View Full Version : Apple is Tracking You...
This is interesting, particularly because I don't own an Apple. Here is a link:
http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/04/21/6508369-how-to-disable-your-iphones-creepy-tracking-feature?gt1=43001
Are you worried?
Toward the end of the article it is noted that apple owners don't seem too alarmed, but that if it had been Google and their Droid people would be going crazy.
Small invasion of privacy? I think so.
clublights
04-21-2011, 18:38
Funny thing is .. it's NOTHING new... the phones have been doing that for a few software revisions now ... just now it is placed in a way that other software on your phone can access it .
Only a problem if 1 I lost my phone, or someone hacked my comp/phone..
There is so much info out there anyways... and I'm not hard to track as it is LOL one problem with being 6'3" 300lbs... I'm easy to spot...
And all your tv's have little recievers so "they" can hear you talking bout the gov.
And all your tv's have little recievers so "they" can hear you talking bout the gov.
I gots an old TV that has "the guy" in the back listening. [Coffee]
Zundfolge
04-21-2011, 19:19
Any phone that you can use like a GPS is tracking you ... that's kind of the point.
Lots of apps on the iPhone need to be aware of your location (Foursquare for example).
Actually if your iPhone WASN'T tracking you it wouldn't work.
Also, dirty little secret is that ALL cell phones track you to a certain degree (they have to communicate with the towers or they wouldn't function)
TriggerHappy
04-21-2011, 19:20
I don't think I have to worry much about that since I don't have service half the time. [ROFL1]
patrick0685
04-21-2011, 19:25
I don't think I have to worry much about that since I don't have service half the time. [ROFL1]
[LOL][ROFL1] its so true it shouldn't be that funny
Do not own any apple products, nor will anytime soon.
I was a huge Apple supporter since 1995-2004.
68Charger
04-21-2011, 19:33
it wouldn't be new if it just knew your CURRENT location...
But what they've found is that the iPhone LOGs the data of where you are, until it's where you've BEEN... it's stored in a file on the phone.
The Michigan police would love this- they've got a log file they can read on your phone that tells them where you've been recently... [Coffee]
I haven't heard how long it tracks this data for, since I don't own an iPhone, and don't plan to I haven't bothered to research it very far.
I WAS an Apple supporter back in 1981, until about 1988... I even did desktop support on them around 1994, but didn't buy any of their products..
Is there a way for us to look at our tracking? Or who is keeping these tracking records?
The article says it logs your location about 100 times a day and keeps track for the past year.
The article said something about "options" on your phone which might tell you what is recorded
clublights
04-21-2011, 20:22
it wouldn't be new if it just knew your CURRENT location...
But what they've found is that the iPhone LOGs the data of where you are, until it's where you've BEEN... it's stored in a file on the phone.
The Michigan police would love this- they've got a log file they can read on your phone that tells them where you've been recently... [Coffee]
I haven't heard how long it tracks this data for, since I don't own an iPhone, and don't plan to I haven't bothered to research it very far.
I WAS an Apple supporter back in 1981, until about 1988... I even did desktop support on them around 1994, but didn't buy any of their products..
Levinson also notes that the database of locations in iOS is neither hidden nor new as presented in yesterday's report, reporting that the file had existed in earlier versions of iOS as "h-cells.plist" but changed names and locations with iOS 4 in order to support background location services employed as part of the new multitasking features of iOS.
http://www.macrumors.com/2011/04/21/senator-asks-apple-about-location-tracking-issues-as-experts-weigh-in/
see nothing new for the iPhone.....
Steve Jobs is watching you.....[Peep]
mcantar18c
04-21-2011, 22:35
I've had an iPhone since the 3G's came out. I don't see what the big deal is here. Sure I don't like it, but I mean really, what are they gonna do? Sell it to the govt for them to.... what? Find out where your favorite donut shop is? The govt already knows your address and social, but black helos don't follow you around all day. Its Apple... they're probably not looking at a specific phone's data but a large map with a collection of points, to see where to focus their marketing.
As for hacking it, with all the "secure" apps are available to store passwords and other important stuff, your location is probably the last thing a hacker is interested in.
I just want to know if I can see it. I think it would be cool to see where I have been
colocowboy01
04-21-2011, 22:49
And all your tv's have little recievers so "they" can hear you talking bout the gov.
That is why I don't have a TV or a cell phone anymore. The government does not need to know what I am doing.
[Swim]
I've had an iPhone since the 3G's came out. I don't see what the big deal is here. Sure I don't like it, but I mean really, what are they gonna do? Sell it to the govt for them to.... what? Find out where your favorite donut shop is? The govt already knows your address and social, but black helos don't follow you around all day. Its Apple... they're probably not looking at a specific phone's data but a large map with a collection of points, to see where to focus their marketing.
As for hacking it, with all the "secure" apps are available to store passwords and other important stuff, your location is probably the last thing a hacker is interested in.
Until you're a suspect in a crime and they subpoena your phone records from apple to see you were in the vicinity when you said you weren't because you forgot. Or, even better, they don't have a suspect for a crime and decide to enlist Mr. Jobs help to see who all w/an iPhone was in the area that could be a 'witness' to the crime. Either way there is NO need for this sort of intrusion on privacy and The Apple fanbois really need to take a step back on this one and think about it. Sure your phone and every phone has GPS. Apple is openly admitting to tracking this information w/o it's users knowing for whatever purpose they deem necessary. Normally I can handle it when a fanboi says 'well, I don't even need that feature and Steve Jobs is such a genius he didn't include it because it helps to streamline the phone' when you mention things like text messages & voice calls but this time we're talking about an invasion on privacy and security.
