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Location history data in Google Maps will soon be stored on user devices

businessinsider.com

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Re: Location history data in Google Maps will soon be stored on user devices

#131

Post by dns_snek »

amf12 wrote: post #128
dns_snek wrote: post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mean, really? Let's see, Google is trying to force through Web Environment Integrity which would eventually obliterate any remaining semblance of privacy on the web, it has historically disrespected GDPR, it's trying to work around GDPR with a so-called "Privacy Sandbox" which is anything but, it's trying to sunset Manifest v3 which will take power away from Chrome users, just to name a few current & recent develop…

> Google is trying to force through Web Environment Integrity which would eventually obliterate any remaining semblance of privacy on the web, How so?

Assuming good faith, the technology makes it possible for your browser, OS and hardware to attest that the website is running in a certain type of environment (e.g. not a bot/scraper) which could be trivially extended to attestations such as "No, this client isn't using an ad blocker". It takes even more control away from users by having their own hardware snitch on them.

You can reference numerous previous discussions on HN regarding WEI for more information.

Re: Location history data in Google Maps will soon be stored on user devices

#132

Post by cobertos »

josters wrote: post #85
cobertos wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A GPS logger? What does that do over just your phone? I've been wanting an app to log my location outside of Google but was having trouble picking one to trust

My main concern for having a dedicated GPS logging device is the battery drain of the tracking apps on my phone. Used to have a Transystem 747ProS [1] which uses a Nokia BL-5C battery and would last a few days. However, that device was quite dated even then and its accuracy often lacking. Now I am carrying a dedicated Android phone with me (a Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G) on which I have PhoneTrack [2] installed. The app sta…

Very interesting! Thanks for this. I am worried about the same thing so might end up having to do this.

Re: Location history data in Google Maps will soon be stored on user devices

#133

Post by cobertos »

pmontra wrote: post #83
cobertos wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A GPS logger? What does that do over just your phone? I've been wanting an app to log my location outside of Google but was having trouble picking one to trust

I'm not sure it's what you need but OSMAnd is open source and can record your movements. I use it to record some of my bicycle rides, then I share it to my laptop for a backup, or to whatever share target the app can find. The plus version is on F-Droid for free. It has unlimited map downloads.

I already use it for a Gmap alternative because some of its data is better.

I had no idea it did this. Thanks for the tip!

Re: Location history data in Google Maps will soon be stored on user devices

#134

Post by kevinwang »

Harmon758 wrote: post #96
dataflow wrote: post #52

Wait, I have so many questions. So will this data still be exportable? Will it be stored with the OS or with Maps? If with Maps, what happens if someone clears the app data? If with the OS, what happens to people without the most recent Android versions? How do you prevent accidentally losing the data just because you moved phones or lost yours or cleared the app data?

> If you’re getting a new phone or are worried about losing your existing one, you can always choose to back up your data to the cloud so it doesn’t get lost. We’ll automatically encrypt your backed-up data so no one can read it, including Google. https://blog.google/products/maps/updates-to-location-histor...

Interesting. I hope that means the web UI will continue to work if one chooses to enable cloud storage

Re: Location history data in Google Maps will soon be stored on user devices

#135

Post by lakpan »

Tangential: Is anyone else getting burned out from having to transfer data between phones?

Let me explain. I’ve been rocking the same iPhone backup since 2010 and I never lost anything… but now if I lose my phone I will lose my eSIMs, as well as any non-passkey 2FA. What next?

Just recently I was unable to reinstall my eSIM for an hour and my headache was growing stronger as I imagined what all the services that (still) relied on SMS 2FA, all of which would not be activatable without it.

Switching to a new phone now requires me going through my long app list to determine which apps “probably” need to be reactivated on the new phone, while still having access to the old phone.

Back on topic: now I also have to worry about my location history being lost forever should I need to uninstall a buggy Google Maps (happens just about yearly)

Re: Location history data in Google Maps will soon be stored on user devices

#136

Post by epivosism »

SoftTalker wrote: post #18
arebop wrote: post #5

I sometimes query this to help me recall details from years ago, so I'm sad that the encroachment of very broad government surveillance and the rise to power of extremist politicians makes it unacceptably dangerous to continue to provide the service.

