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Your iPhone Is Secretly Tracking Everywhere You’ve Been
Gizmodo ^ | 4/20/2011 | Sam Biddle

Posted on 04/20/2011 8:52:34 AM PDT by rivercat

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To: rivercat
Cross-referencing to similar article
41 posted on 04/20/2011 9:49:53 AM PDT by kevkrom ("Winning The Future" = WTF = What The F*** / "Kinetic Military Action" = KMA = Kiss My A**)
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To: rokkitapps

Sorry, but even if you turn off GPS, the ‘localization’ capability of the network (think radio signal triangulation matched to small timing differences) which is actually essential to the cel network’s ability to keep you connected,
CAN track you down to a pretty small area.

Read about LBS / location based services.

Also look up:

air-watch, Good, MobileIron and Sybase

These are mobile device management applications that can make use of the NATIVE capabilities of the networks and the smart phones themselves.

And no, they DON’T work if your phone or smart IS powered off.


42 posted on 04/20/2011 9:57:48 AM PDT by Blueflag (Res ipsa loquitur)
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To: Arrowhead1952

You are welcome to not want one, but keep in mind that this is not unique to the iPhone.

ALL 3G/ 4G devices CAN *REVEAL* their location, but please understand that ALL celphones and smart phones on digital networks ARE located by the networks to pretty discrete distances. The networks have some pretty smart stuff to be able to connect you, move with you, bill you, etc. Intrinsic to this cel network capability set is the ability to identify WHERE you are.

You may not realize it, but the same is true for your IP address of the computer you are reading this post on.

The information is not the issue — it’s the abuse of it.


43 posted on 04/20/2011 10:03:14 AM PDT by Blueflag (Res ipsa loquitur)
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To: annieokie
Don’t bother me, I’m not doing anything wrong.

"If you've done nothing wrong you have nothing to hide", is the refrain of tyrants and the creed of slaves.

And it doesn't matter if you've done nothing wrong. If a corrupt governemnt wants your money, or your property, or your daughter they'll just make something up and use the police state you allowed them to build to do what they please.

44 posted on 04/20/2011 10:35:21 AM PDT by Roninf5-1 (If ignorance is bliss why are so many Americans on anti-depressants?)
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To: rivercat

Normally your location data is stored on the provider’s servers. The service provider needs to know where you are so they can connect you to the nearest cell tower. I hear it checks your location and makes a log record every 7 seconds.

Apple is just saving money by having the users keep the log.


45 posted on 04/20/2011 10:44:23 AM PDT by <1/1,000,000th%
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To: Grampa Dave

No problem Apple is the liberal dream company, owned and controlled by liberals.

###

There’s no chance a company like Apple or GE would ever use their favored political connections to provide potentially embarassing information to creeps like Obama to humble his political enemies, right? Good, I didn’t think so. / Sarc


46 posted on 04/20/2011 10:46:52 AM PDT by reaganbooster (The democrat party symbol should be the grim reaper instead of the donkey.)
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To: Blueflag

>>>>The information is not the issue — it’s the abuse of it.

Exactly. A hammer, in the hands of a skilled tradesman, can build fine furniture, homes, etc. or in the hands of an artisan can make art - but in the hands of someone with ill will, a hammer can bash in your neighbor’s skull. It’s not the tool - it’s how you use it.


47 posted on 04/20/2011 10:48:29 AM PDT by Keith in Iowa (FR Class of 1998 | TV News is an oxymoron. | MSNBC = Moonbats Spouting Nothing But Crap.)
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To: rivercat; ~Kim4VRWC's~; 1234; 50mm; Abundy; Action-America; acoulterfan; AFreeBird; Airwinger; ...
Is your iPhone tracking your movements? Gizmodo says it is! PING!

Please, No Flame Wars, Discuss technical issues, software, and hardware.
Don't attack people!

Don't respond to the Anti-Apple Thread Trolls!
 PLEASE IGNORE THEM!!!

 


Is Apple Tracking you? Ping!

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

48 posted on 04/20/2011 10:52:46 AM PDT by Swordmaker (This tag line is a Microsoft product "insult" free zone.)
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To: rivercat

ANY cell phone can be tracked. Whether the data is stored at the cell phone company or on the device is pretty much immaterial.


49 posted on 04/20/2011 10:55:15 AM PDT by glorgau
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To: rivercat

I haven’t even been anywhere. Perhaps I should go somewhere. Oh, wait, I don’t have an Iphone...


