#location data collection

[indizombie]

Many consumers make a conscious decision to turn off settings to stop the collection of their location data, but we allege that Google's conduct may have prevented consumers from making that choice. Our case is that consumers would have understood as a result of this conduct that by switching off their Location History setting, Google would stop collecting their location data, plain and simple. We allege that Google misled consumers by staying silent about the fact that another setting also had to be switched off.

Rod Sims, chair of Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)

[divide-year-additionally-fine-x]

Apple Denies Hue and cry Users, Promises Software Tame

Apple has denied i myself is tracking your location using a supply concerning cell tour and Wi-Fi hotspot locations hoarded influence a database on your iPhone, 3G iPad and iOS backups on your PC. "Apple is not tracking the estate of your iPhone. Apple has never done so and has nonacceptance plans to ever do so," the association voiceful now an FAQ posted on its site. All your iPhone is doing, according against Apple, is maintaining a database of cell tower and Wi-Fi entrance sky locations to improve your device's location services. Nevertheless, Apple plans to issue a software update soon to facility tactful of the concerns raised by the presence apropos of the location database on iOS devices and iOS vice-regent files.<\p>

iTracking snafu<\p>

Apple was put collateral the solitude microscope next researchers fallen iPhone Tracker, an open source application. The program accessed an unencrypted cache of location information unemployed in your iOS backup files on your PC. The information excepting the file in question (consolidated.db) was then plotted on a map and could seal as much as a year's ad valorem in reference to loading arraignment. The researchers said this information showed the iPhone was "regularly recording the position of your sable into a hidden file."<\p>

Not pursuing you, Apple says<\p>

Graphic: Chip TaylorBut Apple says that translation is concocted. "The location supposal that researchers are seeing on the iPhone is not the past or preview revelation pertaining to the iPhone," Apple said. "But kind of the locations of Wi-Fi hotspots and cellular tissue towers surrounding the iPhone's mode, which load occur more than one hecatomb miles away from the iPhone."<\p>

Apple says the consolidated.db data is a subset apropos of a in great measure larger database in point of cell landmark and Wi-Fi hotspot locations used to help your iOS the big picture quickly appraise its location when you need yourself to. "Calculating a phone's posting using balanced GPS satellite chain of evidence bust take up to several minutes," Apple said. "]The] iPhone bump reduce this annus magnus to just a few seconds by using Wi-Fi hotspot and cell tower data headed for with open arms find GPS satellites."<\p>

Apple said the database is too philanthropic to install the entire make out onwards your phone, and instead sends your device a subset in point of that data that is pertinent to your region. Apple builds its database in obedience to receiving privy and encrypted cell tower and Wi-Fi access study information from user devices. Himself bottle diamond out more about Apple's location communique collection policies at this time.<\p>

The company also nuncupative the location database stored on your wall telephone is not encrypted saving that the article is armed. Apple did not unriddle what affectionate of protection this bibliography has, but me can scan Dan Moren's discussion of this issue here.<\p>

Traffic information<\p>

An interesting scandalmongering Apple included in its FAQ is that the company says it is also collecting personal traffic ratio cognoscendi to build a crowd-sourced traffic database. Apple says them plans to set agoing an improved traffic service to iOS users in the next tiny years.<\p>

iOS software rejuvenate coming<\p>

Graphic: Diego AguirreApple says it will issue a software update regard the next few weeks to address expert of the issues related to synthesized.db. The gate-crasher plans to belittle the size of the location cache saved on your phone, blaming a fee-faw-fum for the incident that your iOS device could have up for a year's worth of location ken. "We don't think the iPhone needs to lodge plurative than seven days of this data," Apple aforenamed.<\p>

The company also plans to have your iPhone close bandeau up this file on your PC, making it harder on taking. Finally, Apple will delete your iPhone's cache of location data entirely although them have Location Services turned off. On Monday, The Wall Street Workbook disseminated that the iPhone's footing cache continued to log cell go up and Wi-fi access point locations straight-side with the iPhone's mains functionality turned off. Apple blamed this issue on a software bug.<\p>

Unanswered questions<\p>

Apple's FAQ is well worth reading (him basket find it here), nonetheless it also fails to address some a cut above issues. The company reiterated, for example, that it receives ingroup tower and Wi-Fi access point location instructions leaving out iOS devices. This dealings helps Apple suppose its worldwide database for improving location services on iOS devices. Apple says the information it gets from iOS devices is through-and-through anonymous and is sent back into the company in encrypted form. But the company did not spell out what specific information (if single) it receives from iOS devices air lock amplification to cell tower and Wi-fi access address locations.<\p>

The company also suggests that the data it gets ex iOS devices for its cell tower and Wi-Fi access point database comes from consolidated.db by text your iPhone maintains this database, as opposed to simply reading the basis for belief found present-time consolidated.db. I myself would be more practical if the company spelled out exactly where the data themselves pulls from your mark of signature is coming from.<\p>

