iPhone tracking your movements and keeping a secret file

[BrownShoes]

 

[lxskllr]

Open source to the rescue! Except for Apple users...

The Guardian Project is an open source initiative which aims to take advantage of Google's Android operating system to bring smartphones the same sort of security and privacy that savvy users have come to expect from laptops and desktops. Featuring capabilities like full-disk encryption, secure instant messaging, and anonymous Web browsing, the project hopes to give people better control of their personal information on mobile devices.

For years, security professionals and researchers have been advising users to encrypt everything. Data storage, communications, removable media—keep everything locked down. (As recently as two months ago, California's Supreme Court ruled that police officers can lawfully search the phones of persons they arrest.) However, this sort of security has long been unavailable for mobile devices.

http://arstechnica.com/open-source/...dian-project-supplies-smartphone-security.ars

 

[cheezy321]

heh, it's funny. everytime someone badmouths apple, I can count on you to come to its defense.

dwell:apple::spidey07:comcast

Doesn't change the fact that he's right. Care to prove him wrong?

if you're not paying for something, you're not the customer; you're the product being sold. Remember that every time you use google.

 

[MotionMan]

And it's copied to your computer when you sync with Itunes...think that file doesn't get back to Apple somehow? If it doesn't then what would be the purpose of it's creation to begin with? Since Apple is still not talking it makes people wonder why

Slippery slope/conspiracy theories.

Feh.

So I guess you will be disconnecting from the internet now? They are stealing your brainwaves!!!

MotionMan

 

[OutHouse]

Their phone, their code all they need is the phones IP and they can send a command to download that info.

 

[OutHouse]

but it's cool for nerds to hate on apple!

No its fucked up that apple hides spyware on their device. Its also bizarre that so many that replied dont really care and laugh at the ones who do.

 

[speg]

It's also just tower data. Not your exact position. Wouldn't be surprised if other phones do this, and we know the information is already available from the provider. (i.e., your device was at this tower at this time.)

 

[MotionMan]

Their phone, their code all they need is the phones IP and they can send a command to download that info.

No its fucked up that apple hides spyware on their device. Its also bizarre that so many that replied dont really care and laugh at the ones who do.

Fear-mongering is AT's national pastime.

I just refuse to buy into it.

MotionMan

 

[rivan]

The fine line that keeps most from worrying is that you assume Apple's not collecting it or doing anything with it, and they very well might not. Today.

Even if they did, people probably assume the info's too generic and too vast do really do anything intelligent with. For today.

Talk about a slippery slope. The point of the 'fearmongers' is that there's absolutely no reason at all that information should be collected in the first place. The fact that it is implies someone wants to do something with it, or wants it there when they're ready to.

 

[5to1baby1in5]

How is this any different than ATT/VZN/TMOB tracking tower data?
At least I have physical control over my phone.

Unless you live in Michigan
http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/34/3458.asp

 

[MotionMan]

Talk about a slippery slope. The point of the 'fearmongers' is that there's absolutely no reason at all that information should be collected in the first place. The fact that it is implies someone wants to do something with it, or wants it there when they're ready to.

Wake me up when someone uses the information in an improper way.

MotionMan

 

[purbeast0]

No its fucked up that apple hides spyware on their device. Its also bizarre that so many that replied dont really care and laugh at the ones who do.

well i'm not laughing at anyone, i personally don't give a shit because i don't live my life worrying about others knowing where I am, and that is even IF the data got back to them. as of now the data is stored on your phone and transferred to your hard drive when you sync... whoopidy fucking doo!

i'm not important enough that people would care about my moves every second of my life.

 

[purbeast0]

The fine line that keeps most from worrying is that you assume Apple's not collecting it or doing anything with it, and they very well might not. Today.

Even if they did, people probably assume the info's too generic and too vast do really do anything intelligent with. For today.

Talk about a slippery slope. The point of the 'fearmongers' is that there's absolutely no reason at all that information should be collected in the first place. The fact that it is implies someone wants to do something with it, or wants it there when they're ready to.

ok mr. psychic so when are they going to collect data and begin to do stuff with it?

 

[BrownShoes]

 

[dwell]

No its fucked up that apple hides spyware on their device. Its also bizarre that so many that replied dont really care and laugh at the ones who do.

You don't think your mobile carrier has all of that info on you as well? At least in Apple's case it stays on the device.

