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Uber Now Tracks Passengers’ Locations Even After They’re Dropped Off

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Re: Uber Now Tracks Passengers’ Locations Even After They’re Dropped Off

#251

Post by dec0dedab0de »

nojvek wrote: post #160
yladiz wrote: post #34

I saw this earlier and had hopes that the update would just let me choose "While Using" in the app settings, like some other apps allow you even if they request access even while not using the app, but the settings only allow for "Always" or "Never" on iPhone. However, you can use Uber without allowing GPS, so it's not all or nothing. I'm a little disturbed that they need any information after I use Uber though. They…

Well it's the same company that creepily gives me a code interview in the app because it knows I go to a software company couple of times a week and pushes a job ad. Uber has a lot of sensitive information regarding users. Who goes where and when. This in the wrong hand can be very disastrous. E.g Trump to Uber: "gimme list of all people who to to mosques frequently. No tax for you." Uber: "Here you go. Just don't te…

i got one of those, it definitely creeped me out

Re: Uber Now Tracks Passengers’ Locations Even After They’re Dropped Off

#252

Post by Steeeve »

electic wrote: post #100

There is something very powerful you can do: 1. Stop using uber. Delete it. There is Lyft and Juno (in select markets). 2. Tell your friends about the dangers of using Uber. You can make a profound change by voting with your pocket book. Lastly, believe it or not, a lot of your friends look to you for tech advice. Be vocal.

Surprise. If you have an AT&T Samsung phone you can't uninstall it. The best you can do is go into Application Settings and Disable it. And then make sure you answer the two confirmation dialogs correctly for it to actually get disabled.

And guess what? It's already running. Even if you haven't used the app any time recently.

Re: Uber Now Tracks Passengers’ Locations Even After They’re Dropped Off

#253

Post by boulos »

shostack wrote: post #104
JumpCrisscross wrote: post #32

In iOS, most apps request your location "Always", "While Using the App" or "Never". I had Uber set to the second; that option is now gone. It's always or never. Set it to never; this makes their app less usable, but that just nudges me to use Lyft, Juno, et cetera .

Can you set it to never, set it to always while using it, and set it to never when the ride ends?

Yes. And I've been doing this for the past week (Uber integrates better with Concur, which we use for expense reporting). I finally reinstalled Lyft, but I just don't take personal rides that often.

Re: Uber Now Tracks Passengers’ Locations Even After They’re Dropped Off

#254

Post by davidu »

whatgoodisaroad wrote: post #238
mortenjorck wrote: post #197

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's a simple way to send a message: Set the location services setting to "Never" and just enter addresses for now (copy and paste from Maps if it's easier). The important thing is that their analytics will pick this up, and if enough users do it, hopefully point toward re-enabling "While using."

You can also just switch it back to "Never" when you're done with your trip.

This is totally impractical.

Re: Uber Now Tracks Passengers’ Locations Even After They’re Dropped Off

#255

Post by lucb1e »

amluto wrote: post #26

I really wish that both Android and iOS had an option to outright prevent an app from doing anything in the background. No sensors, no location, no push notifications, no network access, no CPU time, URL protocols, no nothing. If I don't click the little app icon, the app shouldn't run, full stop.

I don't know which android distribution you're using but mine has that. Can recommend Cyanogenmod with privacy guard to everyone: it allows you to deny wake locks to applications. After doing this my battery chart is flat for 6 hours straight if I don't use my phone (I think that's the longest time I've tried).

Telegram is the only application with wake lock permissions left. I once even tried denying my lock screen the permission, which was a mistake... Took a while to turn the device back on.

Re: Uber Now Tracks Passengers’ Locations Even After They’re Dropped Off

#256

Post by uiuiuop »

yladiz wrote: post #34

I saw this earlier and had hopes that the update would just let me choose "While Using" in the app settings, like some other apps allow you even if they request access even while not using the app, but the settings only allow for "Always" or "Never" on iPhone. However, you can use Uber without allowing GPS, so it's not all or nothing. I'm a little disturbed that they need any information after I use Uber though. They…

> why do they need to know where I'm at after I get dropped off?

In China, there's a company that provides a free loyalty point program. The store signs up for it, and users download the app and can use it to collect points when a transaction is made at the store. The points can then be exchanged for discounts and other stuff.

All of this is free. How they make money is by selling the user behavior data.

One of the features is the app tracks where the user goes after a transaction is made, so stores can find patterns and possible ways to cross promote.

For example, it might show a trend that 60% of customers will go to the movie theater after dining at your restaurant. Or will go to the Nike store after visiting yours, so perhaps you want to adjust your prices, etc.

Re: Uber Now Tracks Passengers’ Locations Even After They’re Dropped Off

#257

Post by boulos »

A ha! This thread has reminded me to check whether Background App Refresh might block this. Apple's iOS Developer Docs seem to strongly imply that's the case [1]:

> Important: A user can explicitly disable background capabilities for any app. If a user disables Background App Refresh in the Settings app—either globally for all apps or for your app in particular—your app is prevented from using any location services in the background. You can determine whether your app can process location updates in the background by checking the value of the backgroundRefreshStatus property of the UIApplication class.

Time to go disable Background App Refresh for the Uber app and leave location as "Always".

Edit: Yep! Disabled Background App Refresh and verified after a bit that the little "Some app is using your location" icon went away. Spread the word (and please Uber Engineering, don't try to stop us...)

[1] https://developer.apple.com/library/content/documentation/Us...

Re: Uber Now Tracks Passengers’ Locations Even After They’re Dropped Off

#258

Post by lucb1e »

bogomipz wrote: post #72
amluto wrote: post #26

I really wish that both Android and iOS had an option to outright prevent an app from doing anything in the background. No sensors, no location, no push notifications, no network access, no CPU time, URL protocols, no nothing. If I don't click the little app icon, the app shouldn't run, full stop.

I thought that Cyanogen had something like what you are describing. Can anyone confirm?

Confirmed. See my previous comment.

Re: Uber Now Tracks Passengers’ Locations Even After They’re Dropped Off

#259

Post by dav43 »

employee8000 wrote: post #234
yladiz wrote: post #34

I saw this earlier and had hopes that the update would just let me choose "While Using" in the app settings, like some other apps allow you even if they request access even while not using the app, but the settings only allow for "Always" or "Never" on iPhone. However, you can use Uber without allowing GPS, so it's not all or nothing. I'm a little disturbed that they need any information after I use Uber though. They…

Uber employee here. We were told the reason to track up to 5 mins after the trip is for fraud, ex if a driver doesn't end the trip when she is supposed to. and to figure out where the pick up spots for each address are. A large building may have multiple points where people get picked up or dropped off and knowing those points would be very useful for the drivers and riders. And just as a side note, take it with a fe…

A simpler option would be to get the customer to also swipe to end the ride (as an option). This way you get two sources for the end of the ride?
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