Android phones record user locations too!

Gary · Apr 23, 2011, 21:30:45

The discovery comes as a US senator demanded to know why Apples iPhone keep secret files on users movements.

Smartphones running Google's Android software collect data about the user's movements in almost exactly the same way as the iPhone, according to an examination of files they contain. The discovery, made by a Swedish researcher, comes as the Democratic senator Al Franken has written to Apple's chief executive Steve Jobs demanding to know why iPhones keep a secret file recording the location of their users as they move around, as the Guardian revealed this week. Magnus Eriksson, a Swedish programmer, has shown that Android phones – now the bestselling smartphones – do the same, though for a shorter period.

I must say, I am not surprised it is google

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/apr/21/android-phones-record-user-locations

Link fixed.

Simon · Apr 23, 2011, 21:51:25

Me neither, as it's a smartphone. I'd be surprised to find one that doesn't.

Niall · Apr 23, 2011, 21:54:37

I do find it odd that people are surprised that a device that uses a GPS system, actually does what they claim. How else is the phone supposed to help you on online maps, or to sign in on social sites, etc? Firefox was doing this ages ago, remember?

Gary · Apr 23, 2011, 21:59:30

Quote from: Niall on Apr 23, 2011, 21:54:37
I do find it odd that people are surprised that a device that uses a GPS system, actually does what they claim. How else is the phone supposed to help you on online maps, or to sign in on social sites, etc? Firefox was doing this ages ago, remember?

Its a bit more than that though Niall its using Cell phone triangulation and GPS and storing alot more info than firefox, basically everywhere you have been, every wifi network you passed, not even logged into, your daily movements tracked and stored in quite fine detail it seems. With firefox you can disable Geo location along with Network prefetching. It would nice nice to disable it in your phone too.

.Griff. · Apr 23, 2011, 22:29:34

Quote from: Gary on Apr 23, 2011, 21:59:30
It would nice nice to disable it in your phone too.

You can. I've disabled both GPS and network location on my HTC Desire.

Simon · Apr 23, 2011, 22:34:20

Yup, and you can block it from accessing Google too, but it does limit functionality a little, in that you need a Google account to purchase apps.

pctech · Apr 23, 2011, 22:48:51

No problem with them tracking my movements.

Work > Home > Work

Occasional visit to a pub.

Gary · Apr 23, 2011, 23:39:13

Quote from: .Griff. on Apr 23, 2011, 22:29:34
You can. I've disabled both GPS and network location on my HTC Desire.

That just helps the battery life though on a Desire, you almost have to do that to get through the day

Also whats the point of having augmented reality apps and GPS if you don't use it, you may as well not have a smart phone. Also network location really helps people like the AA find you if you break down.

.Griff. · Apr 23, 2011, 23:46:36

Quote from: Gary on Apr 23, 2011, 23:39:13
Also network location really helps people like the AA find you if you break down.

They you just turn them back on?!?

Surely common sense dictates that the user has the choice. But then again that doesn't make for "interesting" news reports.

EDIT - If you look at the "experts" own website he even confirms how simple it is to disable the tracking features himself just as I have done in the settings.

Glenn · Apr 24, 2011, 08:04:29

Quote from: Gary on Apr 23, 2011, 23:39:13
That just helps the battery life though on a Desire, you almost have to do that to get through the day Also whats the point of having augmented reality apps and GPS if you don't use it, you may as well not have a smart phone. Also network location really helps people like the AA find you if you break down.

My Desire goes 48 -60hrs per charge.

I think you will find MS, Nokia and other mobile OS manufacturers all track location, along with the network operators, it helps them with planning coverage.

cavillas · Apr 24, 2011, 09:49:21

What's wrong with it anyway? I don't expeect many companies actually use the information to target you personally or track you personally. It could be a good thing of your phone is stolen as it can perhaps be tracked to a degree (sorry about the pun). If you are unconscious or kidnapped it could also prove useful. Far too many people are too concerned about personal information and ignore some of the benefits. I think only those who are doing nefarious things have to worry if they are being tracked.

Gary · Apr 24, 2011, 09:52:29

Quote from: Glenn on Apr 24, 2011, 08:04:29
My Desire goes 48 -60hrs per charge.

I think you will find MS, Nokia and other mobile OS manufacturers all track location, along with the network operators, it helps them with planning coverage.

Makes sense Glenn, I was teasing about battery life

The new Desire S has a bigger battery but If I were to try Android again (so far not liked it) I would be interested in the Samsung Galaxy S 2. HTC seem stuck with single core units right now which is a shame, as dual core phones seem the way to go now. I was hoping the Desire S would be better equipped but alas not, and its a real pain they don't have the '|' Symbol on the built in keyboard, I tried a HTC Desire HD out and apart from being lousy on battery life and not having a front camera for skype not having a standard qwerty keypad was a a pain when setting it up to use WiFi.

Gary · Apr 24, 2011, 10:00:33

Quote from: cavillas on Apr 24, 2011, 09:49:21
What's wrong with it anyway? I don't expect many companies actually use the information to target you personally or track you personally. It could be a good thing of your phone is stolen as it can perhaps be tracked to a degree (sorry about the pun). If you are unconscious or kidnapped it could also prove useful. Far too many people are too concerned about personal information and ignore some of the benefits. I think only those who are doing nefarious things have to worry if they are being tracked.

I think people like to keep their lives to themselves where possible, its nothing to do with being "nefarious"

Some just want to keep some form of anonymity in what is already a very public world, also keeping sensitive information secure has not had a good track record with Government bodies and other organisations, having a persons movements tracked and kept in plain text files for the world to read is not my idea of secure or private, anyway what happened to keeping your identity safe

Niall · Apr 24, 2011, 11:27:56

If I'm planning on popping out to murder someone, I'll just leave me phone at home

Glenn · Apr 24, 2011, 12:14:03

The HTC Sensation is a dual core phone, it's due to be released in May and Sim free in June I believe, I do like the look of the Samsung though, just not the £499 price tag.

http://www.htc.com/www/product/sensation/overview.html

Steve · Apr 24, 2011, 12:32:32

The Samsung does look a bit like an iPhone, interesting that they are both suing each other.

Niall · Apr 25, 2011, 07:07:29

I quite like the look if that phone. I shall keep an eye on it.

pctech · Apr 25, 2011, 11:16:09

Quote from: Steve on Apr 24, 2011, 12:32:32
The Samsung does look a bit like an iPhone, interesting that they are both suing each other.

Only so many ways you can differentiate a rectangular box.

Gary · Apr 25, 2011, 11:31:50

Quote from: Niall on Apr 25, 2011, 07:07:29
I quite like the look if that phone. I shall keep an eye on it.

The Galaxy S 2 will be the one, but I really dislike the Android OS though its lie the Opera browser, for some reason I just can't get on with it and I don't really know why.

Niall · Apr 25, 2011, 12:29:10

I'm not a fan of the Opera browser either. That being said, it's been a while since I've even tried it, so it could have changed. Before it had some quite frankly, bizarre set up that was totally different to anything else. I suppose that's what they were going for, but confusing things doesn't make me want to use it.