The iPhone 4, recording your movements wherever you go

20 April, 2011
Two security researchers in the UK have uncovered a disturbing truth. It appears iPhone 4's everywhere have been tracking their users movements with startling accuracy (unbeknownst to the users) and what is...

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  • L
  • LieNyL
  • thg
  • 21 Apr 2011

well then if you lost your phone or got stolen then it can be recovered.. this is something not really bad.. :)

    • n
    • nickname
    • YiX
    • 21 Apr 2011

    Matthew Shield, 21 Apr 2011So what if Apple collects our details. If you trust issues... moreSo what if they put a chip under your skin? Privacy is not about knowing where you go but about disabling your bank accounts and life if they want to.

      • j
      • jZA
      • 9DG
      • 21 Apr 2011

      is this only on the iphone4?

        • ?
        • Anonymous
        • Y7I
        • 21 Apr 2011

        The question is not that they track but WHY?? Why would they want to track the phone or your movements? Commercial reasons? I doubt it. Resolving crimes? National security?

          • X
          • Xtr
          • LaD
          • 21 Apr 2011

          This thing's happend only in US or all over the world?

            • M
            • Matthew Shield
            • 95m
            • 21 Apr 2011

            So what if Apple collects our details.
            If you trust issues or are simply insecure because you think your net worth is high enough that someone would be stalking you, then I think you should move to another planet.
            Privacy is not about knowing, it's about disclosing.

              • D
              • Davide
              • p8c
              • 21 Apr 2011

              Anonymous, 21 Apr 2011I didn't say Apple have billions of iphone users That pa... moreI think you should read the article agian...

                • A
                • Alakhwand
                • iFq
                • 21 Apr 2011

                I still remember Apple's ad in in 1984 superbowl when they introduced tha Mac it was aimed against th eBig Brother, now they have become THE BIG BROTHER. Apple used to be a leader in freedom. What a sorry time when MONEY is more important.

                  • ?
                  • Anonymous
                  • nFT
                  • 21 Apr 2011

                  Anonymous, 21 Apr 2011Sorry to rain on everyone's parade, but ALL people with mob... moreYou miss the point in your blind loyalty to the brand! The point is not that the information is being collected but that anyone with access to your phone can access the information. That is shoody and slack programming and something you do not get with other phones!

                  Go figure that one out!

                    • ?
                    • Anonymous
                    • TjX
                    • 21 Apr 2011

                    Anonymous, 21 Apr 2011I didn't say Apple have billions of iphone users That pa... moreI suggest you want to read about the issue again, and more closely this time.
                    The difference lies therein that the info is stored on the phone and that it can be read by anyone with access to the phone.
                    No investigation with assistance of provider data necessary at all. Just careless programming that doesn't give much about your privacy.

                      • ?
                      • Anonymous
                      • TjX
                      • 21 Apr 2011

                      AnonD-977, 21 Apr 2011Nothing that wasn't agreed to:- “Apple and its partners ... moreTurning the feature off doesn't seem to help the fact that the info is stored on the phone nevertheless and can be read with anyone who has access to your phone.

                      This is nothing you agreed to, but careless programming in my opinion.

                        • H
                        • Hg
                        • U${
                        • 21 Apr 2011

                        Anonymous, 21 Apr 2011I didn't say Apple have billions of iphone users That pa... moreGovernment/celluar tracking is by law or political reasons. But it is different from Steve Jobs or you or any other private person tracking an iphone user.
                        Shame on Apple.. u guys are already so rich now stop pushing your consumers around.

                          • J
                          • Jcm800
                          • nx2
                          • 21 Apr 2011

                          There's already a Cydia app called 'untrackerd' to clean up your location history if you want.

                          Personally I'll leave it as is, I've got nothing to hide and in the event I go missing one day I'll fkn regret blocking the info I'm sure!

                            • p
                            • philm
                            • nG5
                            • 21 Apr 2011

                            Apple are a very paranoid company and cause nothing but trouble since 2007.From school bullying to its weird closed sect community i am glad i have never bought an ifone & never will.I hate the company with all my heart.

                              • J
                              • Jac
                              • nIc
                              • 21 Apr 2011

                              Someone will be sueing for sure, hahah!

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • MME
                                • 21 Apr 2011

                                Davide, 21 Apr 2011Apple doesn't have billions of users... The government in t... moreI didn't say Apple have billions of iphone users

                                That part of my comment referred to the fact that ALL mobile phones GLOBALLY are tracked by the carriers.

                                Therefore billions of mobile phone users have their movements tracked as a matter of course by the cell towers as they enter each zone & then this information is stored by the carriers.

                                If someone thinking they're safe in the knowledge that they can visit France for example with their N8 or SGS. They will be tracked & their carrier will have that data stored. If the police come to the carrier & say we need to track this number, the carrier can look up that number & say - yes they were at the eifel tower at 10:36 on 21st March.

                                Like I say - that's ANY mobile phone.

                                  • D
                                  • Davide
                                  • p8c
                                  • 21 Apr 2011

                                  Anonymous, 21 Apr 2011Sorry to rain on everyone's parade, but ALL people with mob... moreApple doesn't have billions of users... The government in the US can track over 200 million people in real time. Are you surprised that American iPhone has this feature? I wouldn't be surprised if this data is collected by officials agencies every 2-3 days.

                                    • J
                                    • JazyZ
                                    • mM@
                                    • 21 Apr 2011

                                    How they did this without positioning of users?
                                    http://youtu.be/fqFpq9WXbJo
                                    It's obvious with smartphones.

                                      • D
                                      • AnonD-977
                                      • PBc
                                      • 21 Apr 2011

                                      Nothing that wasn't agreed to:-

                                      “Apple and its partners and licensors may provide certain features or services through the Service that rely upon device-based location information. To provide such features or services, where available, Apple and its partners and licensors may collect, use, transmit, process and maintain your location data, including the real-time geographic location of your device, and you hereby agree and consent to Apple's and its partners' and licensors' collection, use, transmission, processing and maintenance of such location data to provide such services. In addition, by enabling and/or using any location-based services or features within the Service (e.g. Find My iPhone), you agree and consent to Apple collecting, using, processing and maintaining information related to your account, and any devices registered thereunder, for purposes of providing such location-based service or feature to you. Such information may include, but is not limited to, your account name, device ID and name, device type and real-time geographic location of your device at time of your request.”

                                      Of course you can always turn location services off in settings and encrypt your iPhone backup.

                                        • D
                                        • Dreadnought
                                        • mhR
                                        • 21 Apr 2011

                                        This is why I would never touch and iPhone. THe whole Apple company seem too insincere and devious.