair use" doesn't apply. UK's "fair dealing" is different.

[@VenseyNess]

He's very concerned with legality, and though all of those people probably won't get anything bad happening to them, the copyright system would favor nintendo's case in a court of law. It's the same reason that he bleeps certain swear words when he films park benches to conform to british TV standards. Or, at least, that's my interpretation of it.

[@weewooweewoo906]

It's actually completely allowed under Fair Use due to the Transformative clause if the video adds any new commentary, ideas etc. to the footage of the game. Tom Scott would have done that just fine with his content, so that's not the problem. The problem is that Nintendo is a headache with their unnecessary copyright claiming of any video that even breathes the name of their games, which isn't okay, but most people just don't even want to deal with it.

[@The_Blog]

Holy crap! Look at the grass patches right next to the moving leefs in the background. It twitches and moves with the branches O.O

[@N....]

Wow, what are those cool hybrid annotation/cards at the end of the video?

[@scoreless.thru.23]

ikr

[@OrigamiMarie]

I think he's said they're a beta feature by KZbin, and KZbin is letting him help test them.

[@kurekureci]

its so cool, cause it works on mobile too!!!

[@criscorrea9654]

+Kuře Kuřecí yeah! omg annotations on mobile!!!!

[@niascand]

You're right! It's a very cool feature.

[@chrystla891]

that sound effect though im fuckin wheezin- it's bloody amazing

[@pkmnjackson]

Lmao, as a very active pokemon go player, niantic is not that competent

[@aldproductions2301]

That was a really good description of how tokens work. Clearly describes the security considerations from the user's standpoint.

[@wallingj68]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mXW9m6Bqm552e9Em7s - So convicts are allowed to walk the streets over there? Nice.

[@Aleitheo]

Only under supervision of the dog.

[@rudyhero1995]

The video that was constantly being recommended to me, and the reason I completely ignored this channel for a couple months afterwards.

[@volbla]

Is this a followup to the bitrate video?

[@petro1986]

Having a think about what possible videos I could add to your channel maybe associated with things in Cumbria like Devil's Bridge and how common sense got people (for the most part) to stop Jumping into the shallow pool below, or something about the ever increasing nuclear waste that is being stored and treated at Sellafield (and orders of magnitude in nuclear disasters) OR I could see how much I could learn about Knedal Mint cake if you fancied... Also I'm pretty sure the British Rocket Program did static rocket tests at RAF Spadeadam for Bluestreak (never been and would be a bit more of a faff than just filming somewhere in public) Regardless of if I'm involved in videos or not, I do wish you the best luck on your expedition to the Arctic Tom!

[@robertsimpsonebay]

I'm sure you can use Pokemon images under fair use

[@jarynn8156]

Yeah but Nintendo will flag them anyway.

[@Wat-Dat]

Fantastic video Tom! I really enjoyed this one.

[@TommyLandon]

No they cant. Not for a company that cant event fix the battle lags

[@tbtb66]

Just a bit of 3d lighting and people would've started using these wonderful not-Pokémon in "Leaks".

[@hexrobyn]

Haha remember Pokemon Go ... anyone?

[@SixmiffedyUkvlog]

Genuinely laughed out loud in the office at the last one and spit coke out my mouth.

[@cneary87]

Tom - I knew you at UoY (not well, you might just about remember me as one of the St John Ambulance people - Matt knew me better - Hi Matt :-D ) I am really enjoying your "Things you Might Not Know" vids and general pranks :-D thank you for these information be vids loved this one! loving the alternative monsters :-D

[@PatriciaDPatty]

the illustrator's pocket monsters sure look magnificent :D i like their art style :)

[@dakshbadal7522]

The only thing about this video that surprised me was that Pokemon go was 4 years ago.

[@arempy5836]

Beeftoucho = Normal type Mouseygit = Normal type Peetato = Grass/poison type Turtarse = Normal/Rock type Phallcon = Normal/Flying type Levibollock = Psychic/Fairy type

[@ThePeaceableKingdom]

At about 4:38 I'm a brand new believer in "cock-up before conspiracy." Actually I've believed it for a long time, but never expressed it so succinctly. I usually say, "Never attribute to collusion and conspiracy what can be explained by independent actors following their own self interest and plain ol' human stupidity." But in a twittery age I must admire even more economy of expression. Thanks for that one!

[@michaelstroud1850]

Love your videos Tom Scott

[@EphDee]

Thank you very much for making this video, I feel better now.

[@z0uLess]

good books on the subject: who owns the future by jaron lanier and throwing rocks at the google bus by douglas rushkoff

[@AMadcapCow]

I love the drawings of the 'Pokemon'

[@CarlisleMaritime]

You are soooo good at this!

[@CyanicCore]

Great explanations, though I admit I was a little distracted by those potentially iconic designs!

[@DanTheStripe]

Turtarse is my new favourite Pokemon, and it isn't even real. Brilliant video.

[@chainmaillekid]

Don't use the Gmail account you use for email/important things as your login account for random crap. And the other way around, don't use the public email that you give out to people to contact you with as a login to places where you don't want other people to be.

[@ValorousFogey]

Good video! As always. But, Tom, get some sleep! You've earned it!

[@machitoons]

Am I the only who just adored the descriptions of the Scottémon?

[@Beefmagigins]

As expected another great interesting video. Have a great trip.

[@benrawles5356]

Brilliant video! You're the perfect example of a youtube channel done right. Thanks Tom!

[@kevinryan2992]

Your animator deserves a raise that was brilliant

[@nicholasgawler-collins5754]

I want these Pokémon in the game now!

[@SisterToSleepx]

Pokemon Go is a super illustration of the dancing pigs problem (even if someone knows and has been warned that a program could be malicious or dangerous, if it provides or promises fun people will still often use it, myself included)

[@SisterToSleepx]

I should clarify that it is in that people would have seen the original permissions request on release and would currently be aware that the app's collection of location data makes it a target, not that the genuine app is actively malicious.