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IPhones and 3G iPads log your location in an unencrypted file on the device

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Re: IPhones and 3G iPads log your location in an unencrypted file on the device

#51

Post by pmjordan »

chadgeidel wrote: post #43
ImprovedSilence wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've actually used that device before. It's fairly common in law enforcement and inteligence agencies, and it will take everything. Including passwords/deleted info. There is no reason for using it on a traffic stop though, that's just straight up invasion of privacy and would piss me off to no end. It's use is (and should be) for the more criminal/forensic cases.

Perhaps you could answer a question. If the phone screen is locked will this device still gather data? I assume it will.

iTunes will happily sync with your iDevice when its screen is locked, so locking is clearly no barrier.

Re: IPhones and 3G iPads log your location in an unencrypted file on the device

#52

Post by kgermino »

phlux wrote: post #36
yardie wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Quality of service. Like when the iPhone 3G first came out you could only buy it in areas where 3G service was available. AFAIK, most carriers already do this on all their handsets but their data is restricted to just a few days to a a few months.

Right, if QoS were a concern to att, my phone would not drop/fail to make seriously, 75% of the calls. I am switching to Tmobile because ATT makes me want to go on a rampage. Of course, now using this file, they'll be able to predict where that rampage will occur.

Um... http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/20/atandt-agrees-to-buy-t-mo...

Re: IPhones and 3G iPads log your location in an unencrypted file on the device

#53

Post by ugh »

cube13 wrote: post #44

Could this be related to the mobleMe "Find my iPhone" feature that Apple added in 4.0? If so, this is probably a non-story. I'd be interested if it still logs if Location Services are off, too.

If it is, the database is seriously overengineered. Find my iPhone will not let you access past locations, it seems to always only let you access freshly requested location information.

Such sensitive data should not be saved without the user's explicit permission if it's not needed for some purpose the user explicitly wants to use the device for.

Re: IPhones and 3G iPads log your location in an unencrypted file on the device

#54

Post by Dylanfm »

taylorbuley wrote: post #42
MatthewPhillips wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Since the backups are unencrypted it would be trivial to steal the data exploiting a Flash hole or worst case an email virus.

Flash hole... on an iOS device?

I think Matthew is talking about taking the backups from your computer.

Re: IPhones and 3G iPads log your location in an unencrypted file on the device

#55

Post by ceejayoz »

taylorbuley wrote: post #42
MatthewPhillips wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Since the backups are unencrypted it would be trivial to steal the data exploiting a Flash hole or worst case an email virus.

Flash hole... on an iOS device?

Backups... on an iOS device?

The backups are stored on your Mac/PC, which are likely to have Flash.

Re: IPhones and 3G iPads log your location in an unencrypted file on the device

#56

Post by acrum »

Duff wrote: post #34
acrum wrote: post #6

The simple solution is select encrypt backups in your iTunes options. If my computer or phone got stolen, I'd have more important things to worry about than whether the thief can find a list of locations I've been. It's fun/interesting to see it mapped out though.

How will encrypting my backup prevent someone with access to my phone from getting this information?

Someone with access to your phone can also access your emails, text messages, contacts, photos and more... I guess to some people location data is more sensitive than those things, but not to me.

Re: IPhones and 3G iPads log your location in an unencrypted file on the device

#57

Post by ugh »

edw wrote: post #45
pavel_lishin wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sex is pretty awesome, too, unless you don't get any say in the matter.

Wow, you're making a rape analogy. Glad you decided to stay classy and not make your post an instance of Godwin's Law.

The comparison is very apt. Consent often changes how we view things. Rape and privacy violations are not the same but when it comes to consent very similar.

Re: IPhones and 3G iPads log your location in an unencrypted file on the device

#58

Post by edw »

jokermatt999 wrote: post #39
edw wrote: post #32

Does no one else agree with me that this is awesome? I love being able to visualize my comings and goings. It's the story of the last year or so of my life, in colored dots. I hope Apple doesn't respond to the "outrage" by no longer collecting this data. To a first order approximation, I am with Scott McNealy over in the "Privacy?! Get over it" camp: http://www.wired.com/politics/law/news/1999/01/17538 As an aside, c…

I love being able to visualize my comings and goings. Then use something like Latitude. There are options for you if you want to see this data other than having Apple collect data from all users whether they like it or not.

I think you are confused: you say that "Apple collect[s] data." Apple's software is collecting data, but is it the case that Apple has access to this data? I don't think so. There are issues of agency here: in my interpretation of things, my phone is collecting and storing the data, Apple isn't.

I guess I have some sort of perverse desire to see my karma auger into the x axis thanks to this issue, because people seem to be whiny hysterics on it. Computers log data. A phone is a computer. The history of the phone's location is conceivably useful—it's like a geospatial stack trace—and even if this data is going to the Apple mothership, I don't care as long as the data gets Tivo-ified.

Re: IPhones and 3G iPads log your location in an unencrypted file on the device

#60

Post by edw »

ugh wrote: post #57
edw wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow, you're making a rape analogy. Glad you decided to stay classy and not make your post an instance of Godwin's Law.

The comparison is very apt. Consent often changes how we view things. Rape and privacy violations are not the same but when it comes to consent very similar.

So you think it's defensible to say that Apple is raping its users? Let's get some people who have been victims of rape in here and ask them how they feel about this over-the-top analogy.
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