Big Brother is Watching (and he's in the palm of your hand)

[acnomad]

Unless you specifically tell your phone not to do so, it is recording everywhere you've been. The screenshot below shows what my phone knows about my travels from Dec. 18 to Dec. 29, 2020. The information is pretty comprehensive, and a bit scary.

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[kilofoxtrott]

Scary...

Klaus

 

[MNglass]

You were in Minneapolis and you didn't call?

 

[gryphon1911]

It's a double edged sword.

It can be intrusive, but also useful. We were able to track down my wife's stolen phone and get it recovered because we could track it through Google.

 

[Butlerkid]

I don't have geo tracking or whatever it is enabled. At least I don't think so. I know where I am most of the time......

 

[acnomad]

It can be intrusive, but also useful.

Indeed it can. I like to geotag my photos, and use an app to record my location while shooting. Also, everyone in my family makes their location visible to each other.

 

[acnomad]

I don't have geo tracking or whatever it is enabled. At least I don't think so.

I guess that was my point in starting this thread. Just to make us more aware that we might be unwittingly sharing our whereabouts more than we intend.

 

[acnomad]

While Apple states that they take great precautions to protect you location data themselves, they also say this with regard to how that information might be used by the various apps on your device:

“If you allow third-party apps or websites to use your current location, you are subject to their terms and privacy policy and practices. You should review the terms, privacy policies, and practices of such apps and websites to understand how they use your location and other information.”

 

[MortyCapp]

It is not too difficult to work out what is the best compromise for each individual case.
Lots of YouTube videos or articles.

 

[acnomad]

It is not too difficult to work out what is the best compromise for each individual case.

The biggest compromise is with Google Maps. I use it all the time, and obviously location sharing is a requirement to get usable guidance from that app.

 

[MortyCapp]

The biggest compromise is with Google Maps. I use it all the time, and obviously location sharing is a requirement to get usable guidance from that app.

Yes, google, Facebook and many other third party apps record what they should not and don’t need.
On the other hand, many of my banking apps or transactions will not go through easily or at all if I block geolocation or use a VPN set to a node outside of my country.

 

[gnagel]

Location services come in handy with many apps on my phone. For example, when I check the weather it automatically shows me the forecast for my area. Photo apps that allow me to view where the sun will be at a given time automatically know where I am standing. Even restaurant loyalty apps know the restaurant I am in when applying my rewards to my purchase. Of course, mapping apps that provide driving directions or GPS trail progress require location services. I end up picking and choosing which apps get what level of access to this information.

It is a little freaky when my Apple watch suddenly anticipates where I might be going at a given time. It might display a message saying something like "you are 15 minutes away from a given location (such as a restaurant) and traffic is light..." because I might have gone to that place a few times over the past couple of months.

Glenn

 

[acnomad]

Yes, google, Facebook and many other third party apps record what they should not and don’t need.

So true. Unless you look at it from their standpoint: they "need" our information so they can present us with "information" that suits us and returns to them some cost-per-click revenue. If it goes no further than that, I suppose it's innocent enough. If.

 

[acnomad]

Location services come in handy with many apps on my phone.

Yes, I've become quite accustomed to having my phone know where I am and respond appropriately.

It is a little freaky when my Apple watch suddenly anticipates where I might be going at a given time.

Exactly!

 

[MortyCapp]

Location service for the weather forecast is the #1 example of information that DOES NOT HAVE TO be collected by the phone.
A simple selection from a list is sufficient.
It is more manual but private as the app does not need to know the phone’s location.

 

[West]

Unless you specifically tell your phone not to do so, it is recording everywhere you've been. The screenshot below shows what my phone knows about my travels from Dec. 18 to Dec. 29, 2020. The information is pretty comprehensive, and a bit scary.

Step #1 for any international drug trafficker

 

[Palouse]

I'm a practicing Luddite—location, mic, camera etc., are all off, except when and if I really need them.

 

[acnomad]

Luddite—location, mic, camera etc., are all off, except when and if I really need them.

That’s an interesting idea. Is there a quick way to toggle all three on and off without menu diving (in iOS)?

 

[Palouse]

That’s an interesting idea. Is there a quick way to toggle all three on and off without menu diving (in iOS)?

Not that I know of.

 

[Butlerkid]

Location services come in handy with many apps on my phone. For example, when I check the weather it automatically shows me the forecast for my area. Photo apps that allow me to view where the sun will be at a given time automatically know where I am standing. Even restaurant loyalty apps know the restaurant I am in when applying my rewards to my purchase. Of course, mapping apps that provide driving directions or GPS trail progress require location services. I end up picking and choosing which apps get what level of access to this information.

It is a little freaky when my Apple watch suddenly anticipates where I might be going at a given time. It might display a message saying something like "you are 15 minutes away from a given location (such as a restaurant) and traffic is light..." because I might have gone to that place a few times over the past couple of months.

Glenn

I check the weather in the morning. Done. If you are planning a shoot, you will probably turn on Photo Pills. You could turn on location detection at that time. I only start an app when I am ordering or at the restaurant. I only need GPS when traveling....and for that the vehicle does just fine. And traveling is a more "random" thing, to my mind. Not like tracking me all the time.

But obviously you and Sharon got us a lot of needed information from your phones when we were stranded in Iceland! Justin and I were informationless ! LOL!

And I don't do social media of any kind! Guess I'm just one of the lucky "sober" ones!