Have never found myself in and cannot imagine a circumstance where I'd need to know my precise location at a point in time years ago, or really even at any time other than the present.

If a feature is being proposed and mandatory, then the existence of one person who doesn't like it is significant.

But if it's already optional, and being removed entirely, then that persons's existence isn't that relevant; what's relevant is the people who DO like it and are losing something for them.

Re: Location history data in Google Maps will soon be stored on user devices

#137

Post by notyourwork »

swagempire wrote: post #107
mFixman wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Many countries don't stamp your passport anymore, many that do don't put a date, and even if I relied on that information stamps are messy, out of order, and fading. The government probably has a list of international flights I've taken somewhere. I honestly don't think they will use it they probably don't deny citizenships because I missed a couple of trips (unlike, say, not reporting frequent trips to North Korea).…

Really? Which ones? Even if I get an e-visa, I get an in and out stamp. Not having these would invalidate the whole reason for having a passport.

I’ve had this happen leaving the EU earlier in the year. It was either AMS or CDG airport where I didn’t get a stamp. Hadn't noticed until I got home.

Re: Location history data in Google Maps will soon be stored on user devices

#138

Post by dotnet00 »

lakpan wrote: post #135

Tangential: Is anyone else getting burned out from having to transfer data between phones? Let me explain. I’ve been rocking the same iPhone backup since 2010 and I never lost anything… but now if I lose my phone I will lose my eSIMs, as well as any non-passkey 2FA. What next? Just recently I was unable to reinstall my eSIM for an hour and my headache was growing stronger as I imagined what all the services that (sti…

This is part of why I hate 2FA implementations that force a specific app. One of the sites I have to be able to log into added 2FA that requires a specific app, even more annoyingly, if setup with another app, the setup isn't outright rejected, it just produces the wrong totp.

It's much more convenient to have a yubikey+backup or something with a sane backup/sync system (eg password managers like Bitwarden).

Re: Location history data in Google Maps will soon be stored on user devices

#139

Post by toomuchtodo »

lakpan wrote: post #135

Tangential: Is anyone else getting burned out from having to transfer data between phones? Let me explain. I’ve been rocking the same iPhone backup since 2010 and I never lost anything… but now if I lose my phone I will lose my eSIMs, as well as any non-passkey 2FA. What next? Just recently I was unable to reinstall my eSIM for an hour and my headache was growing stronger as I imagined what all the services that (sti…

Can’t speak to eSIM problems, but I’ve moved as much to synced passkeys as possible, and the last of my 2FA/MFA in Bitwarden will be migrated as those sites support passkeys.

As long as the data on my device is synced to iCloud storage or backups, that meets my needs. If the UX around an app is not great when switching phones or requires some esoteric incantations, I just won’t use it.

Re: Location history data in Google Maps will soon be stored on user devices

#140

Post by lakpan »

toomuchtodo wrote: post #139
lakpan wrote: post #135

Tangential: Is anyone else getting burned out from having to transfer data between phones? Let me explain. I’ve been rocking the same iPhone backup since 2010 and I never lost anything… but now if I lose my phone I will lose my eSIMs, as well as any non-passkey 2FA. What next? Just recently I was unable to reinstall my eSIM for an hour and my headache was growing stronger as I imagined what all the services that (sti…

Can’t speak to eSIM problems, but I’ve moved as much to synced passkeys as possible, and the last of my 2FA/MFA in Bitwarden will be migrated as those sites support passkeys. As long as the data on my device is synced to iCloud storage or backups, that meets my needs. If the UX around an app is not great when switching phones or requires some esoteric incantations, I just won’t use it.

> As long as the data on my device is synced to iCloud storage

But is it though? That’s the major catch. Something as important as Google Authenticator is not backed up, so you must enable sync to your account to ensure you don’t lose it (which wasn’t a thing at all until recently)

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