61–70 of 126 posts
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They are upfront about it, it’s right there in the settings. When you first set up a Google phone, it will Warm you that WiFi does scanning for location services, and the Bluetooth setting is in the same page.
And does it tell you how to totally disable them?
Is this similar to Apple’s “off but not really off” modes for Bluetooth and WiFi where the toggle in Control Center keeps them active for certain purposes on iOS (and making it “really off” requires going to Settings)? Or is it different from that? I couldn’t really distinguish even after reading this article fully. The way to turn it off, described in the article, did seem very messy, and as with Android, the steps…
The 5 am thing is actually perfect for me. I get to use LTE when browsing around at night, but it still downloads app updates over (slow) Wi-Fi in the early morning. By the time I'm awake around 8 am, it's all updated.
If you don't want to auto-join your wi-fi network you can change that in Settings for your network.
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Another point to make is that iOS also made it a bit harder for the user to completely turn off bluetooth and wifi from the control center since iOS 11, possibly allowing scanners and beacons to pick up these devices from passers by. Unless you directly get into the setting screen and switch it off. Sure Apple keeps Bluetooth/Wifi on for 'Find My' services but I'm pretty sure it will also be used for the contact trac…
I remember reading from an authoritative source (Probably the Apple Support website, but I don’t remember alas) that this is done to retain functionality of wireless-based system services — which require Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled; like AirDrop, Handoff, Universal Clipboard, Instant Hotspot, etc. (Not for nefarious/tracking reasons.)
In the bluetooth settings it literally states: "To improve device experience, apps and services can still scan for nearby devices at any time, even when Bluetooth is off." This can be completely turned off in scanning settings. The article title is kind of clickbaity.
I have to say, I did not know that, you have to go to an extra menu. I really hate all todays OS, how they fool all user. On the other side, Apps like Wiggle.net do not work since Android 9 because they limited WiFi scanning.
I don't see how this is fooling the user. Its pretty direct in stating what's happening and provides a link directly to the additional settings.
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There was a time when Google Maps would simply refuse to work without having Location History turned on; not sure if that has changed by now.
On the LG phones I've used Google Maps is insanely slow when Location History is disabled. Same on the Samsung S7 my fiance uses.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Another point to make is that iOS also made it a bit harder for the user to completely turn off bluetooth and wifi from the control center since iOS 11, possibly allowing scanners and beacons to pick up these devices from passers by. Unless you directly get into the setting screen and switch it off. Sure Apple keeps Bluetooth/Wifi on for 'Find My' services but I'm pretty sure it will also be used for the contact trac…
I remember reading from an authoritative source (Probably the Apple Support website, but I don’t remember alas) that this is done to retain functionality of wireless-based system services — which require Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled; like AirDrop, Handoff, Universal Clipboard, Instant Hotspot, etc. (Not for nefarious/tracking reasons.)
tldr, yes, it can be used to track individual users, but doing it at scale (like just about everything else) would be significantly more difficult. MACs randomize every 15 minutes, so that is not effective for long term tracking. Continuity Protocol allows a fairly effective way of tracking a device in a limited ecosystem, but with the expectation of large numbers of people spread over large areas, it would likely wind up being significantly less effective.
Is this similar to Apple’s “off but not really off” modes for Bluetooth and WiFi where the toggle in Control Center keeps them active for certain purposes on iOS (and making it “really off” requires going to Settings)? Or is it different from that? I couldn’t really distinguish even after reading this article fully. The way to turn it off, described in the article, did seem very messy, and as with Android, the steps…
I have crappy wi-fi in my bedroom, but I'd still prefer that apps update themselves while I'm asleep. The 5 am thing is actually perfect for me. I get to use LTE when browsing around at night, but it still downloads app updates over (slow) Wi-Fi in the early morning. By the time I'm awake around 8 am, it's all updated. If you don't want to auto-join your wi-fi network you can change that in Settings for your network.
That just makes joining a network cumbersome since I’d have to choose which network to join every time. Replacing one pain with another doesn’t sound great. As I said above, I have my shortcuts to deal with this annoyance.
Another solution to this, suggested by many when iOS 11 came with this design, is a three way toggle. But Apple plays to its tune, and rarely listens to users (or even to power users and popular people who write about it).
In the bluetooth settings it literally states: "To improve device experience, apps and services can still scan for nearby devices at any time, even when Bluetooth is off." This can be completely turned off in scanning settings. The article title is kind of clickbaity.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Another point to make is that iOS also made it a bit harder for the user to completely turn off bluetooth and wifi from the control center since iOS 11, possibly allowing scanners and beacons to pick up these devices from passers by. Unless you directly get into the setting screen and switch it off. Sure Apple keeps Bluetooth/Wifi on for 'Find My' services but I'm pretty sure it will also be used for the contact trac…
It seems a bit overblown to suggest that iOS is hiding this, when it openly warns you what it's doing when you use those Control Center buttons (messages shown quoted below) and leaves the buttons highlighted in a non-disabled state (in contrast to the disabled state that Airplane Mode usually displays one centimeter above): > Disconnecting Nearby Wi-Fi Until Tomorrow > Disconnecting Bluetooth Devices Until Tomorrow…
It absolutely does not warn you that it is keeping some of those services going in the background.
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That was never true. It was annoyingly aggresive, had some annoying UI limitations (e.g. it wouldn't remember past trips) but it was never fully unable to function.
It still only shows "home" and "work" addresses in one obscure part of the UI with history off, while the rest of the UI won't let you change or add saved addresses without turning history back on.