Apple Location Services

SaddlerSteve · 25-12-2013, 15:09

Just noticed a couple of things that are a bit stalkery / creepy on my iPhone since the iOS7 updates.

When you pull down from the top of the screen and get the calendar there is usually stuff like any events for the day and what the weather is going to be like in your location.

Anyway a few weeks back I happened to pull this thing down in the morning to have it telling me it would currently take me 14 minutes to drive to work. Bit odd I thought as the phone wouldn't know where I work. Anyway I clicked on the message and it opened up Apple maps with a route planned to my place of work. I work in quite a large company spread over a large site yet this route has been planned right up to the road outside my office. If it had been taking the main postcode of the company it would have been a few km away.

I just happened to pull down the calendar just now and I've got a similar message telling me it will be 27 mins to get to a village outside of Milton Keynes. It isn't some random place though, it's where my friend lives.

Now I haven't told the phone directly to store any of this info but it's clearly getting it from somewhere and attempting to use it to advise me things.

Anyone else had this??

I'm just finding it a little creepy!

Roush · 25-12-2013, 15:34

Why creepy?

It saves locations that you visit frequently so it can offer driving times, etc.

You can turn it off if you don't like it.

Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services > Frequent Locations

finbaar · 25-12-2013, 22:18

I would be worried. It is well known that all American companies have to give information to the NSA. It is likely the they know where has been and how long they spent there. If they look out of the window wonder if there are any suspicious vans or cars? Spooky.

SaddlerSteve · 25-12-2013, 22:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roush

Why creepy?

It saves locations that you visit frequently so it can offer driving times, etc.

You can turn it off if you don't like it.

Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services > Frequent Locations

Whilst I'm aware that it will keep track of my location, which after all is implied in the location services name, the first message specifically referred to the location as my place of "work".

That's the part I find creepy. It is clearly getting the information from somewhere to know that the place it's talking about is my workplace. The only thing I can think of is that it's getting the info from Facebook however like I said that wouldn't tell it the exact location. Several apps on the phone need to be gathering the information for it to be that accurate.

Roush · 25-12-2013, 23:24

I seriously doubt it's anything like that. Do you work normal office hours?

qasdfdsaq · 25-12-2013, 23:44

Indeed.

The service simply guesses "Work" and "Home" based on where you spend your time during office hours and where you regularly return to afterwards. Pretty easy and simple business to be honest.

If it tried harder it could probably figure out the pubs you regularly go to and/or where you hide the mistress.

SaddlerSteve · 26-12-2013, 11:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

Indeed.

The service simply guesses "Work" and "Home" based on where you spend your time during office hours and where you regularly return to afterwards. Pretty easy and simple business to be honest.

If it tried harder it could probably figure out the pubs you regularly go to and/or where you hide the mistress.

Had the message again this morning but now instead of saying "work" it has the name of my employer.

dragonrapide · 26-12-2013, 11:56

I too noticed that after the last update there were loads of location services switched to ON when I had always switched them off. Had to go through them all and switch them off. I prefer to select which ones I will allow to use location services. Bit naughty of them to switch them on automatically when they were switched off before.

heskethbang · 26-12-2013, 12:12

I have an iPad Air and an iPhone 5, and both of them ask you if you want Location services enabled when you first get them out of the box. If you decide yes, then later change your mind, you can switch them off. What is the problem?

xreyuk123 · 26-12-2013, 13:15

I turned off ALL of the system services under location services, because they have no use to whatsoever.

The only one that may have use for you is the 'Time Zone' setting to help adjust your time, but even then, you get the time through the network anyway.

25-12-2013, 15:09	#1
SaddlerSteve Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 4,130	Apple Location Services Just noticed a couple of things that are a bit stalkery / creepy on my iPhone since the iOS7 updates. When you pull down from the top of the screen and get the calendar there is usually stuff like any events for the day and what the weather is going to be like in your location. Anyway a few weeks back I happened to pull this thing down in the morning to have it telling me it would currently take me 14 minutes to drive to work. Bit odd I thought as the phone wouldn't know where I work. Anyway I clicked on the message and it opened up Apple maps with a route planned to my place of work. I work in quite a large company spread over a large site yet this route has been planned right up to the road outside my office. If it had been taking the main postcode of the company it would have been a few km away. I just happened to pull down the calendar just now and I've got a similar message telling me it will be 27 mins to get to a village outside of Milton Keynes. It isn't some random place though, it's where my friend lives. Now I haven't told the phone directly to store any of this info but it's clearly getting it from somewhere and attempting to use it to advise me things. Anyone else had this?? I'm just finding it a little creepy!

25-12-2013, 15:34	#2
Roush Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 2,938	Why creepy? It saves locations that you visit frequently so it can offer driving times, etc. You can turn it off if you don't like it. Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services > Frequent Locations

25-12-2013, 22:18	#3
finbaar Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 3,921	I would be worried. It is well known that all American companies have to give information to the NSA. It is likely the they know where has been and how long they spent there. If they look out of the window wonder if there are any suspicious vans or cars? Spooky.

25-12-2013, 22:32	#4
SaddlerSteve Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 4,130	Quote: Originally Posted by Roush Why creepy? It saves locations that you visit frequently so it can offer driving times, etc. You can turn it off if you don't like it. Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services > Frequent Locations Whilst I'm aware that it will keep track of my location, which after all is implied in the location services name, the first message specifically referred to the location as my place of "work". That's the part I find creepy. It is clearly getting the information from somewhere to know that the place it's talking about is my workplace. The only thing I can think of is that it's getting the info from Facebook however like I said that wouldn't tell it the exact location. Several apps on the phone need to be gathering the information for it to be that accurate.

25-12-2013, 23:24	#5
Roush Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 2,938	I seriously doubt it's anything like that. Do you work normal office hours?

25-12-2013, 23:44	#6
qasdfdsaq Inactive Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,286	Indeed. The service simply guesses "Work" and "Home" based on where you spend your time during office hours and where you regularly return to afterwards. Pretty easy and simple business to be honest. If it tried harder it could probably figure out the pubs you regularly go to and/or where you hide the mistress.

26-12-2013, 11:55	#7
SaddlerSteve Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 4,130	Quote: Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq Indeed. The service simply guesses "Work" and "Home" based on where you spend your time during office hours and where you regularly return to afterwards. Pretty easy and simple business to be honest. If it tried harder it could probably figure out the pubs you regularly go to and/or where you hide the mistress. Had the message again this morning but now instead of saying "work" it has the name of my employer.

26-12-2013, 11:56	#8
dragonrapide Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: shoreham-by-sea Posts: 827	I too noticed that after the last update there were loads of location services switched to ON when I had always switched them off. Had to go through them all and switch them off. I prefer to select which ones I will allow to use location services. Bit naughty of them to switch them on automatically when they were switched off before.

26-12-2013, 12:12	#9
heskethbang Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Greater Birmingham Posts: 3,906	I have an iPad Air and an iPhone 5, and both of them ask you if you want Location services enabled when you first get them out of the box. If you decide yes, then later change your mind, you can switch them off. What is the problem?

26-12-2013, 13:15	#10
xreyuk123 Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 509	I turned off ALL of the system services under location services, because they have no use to whatsoever. The only one that may have use for you is the 'Time Zone' setting to help adjust your time, but even then, you get the time through the network anyway.

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Apple Location Services