Disturbedcomputer Disturbedcomputer

DELETE THIS POST it is Obsolete Apple, Google phone tracking your location

DELETE THIS POST it is Obsolete Apple, Google phone tracking your location

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42717490/ns/technology_and_science-security/

this was on the news yesterday

 

Both the iPhone, shown here, and Google's Android phones are coming under increasing fire for collecting users' location-based data and transmitting the information back to Apple and to Google.

and the Ipad..


By disturbedcomputer at 2011-04-22

this is outrageous i'm Glad I don't have any of those 3

 

A hidden feature located on iPhones is said to track the precise location of the phone's user, pinpointing the person's whereabouts every minute of every day. Joe Brown of Gizmodo joins msnbc to discuss the feature.

here is iPhones secret file that's tracking you NONE STOP (consolidated.db) it's Hidden

you have to Jail break your iPhone with

Untrackered

 this will delete the file (consolidated.db) in the background 

 

here are 2 video links (A must Watch if you value your privacy)

one link 2 video's

http://digitallife.today.com/_news/2011/04/20/6501660-your-iphone-is-secretly-tracking-you-all-the-time

 

oh it's keeps this Info for a year

 

EDIT 

iPhone Tracker

This open-source application maps the information that your iPhone is recording about your movements.

It doesn't record anything itself, it only displays files that are already hidden on your computer.

 

 

22,710 views 34 replies
Reply #26 Top

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 25
Also, why not wait until someone can actually prove that data was mined and sold? I can't understand why so many people whose thinking I truly respect are willing to buy into "Apple mined the data and sold it." without so much as a shred of non-circulstantial evidence.

 

Well what other use would there be for such tracking data? I mean really with damn near everyone any more trying to collect data to sell I find it funny that people are not up in arms. No I done Know for sure they have sold data, But I can really see no other reason to keep tabs on where people go day in and out for a Year at a time, other than to triangulate one's favorite hangouts and try to either send folk's ad's they deem relevant, Find the most popular coordinates on the maps, and Place businesses there, Place bill boards, Raise the rent for businesses that are already there as their land value goes up. etc etc etc.

I mean really,  I cant think of one non Commercial reason why any one would want this data? other than maybe police trying to catch criminals.

 

I don't own one of the items listed., but I do think the whole thing is a bad idea..

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Reply #27 Top

Quoting HG_Eliminator, reply 26
Well what other use would there be for such tracking data?

There are two main possibilities for the data collection. First, it’s obvious that making the data available to developers who are using location based services in their apps is necessary.

If you’ve ever used Google Maps and had the blue dot pop up a couple of blocks away from where you are with a large blue circle around it, that location was obtained using the same data that’s stored in this file. Your exact location is then determined by the GPS radio in your phone. If you’re indoors or have the GPS turned off, this data is used to approximate your location for apps that need it.

The other main reason that it could be being collected is that Apple is gathering information on the distance between, strength and positioning of cellular towers. A recent update to the iPhone Location app has determined that the information is recorded on both CDMA and GSM phones.


Reply #28 Top

Ok sure I realize that they may need a temporary "Volatile" file with your last known coordinates to approximate your current location in the event you loose signal and or have gps disabled. But why they need to keep a detailed extended history of it for a year? Where I was on the second Tuesday of the week 4 mo's ago will hardly help determine my current location..

Reply #29 Top

 

 

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 16
I think it was sloppy programming, and should have been made in a way that prevented anyone but Apple from accessing it (if it was for non nefarious purposes) and the data deleted on an hourly (for instance) basis. It was probably designed by honest people who didn't think of the possible criminal ramifications.


Reply #30 Top

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 29
It was probably designed by honest people who didn't think of the possible criminal ramifications.

 

I'm not saying they didn't have a legit use for the data, data sales is legit and I'm sure their intent was not criminal, tho unless it was contractually agreed upon it could invariably fall in to that category. Tracking/storage of one's daily travels etc without their knowledge could possibly be categorized as cyber stalking, whether the intent was there or not.

Like I said my main 2 issues were the lack of from what I see, an attempt to make the users "fully aware" of the tracking/storage of their travels, and the lack of any real security of the data stored.

I personally use the location services on my Ipod as I dont really care if they know I went to starbucks yesterday at 3:00 pm. But I should have the freedom to turn it off and the data should be "securely" stored short term.

 

 

 

Reply #31 Top

Quoting HG_Eliminator, reply 30
the lack of from what I see, an attempt to make the users "fully aware" of the tracking/storage of their travels

As I mentioned in a prior reply, Apple sent them a letter telling them data was being stored.

Quoting HG_Eliminator, reply 30
the lack of any real security of the data stored.

1. Apple is notorious for a casual approach/faith-based approach to security (after all, windows gets the vast majority of hacks).

2, Because, not being criminals, they didn't think in that direction and probably were just sloppy. 

Quoting HG_Eliminator, reply 30
I should have the freedom to turn it off

You do, HG.

 

Reply #32 Top

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 31
2, Because, not being criminals, they didn't think in that direction and probably were just sloppy.

 

Well IMO anyone who wants to get in to the data storage business... better think like criminal masterminds, the only way to defeat a crook is by thinking like a smarter one. Sitting around figuring " it only happens to the other guys" is foolish at best and does your customers a dis-service.

Reply #33 Top

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 31
You do, HG.

 

 

From what I saw in the viedo in your link it can not be turned off without disabling the items in question " turning them Off" If i pay around $500 for a phone etc I should not have to keep the thing off to keep from being tracked if I don't want to, it should be a feature..

Reply #34 Top

Update

was on the news 4-27-2011

that Apples was going to release an Update to the HIDDEN File in 2 to 3 months

but good news is do to their Stock falling Apple moved it up to within the next week...

and will ONLY keep the info for 7days .so every 7 days it should be self deleting...

 

this is my thought on it not from the News

Bad news is they only care because their MONEY was being hit.. and not for moral or ethical reasons  ...