Odd report: your iPhone and iPad are tracking you

6charlong · 04-21-2011, 03:31 PM

I just saw this on the Washington Post.

Quote:

It’s not clear what triggers data collection — the men theorize that it could be text messages, calls or traveling between cell towers, since data isn’t being collected from every place they’ve walked through. They believe the information is being collected deliberately, but do not know why.

This is apparently a feature of the 3G versions of these devices. The full story is here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...wpisrc=nl_tech

basschick · 04-21-2011, 06:23 PM

been true of cell phones for years.

RockdaMan · 04-21-2011, 06:28 PM

Android devices do it too...the difference is that they flush the data after 'x' amount of time...

Ihnatko:

Quote:

A few reality checks, lest I inadvertently do a Glenn Beck number on all of you, here:

This database isn’t storing GPS data. It’s just making a rough location fix based on nearby cell towers. The database can’t reveal where you were…only that you were in a certain vicinity. Sometimes it’s miles and miles off. This implies that the logfile’s purpose is to track the performance of the phone and the network, and not the movements of the user.
A third party couldn’t get access to this file without physical access to your computer or your iPhone. Not unless you’ve jailbroken your iPhone and didn’t bother resetting its remote-access password…or there’s an unpatched exploit that would give Random Person On The Internet root access to your phone.
It’s pretty much a non-issue if you’ve clicked the “Encrypt iPhone Backup” option in iTunes. Even with physical access to your desktop, a no-goodnik wouldn’t be able to access the logfile.

http://ihnatko.com/2011/04/20/hey-wo...-on-my-iphone/

DixieGal · 04-21-2011, 06:55 PM

Mine really get around!

Hoyt Clagwell · 04-21-2011, 07:13 PM

If you have a Mac you can download a program to your computer and it will show you where you have been. Pretty cool.

http://petewarden.github.com/iPhoneTracker/

wodin · 04-21-2011, 07:25 PM

If you not ashamed of where you've been you have nothing to worry about. If you are, well, better leave your phone at home.

Quexos · 04-21-2011, 07:43 PM

It's not a matter of being ashamed or not. It's a matter of privacy and the right to not be controlled by "big brother".
If it was only a matter of being ashamed or guilty I could then demand of you to let me access your computer and check your history and you cannot say no because "if you are not ashamed or where you've been you have nothing to worry about ..."

Quote:

Originally Posted by wodin

If you not ashamed of where you've been you have nothing to worry about. If you are, well, better leave your phone at home.

wodin · 04-21-2011, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quexos

It's not a matter of being ashamed or not. It's a matter of privacy and the right to not be controlled by "big brother".
If it was only a matter of being ashamed or guilty I could then demand of you to let me access your computer and check your history and you cannot say no because "if you are not ashamed or where you've been you have nothing to worry about ..."

Sorry Quexos, I was being facetious. I guess I should have put a smiley on it.

6charlong · 04-21-2011, 09:16 PM

The baffling thing to me is why Apple built a feature like this and why they aren't responding to queries about it.

It does seem like the feature could pose a problem for some of their customers.

kindlekitten · 04-21-2011, 09:18 PM

a lot of the apps that folks want to have need to have location turned on in order to work. having location on by definition means you are being tracked. this had to have been a reality check for anyone with a smart phone from the get-go

6charlong · 04-21-2011, 09:23 PM

I was thinking about the danger to the people they visit for reporters in places like Libya and Syria. Why keep a record of places, even if it's only the village or city. Security forces could make quite a bit out of a data log like that.

kindlekitten · 04-21-2011, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6charlong

I was thinking about the danger to the people they visit for reporters in places like Libya and Syria. Why keep a record of places, even if it's only the village or city. Security forces could make quite a bit out of a data log like that.

it's a choice; smart phone and all of the features, or bare minimum and make do?

kjk · 04-21-2011, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoyt Clagwell

If you have a Mac you can download a program to your computer and it will show you where you have been. Pretty cool.

http://petewarden.github.com/iPhoneTracker/

My iPhone has been to more places than I have!

boxcorner · 04-22-2011, 02:27 AM

Researchers say iPhones can track users' movements
bbc.co.uk/news/technology
21 April 2011

OtterBooks · 04-22-2011, 02:41 AM

a little tin foil takes care of that.

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04-21-2011, 06:23 PM	#2
basschick Wizard Posts: 1,096 Karma: 4695691 Join Date: May 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	been true of cell phones for years.

04-21-2011, 06:55 PM	#4
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	Mine really get around!

04-21-2011, 07:13 PM	#5
Hoyt Clagwell Not an Addict Posts: 301 Karma: 5678807 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: The blue one next to the fish.	If you have a Mac you can download a program to your computer and it will show you where you have been. Pretty cool. http://petewarden.github.com/iPhoneTracker/

04-21-2011, 07:25 PM	#6
wodin Illiterate Posts: 10,279 Karma: 37848716 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: The Sandwich Isles Device: Samsung Galaxy S10+, Microsoft Surface Pro	If you not ashamed of where you've been you have nothing to worry about. If you are, well, better leave your phone at home.

04-21-2011, 09:16 PM	#9
6charlong friendly lurker Posts: 896 Karma: 2436026 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: US Device: Kindle, nook, Apple and Kobo	The baffling thing to me is why Apple built a feature like this and why they aren't responding to queries about it. It does seem like the feature could pose a problem for some of their customers.

04-21-2011, 09:18 PM	#10
kindlekitten Professional Adventuress Posts: 13,368 Karma: 50260224 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: The Olympic Peninsula on the OTHER Washington! (the big green clean one on the west coast!) Device: Kindle, the original! Times Two! and gifting an International Kindle	a lot of the apps that folks want to have need to have location turned on in order to work. having location on by definition means you are being tracked. this had to have been a reality check for anyone with a smart phone from the get-go

04-21-2011, 09:23 PM	#11
6charlong friendly lurker Posts: 896 Karma: 2436026 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: US Device: Kindle, nook, Apple and Kobo	I was thinking about the danger to the people they visit for reporters in places like Libya and Syria. Why keep a record of places, even if it's only the village or city. Security forces could make quite a bit out of a data log like that.

04-22-2011, 02:27 AM	#14
boxcorner »(°±°)« Posts: 826 Karma: 775629 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: divisive reader	Researchers say iPhones can track users' movements bbc.co.uk/news/technology 21 April 2011

04-22-2011, 02:41 AM	#15
OtterBooks Wizard Posts: 1,262 Karma: 2979086 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kindle 4, iPad Mini/Retina	a little tin foil takes care of that.