You all know if this was Google it would be splashed all over the 10:00 news and people would be calling for their head on a stake. Apple pulls it though and it's 'Well, there's nothing wrong with that' or 'I'm sure they're doing something to help humanity out with it because Apple is such a good company' puhlease. [Bang]
Byte Stryke
04-22-2011, 11:47
methinks someone bought the Kroger Brand tin-foil this week and wrapped it a tad too thick.
Joke is on Apple. I've been tracking them since 1981.
Zundfolge
04-22-2011, 11:56
Here you go ... Problem solved. (http://lifehacker.com/#%215794512/untrackerd-destroys-your-iphones-tracking-data)
google's android and other's track as well...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42717490/ns/technology_and_science-security/
Tweety Bird
04-22-2011, 21:40
google's android and other's track as well...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42717490/ns/technology_and_science-security/
I want Google's head on a stake!
I want Google's head on a stake!
Me too!
Is there a way for us to look at our tracking? Or who is keeping these tracking records?
When i first bought my iPhone 3g you get that mobile me account trial/free for a year there was away to track you phone on there if i recall, but of course you have to pay for the mobile me account and it was a rip off only used it to get my contacts on my phone and after that i didn't use it btw if you do that after your account expires what ever you do, don't delete it from your list of mail/contact syncing accounts it will erase everything[Rant1][Rant2] [Bang]! happened to me once lost all my contacts it wasn't fun!
google's android and other's track as well...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42717490/ns/technology_and_science-security/
There's a BIG difference between the way Apple tracks & the way Google tracks. For starters Google is an Opt-In and not Opt-Out. So you would need to choose to opt in and in that manner the millions who simply buy a phone and use it aren't subject to tracking simply because they don't know it even exists to be able to opt-out. Doing this and excusing it by saying it's in the EULA isn't acceptable. *cough*Apple*cough* Secondly, even if you choose to Opt-In any information sent back to the Google servers is anonymized and isn't traceable to a specific user making it completely anonymous which voids the privacy issue even if you choose to opt-in. Most people who value their privacy won't even opt-in to begin with though but at least you have that option and aren't forced into location tracking if you want to use the device. *cough*Apple*cough* I mean, what's next, they going to start recording your personal phone calls and compiling a database of all recorded private conversations to 'make your calling experience better' ??
I'm sure this will be just another 'feature' that gets swept under the rug by millions of sheep.
Byte Stryke
04-23-2011, 09:08
Any and all current modern cellphones "track" you.
GPS is a feature used from Both ends for everything from map features, Google search, to load balancing towers.
we now return you to your regularly scheduled conspiracy.
Any and all current modern cellphones "track" you.
GPS is a feature used from Both ends for everything from map features, Google search, to load balancing towers.
we now return you to your regularly scheduled conspiracy.
Track is what Android phones do at the user's request or at the request of an application that the end user granted permission to access during installation. This is a per use type connection unless the end user opts-in to allow anonymous info. Reporting is what iPhones are doing regardless of the end user's knowledge even though they 'agreed' to allow such reporting in an EULA which we all know everyone reads prior to agreeing, especially those who aren't technically inclined or educated. Sure we'd like to believe this information will only be used for good just like we'd like to believe the government has our best interests in mind so we should just turn everything over to them as well.
It's not paranoia if they really are out to get you.
Byte Stryke
04-23-2011, 09:42
Track is what Android phones do at the user's request or at the request of an application that the end user granted permission to access during installation. This is a per use type connection unless the end user opts-in to allow anonymous info. Reporting is what iPhones are doing regardless of the end user's knowledge even though they 'agreed' to allow such reporting in an EULA which we all know everyone reads prior to agreeing, especially those who aren't technically inclined or educated. Sure we'd like to believe this information will only be used for good just like we'd like to believe the government has our best interests in mind so we should just turn everything over to them as well.
It's not paranoia if they really are out to get you.
If you don't think that every cellphone with a GPS function is sending its data to every tower it hits along with a tracking history, you really do not understand communication grid dynamics for this decade.
And no you cant use the opt out feature. The only real "Opt out" for this is to remove the battery.
I have watched CSI, they can find you in minutes.
If you don't think that every cellphone with a GPS function is sending its data to every tower it hits along with a tracking history, you really do not understand communication grid dynamics for this decade.
And no you cant use the opt out feature. The only real "Opt out" for this is to remove the battery.
I understand. Just because a device has GPS doesn't necessarily mean it's activated it all times. Something has to poll it for it to be active at least on Android devices anyway. You can have GPS turned on but unless an application polls it for whatever reason then it's not active. If there's a program installed w/the OS that polls it at all times and sends all information to an Apple server to be logged along with user information then that's a whole different animal there.
I have watched CSI, they can find you in minutes.
As long as you stay on the phone with them for 61 seconds! It always cracked me up how TV and Movies have this long held belief that when tracking a number you have to keep them on the line for a specified period of time yet when you call me I know who you are immediately.. it's called Caller ID bitches! [ROFL2]
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