Google records your location even when you tell it not to

[UglyCasanova]

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/aug/13/google-location-tracking-android-iphone-mobile

Storing your minute-by-minute travels carries privacy risks and has been used by police to determine the location of suspects. So the company will let you “pause” a setting called “location history”.

Google says that will prevent the company from remembering where you've been. Google's support page on the subject states: “You can turn off Location History at any time. With Location History off, the places you go are no longer stored.”

That isn't true. Even with “location history” paused, some Google apps automatically store time-stamped location data without asking.​

Yeah it’s my fault for using a "free" service but there’s little alternative to do so, but if they lie and make me think they’ve stopped but haven’t that’s on them. I dunno which is a worse, big gov or big tech. Time to start Sherman act-ing Alphabet's arse

 

[Sunburn74]

I honestly have given up any hope of privacy in public at this point. Its just a the new normal to know you're being tracked everywhere, all the time.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

I wish I could say I am shocked, but no, I am not. I'm with you sunburn. Privacy is pretty much gone for those who actively use social platforms.

 

[ch33zw1z]

I wish I could say I am shocked, but no, I am not. I'm with you sunburn. Privacy is pretty much gone for those who actively use social platforms.

I would go even farther and say modern computing. All mobile OS's widely used, and popular desktop OS's are watching....I'm not surprised that apps can still turn on location, just review the permissions of some of the apps like Facebook, essentially own your phone....and that's not even built in. Privacy is gone.

 

[imported_tajmahal]

So many on the left say that because they use their assholes to shit out of that it's OK for Google/Apple/Amazon/Zuckhole to screw them up their asses without permission.

I disagree, but we're a vanishing minority now.

 

[ch33zw1z]

So many on the left say that because they use their assholes to shit out of that it's OK for Google/Apple/Amazon/Zuckhole to screw them up their asses without permission.

I disagree, but we're a vanishing minority now.

So you speculate that conservatives don't use Android, iOS, windows, etc....and that "so many on the left" not only use those, but sustain an anal screwing willingly after a thorough review of the terms of service. Good to know.

 

[UNCjigga]

The greatest trick our corporate and government overlords pulled on us? Convincing us to carry an always-on GPS locater in our pockets or purses at all times.

 

[UglyCasanova]

The greatest trick our corporate and government overlords pulled on us? Convincing us to carry an always-on GPS locater in our pockets or purses at all times.

That has cameras and microphones built in, logs our thoughts without us even realizing, and collects our fingerprints to boot!

 

[Josephus312]

This is highly unsurprising given that the apps require location information.

You can just turn it completely off and it won't be recorded but you will have to set a permanent location for weather service since it can no longer report your location and google fitness won't work at all. Google photos won't be able to place mark your photos either.

It's the conveniences of these apps that we've gotten used to that has driven this and it has FUCK ALL to do with ad providers who use the old system that you CAN turn off.

The article is mixing truth with some ideas that are simply not true.

 

[lxskllr]

Don't use google. There was a time not that long ago there was no such thing as google, and you got along fine without them. You still can.

 

[UglyCasanova]

This is highly unsurprising given that the apps require location information.

And some searches that have nothing to do with location, such as “chocolate chip cookies” or “kids science kits”, pinpoint your precise latitude and longitude accurate to the square foot and save it to your Google account.

 

[Josephus312]

Don't use google. There was a time not that long ago there was no such thing as google, and you got along fine without them. You still can.

Sure, you can get around it on Android by using f-droid and a spoofed shop that carries with it an open door to the creator of the shop.

Mokee, the ROM that was banned because it's Chinese spyware.

At least with Google you CAN turn it off and you can just block tracks if you want by using a VPN but that isn't the case when your network stack is infected by the external shop.

 

[Josephus312]

And some searches that have nothing to do with location, such as “chocolate chip cookies” or “kids science kits”, pinpoint your precise latitude and longitude accurate to the square foot and save it to your Google account.

Yes but that data is stored to your account without external access. You have tracking cookies anyway if you don't turn them off, you have that on every browser on every system, it's not a problem with the OS or the browser but with the way it's accessible to outside sources. In the case where you have turned location history off it's stored on your account but it's not externally accessible.

 

[UglyCasanova]

Yes but that data is stored to your account without external access.

jenifferlawrenceokaythumbsup.gif

 

[Josephus312]

jenifferlawrenceokaythumbsup.gif

I have no idea what that means but you do understand how account privacy works, right?

