What the...

[Fudzy]

http://www.news24.com/SciTech/News/iPhone-secretly-spies-on-users-20110420

Comments please?

 

[GrootBaas]

Ya briefly saw this today. Slightly disturbing, but I'm not sure that this info is send anywhere. As far as I can see it stores timestamps and gps coordinates in a small file on your device (what's the point). But I still need to read up on it.

 

[Elimentals]

Problem is that any app on your phone can read that file and send the data.

 

[WiT8litZ]

Problem is that any app on your phone can read that file and send the data.

Do you have confirmation of this or is it only speculation?

 

[Elimentals]

Do you have confirmation of this or is it only speculation?

I can only speculate as I can code my app to read the file, if it will pass the Apple approval process that will be another story, not one I am gonna try and find out.

 

[zululami]

frikkadel ...

 

[Soul Assassin]

Apple is not "recording your moves"

Before everyone starts wrapping their iPhones in the left-over tin foil from their hats.

 

[Fudzy]

Apple is not "recording your moves"

Before everyone starts wrapping their iPhones in the left-over tin foil from their hats.

The database can still place you in a general place at a general time, and Apple should probably do something to address this. But I think the case that Apple is tracking you is both overblown and inaccurate, and I wanted to correct it.

So in a clever headline, Apple themselves aren't recording your moves but your iPhone still is?

 

[Elimentals]

Like I said in the 1st post about this
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthr...move-on-iOS4?p=5978460&viewfull=1#post5978460

I have no issues with my phone/Service Provider or even Apple tracking me, my only concern is that other apps can access it. I am sure this will be addressed in the next update.

Maybe encrypt the data on the phone with the key stored in the main OS/Apple software only would do the trick for me.

 

[Soul Assassin]

The datasets also contain accuracy information. I am limiting the results to only data points that claim to be accurate within 1500 meters. However most of them are much farther than that from my known route - for example, the ones on the Garden State Parkway are more than twice that distance away. And those individual points claim an accuracy of less than 1000 meters.

It's still a concern that it's unencrypted and readable but I honestly don't care if someone knows I'm somewhere within a 1000m radius, that's like going on a blind date and telling the person you will be the one wearing shoes.

 

[Anony-mousse]

I am neither wanted by Interpol nor does anyone else give a shyt about me ;-). Seriously, who cares?

 

[hungrybeaver]

Ars has an article on it. Its too long to quote here. http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2...n-without-your-consent-and-why-it-matters.ars

Also, those that have the iPhone might want to check this program out (mentioned in the article). It will show you where the phone has tracked itself when 3G or GPS was on. http://petewarden.github.com/iPhoneTracker/

edit: really wish I had an iPhone to see where its been. I can think of a few circumstances where the data can come in handy

 

[Elimentals]

LOL!!!!!!

For a phone that spends 99% of its time on my desk I sure do move around allot

 

[Soul Assassin]

Stop iOS from "tracking" you.

 

[cyclone321]

LOL!!!!!!

For a phone that spends 99% of its time on my desk I sure do move around allot

http://cyclone321.blogspot.com/
Check my blog i wrote an windows app that can extract the data from the file and show it on a map. almost done... then post it here

 

[BobJones]

So right after someone has physical access to either my Phone or my mac they can see the locations of the cell towers the phone is communicating with?

 

[greg0205]

Similar thread already posted... http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/328422-iPad-and-iPhone-logging-your-movements-Researchers

And... Here are some of my favorite responses to that Apple bashing that's been going on.

First, if you really still think your mobile provider doesn't track your phone... http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/26/business/media/26privacy.html?_r=2

Then, If you really, really still think your Droid isn't doing the same thing... http://thenextweb.com/google/2011/0...iphone-android-stores-your-location-data-too/

Worse than that, If you really, really, really still think your geolocation, call and SMS logs can't be accessed on your Droid, here's an hour long video to show you how it's done... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-H2Ge2xUvg

Yeah, but let's all go ahead and demonise Apple.

 

[Elimentals]

You forgot to mention the diffrace in that android one purge the data not keep it since you turned it on.

I don't care if an app knows I am at a certain shopping mall right now or during the day, I do care if you can pull a pattern like say I goto the mall on the last day of the month or that I goto a certain petrol station every Friday.

 

[greg0205]

You forgot to mention the diffrace in that android one purge the data not keep it since you turned it on.

I don't care if an app knows I am at a certain shopping mall right now or during the day, I do care if you can pull a pattern like say I goto the mall on the last day of the month or that I goto a certain petrol station every Friday.

Yeah, Android only stores the last 50 locations... Sorry 'bout that.

 

[Elimentals]

Yeah, Android only stores the last 50 locations... Sorry 'bout that.

Also what you forgot to mention is that android applications comes with a security advisory:
When you install an application on android it tells you before installing that the app has access to say geo-tagging, network and sms data.
You can then decide if you want that app to access that data or if it has no right to access it and then not install it.
On iPhone you have no clue what the apps can or can not access.