Earlier quoted context omitted.
Is it possible to restrict cellular usage by app by any chance?
Yup, in iOS go to Settings -> Cellular. There's a toggle for each app.
Thank you.
Tell HN: Google Maps location data is used for GeoIP updates
31–40 of 68 posts
Re: Tell HN: Google Maps location data is used for GeoIP updates
#32I encountered something similar to this last month. I was visiting Canada from Spain, and got an esim from https://www.airalo.com/. Due to what I guess is airalo obtaining transit from the cheapest provider, the data connection ended up being bounced through Czechia.
This meant that my android phone was a bit confused at times. When on mobile data the weather widget would default to showing me weather for random Czech cities, and search results would be Czech-localised. When on wifi connections, results were in English and Canada-localised, unless I bounced through a VPN exit node at home.
After 3-4 days, ads on Youtube started becoming Canada or Czechia-localised depending on if I was watching it via wifi or mobile data. It seems that google eventually decided that I was in Canada, continuing to play me Canadian ads even when I got home to Spain, on both wifi and mobile data. What was even stranger is that my partner started getting Canadian ads on youtube on her ipad too, which doesn't have any details about my google account (other than us living on the same internet connection). It took about 2 weeks for google to start playing us Spanish ads again.
Re: Tell HN: Google Maps location data is used for GeoIP updates
#33Summarizing: If you run the Google Maps app on your iOS device, Google will build a correlation between your IP address and your GPS+ location. You can turn off Location Services access for Google apps, if you feel the need to run them at all. Adding a few seconds of panning and zooming is a reasonable trade. > (Google Maps app is) one of the few ways of checking restaurant reviews Apple Maps has restaurant reviews a…
I think Apple Maps looks to be starting to accumulate its own set of reviews. It has a ratings feature where you can review overall thumbs up or thumbs down and can upload your own photos of the place. It contributes to apple using your AppleID email. There's small fine print > Ratings and photos are associated with your Apple ID. By contributing you agree to the Terms > https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/…
I think Apple Maps looks to be starting to accumulate its own set of reviews.
It is. I get a thing in Apple Maps that asks me for reviews of places I look up.
I'm more tolerant than the average bear, so I don't submit reviews. I also don't read reviews, because I don't find any value in them. Again, because I think I have different needs and expectations of the world.
I think it's limited to certain individuals right now. I don't know how I got selected. Maybe because my local Starbucks is constantly changing its hours, and I'm constantly sending the updates to Apple Maps.
Re: Tell HN: Google Maps location data is used for GeoIP updates
#34GeoIP is a product from Maxmind, the post does not actually implicate Maxmind at all.
Perhaps a better title is "Google Maps location data is used to localise other Google services"
Re: Tell HN: Google Maps location data is used for GeoIP updates
#35GeoIP is a product from Maxmind, the post does not actually implicate Maxmind at all. Perhaps a better title is "Google Maps location data is used to localise other Google services"
Yes, I was confused by this.
Of course, Google will use its own data to get more precise in pairings IPs with locations. And of course, Google won’t share this data with MaxMind’s GeoIP. Very confusing post.
Re: Tell HN: Google Maps location data is used for GeoIP updates
#36You say that the VPN is always on, but wasn't there a post on HN some time ago that showed that on iOS VPN is not 100% used for all data? Might have been this one: https://www.michaelhorowitz.com/VPNs.on.iOS.are.scam.php So potentially your real IP was leaked otherwise, Google became aware of that IP and geolocated you, without Maps data?
I am aware of the IP leak in iOS but that's only for Apple services, Google Maps will always use the outbound VPN IP. Something to note though - in my post I never mentioned the "real IP" - all tests were done to change the geoIP data of the VPN IP - and that always works as expected.
Other comments here say that the feature is available to any developer and any app may go around the default route and use the cell connection directly.
Re: Tell HN: Google Maps location data is used for GeoIP updates
#37I work for IPinfo, but this is my personal opinion/account. Whenever I see people talking about their IP geolocation being wrong, I will reach out to them and try to fix that issue. Even if it is just one person, it really means a lot to them and to us as well. For some IP geolocation correction, some providers are better than others, but with Google? oof, tough break. It is really weird to see that the best possible…
Could not use Sonarr, because they blocked Russian IPs via Cloudflare.
I was confused, because I used a Hetzner Server from Germany.
Maxminds DB that is used by Cloudflare flagged the /24 subnet as located in Moscow.
I used the wrong data form an it was fixed in about 24 hours.
Re: Tell HN: Google Maps location data is used for GeoIP updates
#38I work for IPinfo, but this is my personal opinion/account. Whenever I see people talking about their IP geolocation being wrong, I will reach out to them and try to fix that issue. Even if it is just one person, it really means a lot to them and to us as well. For some IP geolocation correction, some providers are better than others, but with Google? oof, tough break. It is really weird to see that the best possible…
Is there an article you can point me to for fixing my geolocation? I route all of my home internet through a VPS so that I can bond (slightly different to load balance) 3 ISPs. I'll randomly have my geolocation show up very wrong. I don't have and kind of wired internet here so this fixes the reliability of wireless internet where the old backup adage "2 is 1, 1 is none" comes into play.
How did you bond 3 isps?
Re: Tell HN: Google Maps location data is used for GeoIP updates
#39> Apple provides all developers with access to its Network.framework, Multipath TCP (MPTCP), and other networking APIs, which by design allow any app developer to bypass the Wi-Fi interface and route traffic directly over the cellular interface. Invoking these tools effectively allows any app developer to unmask VPN users on Wi-Fi without notice or consent. By routing device traffic over the cellular interface, app d…
VPNs on iOS are useless, just like almost any advanced usage of any of apples devices.
Re: Tell HN: Google Maps location data is used for GeoIP updates
#40Thats why you should use maps in offline mode, if you need to search something online, use the browser.
However i doubt you will be able to cut maps internet access on iOS, as usual its "too advanced" for ios, why would you ever do such a thing /s.