Local and external encryption of your account ensures that privacy. I do a fair bit of code for different systems that interact with the google systems including the system that encrypts your account information across all systems.

You are trying to make something appear as if it is something it isn't and I wonder what your motive for that is? Is it just ignorance or is it some grudge against google?

 

[nickqt]

So many on the left say that because they use their assholes to shit out of that it's OK for Google/Apple/Amazon/Zuckhole to screw them up their asses without permission.

I disagree, but we're a vanishing minority now.

You’re an idiot.

 

[imported_tajmahal]

You’re an idiot.

No, just someone that gets amused watching lefties and young people walking around sucking on their cell phone pacifiers.

 

[Thebobo]

BTW I just don't care. have all my info. Sometimes It's freaky, but maybe if I was young again I might. My work, a Gov agency uses Gmail and drive and I do as well.

 

[rh71]

I honestly have given up any hope of privacy in public at this point. Its just a the new normal to know you're being tracked everywhere, all the time.

Pretty much this. I love the convenience more than any chance of being tracked and used against me. Like I'm already on my way somewhere and open up Maps on my phone and I don't have to type in the whole name of the location because I'd already been there and it knows to pop it up as soon as I enter a few letters.

 

[zinfamous]

So many on the left say that because they use their assholes to shit out of that it's OK for Google/Apple/Amazon/Zuckhole to screw them up their asses without permission.

I disagree, but we're a vanishing minority now.

Look at you, desperately trying to create enemies against your fragile ego and mewling, vanishing ideology, where none logically exist.

Good boy, good boy! Here's a fresh grenade for you!

 

[vi edit]

No, just someone that gets amused watching lefties and young people walking around sucking on their cell phone pacifiers.

Hmmmm...

https://www.12news.com/article/mone...rs-on-cell-phones-as-millennials-do/478751449

That bad habit of bringing a smartphone to the dinner table is certainly a generational problem. But not just for the generation you're probably thinking about.

It turns out, baby boomers are just as obsessed with their smartphones as millennials. The older generation now spends two and a half hours on their phones every day, on average.

"That's pretty close to millennials -- at 171 minutes a day," said technology expert Andrea Smith.

According to a T-Mobile survey, baby boomers aren't just looking at content online. They're posting, too.

"In fact, they're 19 percent more likely to share content on Facebook, than any other generation," Smith said.

 

[brycejones]

No, just someone that gets amused watching lefties and young people walking around sucking on their cell phone pacifiers.

Tajbot prefers to suck on his Trump dildo, that's his pacifier.

 

[brycejones]

Hmmmm...

https://www.12news.com/article/mone...rs-on-cell-phones-as-millennials-do/478751449

That bad habit of bringing a smartphone to the dinner table is certainly a generational problem. But not just for the generation you're probably thinking about.

It turns out, baby boomers are just as obsessed with their smartphones as millennials. The older generation now spends two and a half hours on their phones every day, on average.

"That's pretty close to millennials -- at 171 minutes a day," said technology expert Andrea Smith.

According to a T-Mobile survey, baby boomers aren't just looking at content online. They're posting, too.

"In fact, they're 19 percent more likely to share content on Facebook, than any other generation," Smith said.

That's because facebook is where old people are. The young kids of today are using different platforms.

 

[ponyo]

Don't use google. There was a time not that long ago there was no such thing as google, and you got along fine without them. You still can.

While true, Google can make your life so much easier in certain situation. If you're in a foreign place visiting, Google Maps along with Google Translate can be a lifesaver. Google Maps was amazing and insanely useful during my Europe vacation trip couple weeks back and made getting around and taking public transit a breeze even though I couldn't speak or read the local language. Could I have managed and had the same experience with paper maps? Maybe but doubtful.

 

[Commodus]

So many on the left say that because they use their assholes to shit out of that it's OK for Google/Apple/Amazon/Zuckhole to screw them up their asses without permission.

I disagree, but we're a vanishing minority now.

The irony is that you cheerlead for a President who's a slave to these companies because he wants a way to rant against the free press at 6AM. Which President was it that voluntarily gave up his consumer smartphone to get an ultra-secure device, understanding that privacy and security were more important than convenience in his role? Oh right, Obama.