PRO TIP: If you're worried about your wife finding out you go to the strip club encrypt your iPhone/iPad backups:

 

[joutlaw]

Those who want to give this a try:

Go to your C:\Users\%UserName%\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\

Look for the folder with the most recent modified date

Go to

http://www.redcode.nl/blog/2011/04/reading-iphone-gps-data-from-backup-with-java/

Download - runnableiPhoneJTrack.zip

Extract to your C:\ drive


Launch cmd.exe

The syntax is:

java -jar iPhoneTracker.jar "C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\b4d1c79c2f5fc1da044c18d1066b80b39b575590"

The hex folder name after the Backup directory is your iPhones backup.

This created a .kml file in my C:\Users\%username%\

I then opened the .kml file with Google Earth. I would assume the path would work for UNC paths... so I do see a privacy concern especially in a corporate network with lots of iTunes installs with iPhone backups.

 

[MotionMan]

Those who want to give this a try:

Go to your C:\Users\%UserName%\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\

Look for the folder with the most recent modified date

Go to

http://www.redcode.nl/blog/2011/04/reading-iphone-gps-data-from-backup-with-java/

Download - runnableiPhoneJTrack.zip

Extract to your C:\ drive


Launch cmd.exe

The syntax is:

java -jar iPhoneTracker.jar "C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\b4d1c79c2f5fc1da044c18d1066b80b39b575590"

The hex folder name after the Backup directory is your iPhones backup.

This created a .kml file in my C:\Users\%username%\

I then opened the .kml file with Google Earth. I would assume the path would work for UNC paths... so I do see a privacy concern especially in a corporate network with lots of iTunes installs with iPhone backups.

Or...

http://petewarden.github.com/iPhoneTracker/

MotionMan

 

[joutlaw]

Or...

http://petewarden.github.com/iPhoneTracker/

MotionMan

If I had a Mac that would be an option.

 

[MotionMan]

If I had a Mac that would be an option.

Right, hence the "or".

MotionMan

 

[OCGuy]

It is sad how easy some of us are willing to give up privacy....

 

[MotionMan]

It is sad how easy some of us are willing to give up privacy....

How has anyone given up privacy when the information in question resides on OUR phones and, if it is not encrypted, on OUR computers?

Have we also given up our privacy by having our addressbook on OUR phones and OUR computers? How about our e-mail? Our surfing history?

It is sad how easy some people jump to the conclusion that one's privacy has been affected in any way whatsoever.

MotionMan

 

[blurredvision]

How has anyone given up privacy when the information in question resides on OUR phones and, if it is not encrypted, on OUR computers?

Have we also given up our privacy by having our addressbook on OUR phones and OUR computers? How about our e-mail? Our surfing history?

It is sad how easy some people jump to the conclusion that one's privacy has been affected in any way whatsoever.

I agree that nobody is giving up privacy by having this information stored on their phone, although I do think it's a bit dumb on Apple's part to store this info unencrypted on any machine you've synced to. While I'm not stupid enough to think anybody will care where I've been, I can see this affecting someone at some point, especially now that the info on how to chart their whereabouts is easily obtainable.

 

[OCGuy]

How has anyone given up privacy when the information in question resides on OUR phones and, if it is not encrypted, on OUR computers?

Have we also given up our privacy by having our addressbook on OUR phones and OUR computers? How about our e-mail? Our surfing history?

It is sad how easy some people jump to the conclusion that one's privacy has been affected in any way whatsoever.

MotionMan

This information should not even exist, without a specific "opt in" clause in your contract. There is absolutely no good reason for all of your movements to be recorded in a file, unless you want it to.

Read the story about the Michigan cops downloading phone information on random traffic stops.

 

[MotionMan]

This information should not even exist, without a specific "opt in" clause in your contract. There is absolutely no good reason for all of your movements to be recorded in a file, unless you want it to.

Read the story about the Michigan cops downloading phone information on random traffic stops.

I read the story.

There is a lot of private information about us. We have laws about how it may be used. I guess if you assume that someone will use the information illegally, one could be mildly concerned, but, about what, I am not sure.

I agree with other posters that I am way too uninteresting for anyone to care where I have been. Who knows, the information may keep me out of prison one day by proving my phone and I were somewhere else at the time of the crime. :whiste::sneaky:

MotionMan

 

[OCGuy]

I read the story.

There is a lot of private information about us. We have laws about how it may be used. I guess if you assume that someone will use the information illegally, one could be mildly concerned, but, about what, I am not sure.

I agree with other posters that I am way too uninteresting for anyone to care where I have been. Who knows, the information may keep me out of prison one day by proving my phone and I were somewhere else at the time of the crime. :whiste::sneaky:

MotionMan

Why not just have a government video camera placed on you at all times? I mean, you arent doing anything illegal, right? Your life is boring, who would actually watch it?

What if it proves you didnt commit a crime someday?