50 posted on 04/20/2011 11:06:34 AM PDT by brytlea (A tick stole my tagline....)
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To: Blueflag

Gosh, it all sounds so friendly. Breadcrumbs and clouds and handshakes! :)


51 posted on 04/20/2011 11:12:54 AM PDT by brytlea (A tick stole my tagline....)
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To: rivercat
I'd read about that. My son sent me a snapshot with a newer iPhone. I uploaded it to my web space so I could read the exif with my (then) Safari browser plugin (my version of Photoshop couldn't pick up the coordinates). Once I found the GPS coordinates, I ran them through a converter and got a street address. With that, I went to Mapquest and looked up the address. It was about a block from my son's house where the photo was taken.

I alerted him to what I'd found and that he should turn off the GPS. There are instructions somewhere how to do it, but I don't know if it disables what is stored in the phone's memory and if such stored information can be transferred to your computer.

The purpose might be benign, in part. You hear of people being lost and can make a call phone call with batteries going low. It takes time to track there location from a call, assuming there is a tower close enough to pick up the signal, and maybe the GPS coordinates make it easier. But like any good thing, bad things can often result from it.

People have been victimized by criminals taking advantage of the info in photos and other information I just posted on places like Facebook and Craig's list.

I usually save in a manner that will preserve my exif data, but if I had an iPhone, I would either turn it off or save it in a manner that strips off the exif. I think some photo hosting sites strip it off anyway like maybe Flickr.

52 posted on 04/20/2011 11:37:56 AM PDT by Aliska
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To: rivercat

FYI all phones and computers, etc.. do this. It’s not just Apple.


53 posted on 04/20/2011 11:44:37 AM PDT by Sprite518
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To: reaganbooster

Nor would Microsoft... owned by one of the most liberal in the tech industry...


54 posted on 04/20/2011 12:12:18 PM PDT by TheBattman (They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature...)
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To: 668 - Neighbor of the Beast

I see you bought the Highway Smash app and the Laundry Cycle App.


55 posted on 04/20/2011 12:15:43 PM PDT by Mind-numbed Robot (I retain the right to be inconsistent, contradictory and even flat-out wrong!)
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To: Aliska

That particular feature (GPS info for each photo) can be turned on and off, and isn’t as convoluted as the issue that started this thread. I can actually see a legitimate use for GPS locations for photos - especially for keeping up with either legal documentation, or for simply keeping up with pictures you have taken. But if you don’t want that data in other people’s hands, then removing it before sending is the best option.


56 posted on 04/20/2011 12:15:54 PM PDT by TheBattman (They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature...)
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To: Keith in Iowa

I can’t get it to do anything... just loads up a world map and says “Loading” with a little spinning black circle... Been sitting on my screen for the last 30 minutes.


57 posted on 04/20/2011 12:17:35 PM PDT by TheBattman (They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature...)
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To: TheBattman

That’s all that program ever did for me too - so I gave it up.


58 posted on 04/20/2011 12:23:22 PM PDT by Keith in Iowa (FR Class of 1998 | TV News is an oxymoron. | MSNBC = Moonbats Spouting Nothing But Crap.)
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To: TheBattman
I agree about sometimes you might want to keep it embedded in your photos for documentation, vacations and just because you can. I know where all of mine so far since 2003 were taken because they were pretty close to home.

Some people just weren't aware of that feature being on the newer ones, it's probably not that difficult to turn on and off, but too many don't know how to retain it in your photo and strip it off before sending (probably have to run it through a photo editor). He can grab shots in malls and stores where I couldn't get away with my larger camera.

It takes some doing to keep up with it all.

I had a delayed insurance claim for tree damage because I didn't consider all the items that had been destroyed or damaged, my $500 deductible, was too preoccuped with a separate legal situation and getting a huge tree taken down. Luckily I took photos, and the ins adjustor wanted to see them. I could have showed him the exif (keep them in dated folders as well), but he was satisfied. Ended up with a nice settlement after all and wouldn't have gotten that if I hadn't taken the photos. Plus my daughter noticed that the kitchen was damaged inside from the impact but not the roof months after the fact.

59 posted on 04/20/2011 12:59:16 PM PDT by Aliska
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To: annieokie

It does not matter if you are not doing anything wrong.

For years I have said that I can protect myself from the truth; it’s the lies I worry about. This technology can pose insurmountable problems for good people.


60 posted on 04/20/2011 1:07:30 PM PDT by Loud Mime (Prayers for missing Marizela Perez. Prayers for her safe return.)
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