iPhone tracking your movements and keeping a secret file

OutHouse

Lifer
Jun 5, 2000
36,410
616
126
i searched and didnt see this posted.

glad i have a droid. screw apple.

http://content.usatoday.com/communi...r-movements-and-storing-it-in-a-secret-file/1

The Guardian newspaper has stirred up major buzz on the Web today with a report that two security researchers have apparently discovered that Apple's iPhone keeps track of a user's every movement and stores it on a secret file inside the device.

Moreover, writes The Guardian's Charles Arthur, the data -- which contains latitude and longitude and timestamp -- are then copied to the owner's computer when the devices are synchronized.

He says researchers Alasdair Allan and Pete Warden have posted details on their blogs and on a website that addresses key questions.

Meanwhile, Gizmodo's Sam Biddle used the data he found on his phone to post a map that he calls "jarringly accurate" of his travels up and down the East Coast over the past year.

Biddle writes that the phone appears to rely on tower triangulation rather than GPS pinpointing, meaning it doesn't help to switch off "location services."

How troubling is this? Here's how security researcher Allan puts it:

"Neither Pete nor myself think there is any sort of conspiracy going on, however we're both worried about this level of detailed location data being out there in the wild."
 
Jun 27, 2005
19,216
1
61
This is not news... That A&E show "The First 48" has shown the cops using phone data to back track suspects locations and check their story about where they claimed to be. Lesson is, if you're going to kill someone leave your phone at home.
 

Arkaign

Lifer
Oct 27, 2006
20,736
1,379
126
Someone I know just tested this, and indeed it was complete and comprehensive going back for many months. Interesting. Mass lawsuit? Apple stock in trouble? :p Nah, people don't give a shit about privacy any more.
 

Schadenfroh

Elite Member
Mar 8, 2003
38,416
4
0
What do you expect from a proprietary, closed system whose inner-workings are controlled by the whims of a madman.

See the writing on the wall, Apple users. Sell that iPhone and join the Android army.
 

TheVrolok

Lifer
Dec 11, 2000
24,254
4,092
136
Someone I know just tested this, and indeed it was complete and comprehensive going back for many months. Interesting. Mass lawsuit? Apple stock in trouble? :p Nah, people don't give a shit about privacy any more.

This. Having a "cool" iPhone >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> privacy for many, many people.
 

Patranus

Diamond Member
Apr 15, 2007
9,280
0
0
How is this any different than ATT/VZN/TMOB tracking tower data?
At least I have physical control over my phone.
 

shiner

Lifer
Jul 18, 2000
17,112
1
0
I just got off the phone with Verizon support, my phone is having issues and needs to be replaced, during the whole replacement talk I was offered an iPhone as an "upgrade"....took me quite a while to stop laughing and say "No thanks. I'm an asshole, not a douchebag."
 

Capt Caveman

Lifer
Jan 30, 2005
34,543
651
126
How is this any different than ATT/VZN/TMOB tracking tower data?
At least I have physical control over my phone.

From the very nature of wireless phones, any call/data transmission between the carrier and phone can be traced to a specific transmission tower. And you'd have no way of knowing. Oh noes!!!!!!!!!!!
 

silverpig

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
27,703
12
81
I agree actually. Prime example: Facebook.

Unless you're an idiot, facebook doesn't violate privacy. Just don't post stuff on there that you find sensitive. I have my spam email, I don't care if people know what city I live in, and all of my status updates are things I wouldn't mind saying in front of bosses, friends, family, or out in public around a stranger.
 

mmntech

Lifer
Sep 20, 2007
17,501
12
0
If you think it's only Apple doing it, you're deluding yourself. Fortunately it's not being leaked on the web this time. Apple isn't collecting the data. It's stored locally. Still, it makes me wonder why it's there to begin with.
 

Capt Caveman

Lifer
Jan 30, 2005
34,543
651
126
If you think it's only Apple doing it, you're deluding yourself. Fortunately it's not being leaked on the web this time. Apple isn't collecting the data. It's stored locally. Still, it makes me wonder why it's there to begin with.

Some say it may be used by apps for iAds.
 

xanis

Lifer
Sep 11, 2005
17,571
8
0
Lots of good stuff in this thread. Grabbin' the lawnchair and some popcorn. :D