Researchers have found a hidden file on all iPhones, iPads, and any computers they synchronize to, logging timestamped latitude and longitude coordinates of the user, since June 2010.

Some chap has written a prog that extracts the "secret file" that your iDevice uses to log your location HERE.Read the FAQ or the Guardian article.

Wouldn't surprise me if this was a "feature" on other operating systems as well.

There's a nice engineers menu for the iPhone if you know the code, gives you the recorded signal in dBM and all

How can we see our info on Windows?? Or is it only viewable on Mac??

My Android phone has the ability to be tracked by GPS or 3G network but the differents between this and the iPhone is that I know it’s there and I can switch it off and on.

As a rule and apart from saving the battery I always keep data up and downloading turned off and the same with Wifi except when I need it.

I recommend reading https://alexlevinson.wordpress.com/2...ing-discovery/ for some insight into this "issue".

It isn't new it has always been there, it was discovered by others a while back, and Apple don't access the data (though apps on the phone do)

It doesnt surprise me about apple. As underhanded as they come. The fact that its not new, doesnt make it right. It was kept a secret. According to this BBC article, the data can be used to track where the phone has been. This is just so wrong on so many levels.

If the government came out today, and said that we want everbody to wear a tracking device, so we know where you are...you can imagine the furore that would happen. Yet when apple do it, all apple fans accept it, and make excuses for apple. I just dont get that.

Of the three points that blog makes two of them seem to be the author moaning that he discovered it first and is a little bit upset that the boys from O'Reilly have gained notoriety hitting the headlines yesterday and it not him. He has a point that there is no evidence that Apple have been using this data. But, why is it a historical log and not only "recent" data (where I was on holiday last month isn't useful to aid positioning today), and why isn't it encrypted?

More importantly, it's not just stored on your phone - it's also stored in any backups you have. Which means if you sell you computer, unless you know what you're doing in terms of properly erasing data, it's possible that the person that buys it could fairly easily find out where you, your family, and your friends live, as well as where you work and like to socialise. Not sure about you but I don't really want a stranger knowing that sort of info because my phone was keeping track of stuff that I wasn't even aware of.

I don't care if Apple are doing anything with the data. I don't care if Apple plan to do anything with the data. The fact is, the iPhone should not be collecting this data without permission, and there should be a way to opt out of it.

I am not defending Apple - just pointing out that the news isn't new, nor was it ever a secret, as people are trying to claim.

I think that author is perhaps a bit more miffed that his $599 forensic app sold to police forces has just got a free open source equivalent.

This is nothing new and Apple wouldn't be the only company to have this kind of thing on a device. It does also say when you first connect a device, something along the lines of "from time to time Apple would like to collect data from your device" and then gives you an option.

It's just being used as a stick to beat Apple down again. Heck when I go to the garage now they can tell how fast I've been going etc just by putting my keys in a little device!

Hehe maybe

However Apple appear to be the only company who don't offer any way of opting out - its one thing to be asked by an application if it is allowed to use your location data, its another matter entirely for it to be continually tracking your location.

And your last point is totally invalid.

Well it's also useful, say if your phone gets stolen. If people have such a massive problem then they should change phones. I can't think why anyone would have a problem though.

My last point is not invalid at all.

Finally this is a lazy piece of journalism, I'm pretty sure it's the same story rehashed from a while ago. If it were another company I doubt we would even hear about it.

So if the government wanted everyone to wear a tracker, you would have no problem with it?

I was right the apple fans have already started making excuses for apple.

Agreed that its lazy journalism, and such things have been previously reported (but not escalated to such a level).

People should have a choice to opt in to such services - they shouldn't be enabled by default, with the only possible way of switching them off being via jailbreaking.

Your last point is very definitely invalid; knowing how fast you've been going is totally irrelevant.

But then are you one of these people who will happily put up facebook status updates saying that you're @whereveryouhappentobe? Which is quite possibly one of the most irritatingly useless (and dubious) things I've ever seen on social networking sites.

No I'm more of a Twitter fan to be honest. If I do use Facebook i don't really tag anything.

It's not invalid because I could argue that how fast I've been going is my business not the garages. It's just another way to highlight that other companies do extract data such as this too.


I agree maybe Apple should put some kind of option to opt out though if people are that bothered.

To the poster going on about wearing a tag, it's not really the same thing. However if I deemed it to be necessary I wouldn't object. I'm just really not bothered about big brother knowing where I'm going on particular days or times. Just because I think like this doesn't make me less of a person or my opinion any less valid than yours.

Is it called iSpy?

It's new and obviously coincides with the introduction of iAd.
Targeted location based advertising is where big bucks can be made.

Now it is known, cheating spouses and many of the corrupt are no doubt trying to cover their tracks right now.

It would be a similar thing to wearing a tag if someone tagged you without your knowledge.

Similarly, I don't really mind about the big brother aspect - plenty of government surveillance around, but the key area for me is that it really should be an opt in (which is very different to an opt-out).

Apple really need to come out an explain this one, I can see why they may do it for ads, but why keep it so long and transfer it to the PC and onto a new phone/pad? Like has been said it should be an opt in or at least a clearly signposted opt out option when you get a new phone.

It'll be fascinating to see how they wriggle out of this one. My money is on the old "it's redundant software that shouldn't ever have been included in the OS. Nobody ever looks at it and the fact that it's only just been spotted confirms that... etc."

I understand the EU is looking for additional revenue. Fining Apple several billion for this blatant invasion of privacy would be a good place to start.

Completely disgraceful from a company that believes it is the customer and people are there to serve, even worship, it.

It's not as big a deal as some of you are making out (possibly without even reading what was found).

For starters the data collected is approximate location information taken from the cell towers which isn't that accurate.

Also the file in question that contains this data is never transmitted to Apple, the reason it is stored is currently unknown and simply speculation.

I would also like to add that phone companies already record this information and they do store it.

Don't get me wrong i'm not keen on the idea that my phone records cell tower location info but i'm honestly not that surprised.

P.S. In other news the iPhone stores all SMS, Contacts, Browsing History, Photos (geo tagged), Email....

What a great little thing this is... love it. Truly thanks Apple - fascinating to see my movement.

A coincidence in this headline but a minor few may have difficulty sleeping tonight.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-13159145

If you've got a Jailbroken iDevice - install untrackerd which stops the tracking. Interesting the Jailbreak community is on top of this
http://modyourpod.blogspot.com/2011/...from.html#more