Software embedded in apps sends that data automatically to third parties, which send aggregated data back to developers to improve their apps and to advertisers hoping to target the millions of smartphone and tablet users more precisely.

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Smart meters, which come with communication chips, collect and send energy use data back to their utilities throughout the day.

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Once the victim received a text message that included a certain protocol, the malware would send the collected data back to the command-and-control server.

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Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Routers with Beamforming technology will precisely adjust, steer and monitor the direction and shape of the Wi-Fi signals in order to send data back and forth over the optimal path, resulting in up to two times the speed of routers without this technology in place.

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GetGlue can then send that information back to Facebook and pull in data from friends, so that the guide becomes fully educated on what people like and watch.

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This fall Portmann will send one to hover over tsunami sensors embedded on the ocean floor to collect data and beam it back to shore.

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When a visitor arrives at a site, the Third Voice software on his PC sends the site address to Third Voice's corporate servers, which send back data on any notes posted there.

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Unmanned probes and landers like the Mars Rovers have been able to explore terrain, take measurements, analyze samples and send reams of data back.

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