Nothing to see here folks...
Posted on 04/20/2011 9:43:26 AM PDT by sheikdetailfeather
Security researchers have discovered that Apple's iPhone keeps track of where you go – and saves every detail of it to a secret file on the device which is then copied to the owner's computer when the two are synchronised.
The file contains the latitude and longitude of the phone's recorded coordinates along with a timestamp, meaning that anyone who stole the phone or the computer could discover details about the owner's movements using a simple program.
For some phones, there could be almost a year's worth of data stored, as the recording of data seems to have started with Apple's iOS 4 update to the phone's operating system, released in June 2010.
"Apple has made it possible for almost anybody – a jealous spouse, a private detective – with access to your phone or computer to get detailed information about where you've been," said Pete Warden, one of the researchers.
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
Just so ya know, the “previously posted” police are going to yell at you.
Also, please understand that by their very nature ALL cel NETWORKS maintain location records.
That the information is stored in the phone for later discovery may seem odd, but please understand that cel phone networks ALL MUST keep track of your location to make a valid connection, track usage, send a bill, complete a call, and so on.
Nothing to see here folks...
At least tell us the name of the file so we can erase it.
>>>At least tell us the name of the file so we can erase it.
To keep the file protected on your computer - encrypt back-ups in iTunes. You can’t do anything about the file on your iPhone. Unless you know how to hack the OS, which could brick your phone and fore a re-install of the OS.
Well, my IPhone contract ends next month. Looks like I’ll be switching. Time to start reading up on other smart phones.
Every Breath You Take
The Police
Every breath you take
Every move you make
Every bond you break
Every step you take
I’ll be watching you
Every single day
Every word you say
Every game you play
Every night you stay
I’ll be watching you
Oh can’t you see
You belong to me
How my poor heart aches
With every step you take
Every move you make
Every vow you break
Every smile you fake
Every claim you stake
I’ll be watching you
Since you’ve gone I’ve been lost without a trace
I dream at night, I can only see your face
I look around but it’s you I can’t replace
I feel so cold and I long for your embrace
I keep calling baby, baby please...
Oh can’t you see
You belong to me
How my poor heart aches
With every step you take
Every move you make
Every vow you break
Every smile you fake
Every claim you stake
I’ll be watching you
Every move you make
Every step you take
I’ll be watching you
I’ll be watching you
Every breath you take
Every move you make
Every bond you break
Every step you take (I’ll be watching you)
Every single day
Every word you say
Every game you play
Every night you stay (I’ll be watching you)
Every move you make
Every vow you break
Every smile you fake
Every claim you stake (I’ll be watching you)
Every single day
Every word you say
Every game you play
Every night you stay (I’ll be watching you)
Every breath you take
Every move you make
Every bond you break
Every step you take (I’ll be watching you)
Every single day
Every word you say
Every game you play
Every night you stay (I’ll be watching you)
Every move you make
Every vow you break
Every smile you fake
Every claim you stake (I’ll be watching you)
Every single day
Every word you say
Every game you play
Every night you stay (I’ll be watching you)
I just downloaded this application and checked out my iPhone.
Unless I’ve been doing a lot of sleep-driving, the resulting map has me being in a lot of places where I’ve never been - and not just a few miles off, I’m talking about 100+ miles away!
I hate to say it, but I think it is the price you pay for technology.
If you don’t like it, give up those electronics you love.
I have a basic cell phone and that’s all. I know it tracks my whereabouts.
Soon people will be desensitized to these invasions and soon no one will care.
| Well, my IPhone contract ends next month. Looks like I’ll be switching.
|
It also keeps track of where you took the pictures
Thanks for the link. Wow!
It shows you were places you never really were! Ruh-Oh! How many divorces will this cause?
“ID and Cellphone Please” will become the new “your papers please </ heavy German accent >”.
The next step will be enabling the cops 9with probable cause naturally) to dl this information without needing to touch your phone.
“No cell phone, sir? Please step out of your car, you are going downtown to chat with some detectives. Come along now.”
The only thing I can think of is I left it on when I was on a commercial airline flight or two and it periodically was able to contact enough cell towers along the way to record a location.
There are two tables: one for WiFi access points, and one for cell phone towers.
Your iPhone is simply keeping a cache of transmitters that it "hears". Each time it hears a new one, it queries an online database and gets the location. It stores this data, so that it can be used again without making another query to the online database.
The iPhone has "assisted GPS", which means that it uses the known locations of WiFi access points and cell towers to approximate your position, then uses GPS to refine it. Using this method, it can determine your position much faster, anytime you use an iPhone application that utilizes "location services".
Yes, the Wifi data can be used to approximately determine your position within a city block, after the fact. But, it's not logging the location of YOUR phone -- it's remembering the locations of fixed points that were used to help determine your location.
The cell phone tower data is much less precise. I've seen it report a location miles away from the closest place I've been (driving on a major interstate highway through the area).
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Did you bother to read the article? Don't you even watch any cop shows? The cell phone providers are all recording the same data anyway. By law, all cell phones have GPS in them now, and the providers always know where your phone is within 50 feet. Allegedly this is to help you in case you call 911, but as we all know, it's also so Chloe can tell Jack Bauer where you are so he can track you down and torture you.