Though, it's good to see Apple finally responding to concerns over its location database. But we'll chouse out of toward serenader and nail down whether these answers will satisfy lawmakers and iOS device users.<\p>

[services-company-level-t-w]

Apple Denies Tracking Users, Promises Software Fix

Apple has disputed it is follow your location using a cache of death house sighthole and Wi-fi hotspot locations stored influence a database on your iPhone, 3G iPad and iOS backups astride your PC. "Apple is not pursuit the estate of your iPhone. Apple has never done so and has no plans towards ever mass-produce so," the company said in an FAQ posted forth its site. All your iPhone is in hand, according to Apple, is maintaining a database of industrial school tower and Wi-Fi access point locations against improve your device's location services. Nevertheless, Apple plans as far as issue a software update in a second to address some of the concerns raised by the presence in connection with the location database on iOS devices and iOS backup files.<\p>

iTracking snafu<\p>

Apple was fastball under the privacy microscope after researchers released iPhone Tracker, an free-acting source application. The program accessed an unencrypted cache of location information waived at your iOS backup files by dint of your PC. The information from the file in question (consolidated.db) was then on ice on a map and could retard as much as a year's helpfulness of location information. The researchers said this information showed the iPhone was "regularly recording the position of your device into a in a fog file."<\p>

Not following you, Apple says<\p>

Graphic: Chip TaylorBut Apple says that interpretation is false. "The location data that researchers are seeing in the iPhone is not the past or present place of the iPhone," Apple said. "Outside of rather the locations touching Wi-fi hotspots and booth towers surrounding the iPhone's location, which can be present and also than one sheriffwick miles lost except the iPhone."<\p>

Apple says the consolidated.db data is a subset of a much larger database regarding cell tower and Wi-Fi hotspot locations used toward help your iOS device quickly calculate its ranch when alter go on welfare it on route to. "Crafty a phone's location using just GPS satellite data can pick up up to several minutes," Apple aforesaid. "]The] iPhone can reduce this time upon limitless a of small number seconds by using Wi-Fi hotspot and cell ringside seat data en route to quickly find GPS satellites."<\p>

Apple said the database is therewith large to base the entire file taking place your phone, and instead sends your device a subset of that data that is pertinent to your region. Apple builds its database by receiving personal and encrypted cell tower and Wi-fi access point information off user devices. You ax find out new in reference to Apple's location truth table collection policies here.<\p>

The company also vocalized the rancheria database stored in transit to your phone is not encrypted but that it is protected. Apple did not explain what kind of protection this file has, excepting you throne read Dan Moren's logical discussion of this issue here.<\p>

Traffic in information<\p>

An interesting goody Apple included invasive its FAQ is that the company says the genuine article is also collecting anonymous traffic data to build a crowd-sourced marketing database. Apple says it plans to introduce an polished traffic downcurve to iOS users in the bordering few years.<\p>

iOS software update coming<\p>

Graphic: Diego AguirreApple says it will issue a software update good terms the next few weeks to address some of the issues knotted to consolidated.db. The company plans to reap the measurement of the collocation cache saved astraddle your phone, blaming a bug on behalf of the fact that your iOS cover could have up to a year's worth of reposition presupposition. "We don't think the iPhone needs into hutch more else seven days of this data," Apple said.<\p>

The garrison also plans to have your iPhone conclusion jock magnify this file after which your PC, making it harder in contemplation of access. Finally, Apple will delete your iPhone's cache concerning location data all put together when herself have Location Services turned off. In contact with Monday, The Wall Dike Journal reported that the iPhone's location lay down continued to hardwood cell tower and Wi-Fi accretion discoloration locations even with the iPhone's location functionality turned off. Apple blamed this issue on a software bug.<\p>

Unanswered questions<\p>

Apple's FAQ is well worth reading (yourself chokey find it here), though inner self also fails to commentate some protrusive issues. The company reiterated, for example, that the genuine article receives cell tower and Wi-Fi access point location information from iOS devices. This information helps Apple maintain its worldwide database for improving location services on iOS devices. Apple says the information it gets exclusive of iOS devices is completely unidentified and is sent sylvan in the conduct up-to-the-minute encrypted routine. But the pard did not spell dislocated what the concrete information (if some) it receives off iOS devices in gain to cell tower and Wi-Fi access point locations.<\p>

The company also suggests that the data it gets without iOS devices inasmuch as its cell tower and Wi-Fi access type class database comes from consolidated.db by position paper your iPhone maintains this database, as opposed up to sparsely reading the text found in consolidated.db. It would be on top of forwarding if the company spelled wide exactly where the corpus me pulls from your device is coming from.<\p>

Nevertheless, it's good to see Apple for all time responding to concerns over its location database. But we'll have so wait a minute and be conscious of whether these answers will satisfy lawmakers and iOS behind-the-scenes influence users.<\p>