Yup. No surprise, really. That's been going on for a while. I even go look at my own track history now and again. Very boring stuff.
In all seriousness, though, I am generally underwhelmed by Google's ability to use the data I'm sure they have about me. I regularly see missed opportunities where I think "shouldn't Google know enough about me to do XYZ right now?" I mean, if they are going to collect all of this data to make my experience better, then make it better already!
That's nothing... if you have a gmail account tied to your phone, go to a any PC and logon with that account (or someone else's if you know their password) and do a Google search for "Location History" ... some of the records go back to 2009
Here is mine over the last 6 months, but you can also use the calendar to request a specific day, and play it (There actually is a PLAY button) to see chronologically where you were and when.
lol - Martin ... there are probably a few people who wish that I didn't exist, but those are exactly the people that should be reading between the lines <-- Sorry, I think like an elephant and 'm about as stubborn as a mule.
... you CAN turn off tracking BTW on your phone ... but to "see" anything at all on a PC using Google location history, you MUST logon with an account that is tied to your phone.
Frankly, this has gotten me so annoyed at my new Android 4.4 cell phone that I am reluctant to carry the thing.
I happen to be an American living overseas and that makes me a bit wary of who might take an interest in me. It might be wise to have a Yahoo account that you share with people that you don't want potentially tracking you.
I suppose that this is all useful and productive for government tracking down real terrorist (which we are all quite aware of), but it does create stalking on a whole new level. From what I understand, the USA even mandated that every cellular phone sold must have GPS included.
Many are never completely turned off that the battery cannot be removed. I am not sure that 'airport/airplane mode' will really isolate one for the sake of privacy.
I suppose that if you are traveling, it may allow your credit card company to confirm you are where the card is being use. I might zip off to Japan or Bali without telling them I'm going.
For the most the phone is using the mobile network to triangulate it's postion, so it doesn't really depend on GPS. The safe way for the paranoid is to put the phone in a metal foil bag or a box - rely on Faraday to stop all radio waves going out or coming in. Brave New World.
I got the impression that Google Plus was actually using GPS data, not triangulating cell phone towers. In any event, if you are a tourist travelling internationally, people do ask you for your email address and a Gmail account may lead to getting more attention that you desire.
Having a separate email account for contact with people that are casual acquaintances and not tied into any location tracking may help to assure a good vacation.
Problem is I have not seen any for about ten years. The last one I saw, about ten years ago, was being dug out of the ground at the time.
I did see an old British red pay phone in the north of England a couple of weeks back. It was in a hotel lobby, non-working just a historical relic.
I believe there are some dotted around England still, those red telephone boxes are historical protected buildings! Not sure if any of them still work.
Edit: Oh, and there is a pay phone on the wall in my local pub. It has not worked ever since I have known it. Again just an artifact for curiosities sake.
Seeing as the national telecom service is heavily positioned in cellular phones and the internet, all the pay phones in Taiwan have been pulled up like weeds in a royal rose garden.
Occassionally I see one and am a bit surprised, but the phone company is very happy to no longer have to run around fixing so many vandalized devices or collect coins.
I have a gut feeling that we went from having a government provide radio ankle bracelets tomonitor house arrests of minor criminals to providing to providing governments with something similar for just about everyone.
A very clever bit of political finesse. It's all done now.
Same thing with traffic/security cameras, credit/debit cards.
I actually have "Prey" on my smartphone. Left the phone in a cab, a few months ago and when I went to the cab office to retrieve it, the driver denied ever finding it...UNTIL I showed him the location map (his residence), pictures of his ugly mug attempting to unlock it and pics of the inside of his house.
Higher security, better privacy might just be the niche that revives Blackberry.
"Blackberry obviously isn't falling in with the current Android OEM groupthink, and that makes the Priv one of the more exciting devices to come along in some time. We're excited about a Blackberry device. What year is it?"
As I recall, the Germans at one time were offering cellular phones with greater privacy that what most of the market provides.
I actually have "Prey" on my smartphone. Left the phone in a cab, a few months ago and when I went to the cab office to retrieve it, the driver denied ever finding it...UNTIL I showed him the location map (his residence), pictures of his ugly mug attempting to unlock it and pics of the inside of his house.
That sounds like fun - put "Prey" on cheap phones and leave them places to see what kind of adventures they go on. Then retrieve them at some point...or turn the information over to authorities if it gets dicey.
That's nothing... if you have a gmail account tied to your phone, go to a any PC and logon with that account (or someone else's if you know their password) and do a Google search for "Location History" ... some of the records go back to 2009
Here is mine over the last 6 months, but you can also use the calendar to request a specific day, and play it (There actually is a PLAY button) to see chronologically where you were and when.
That could be very handy, I have trouble remembering where I was yesterday!
There are a lot of good app's out there, that don't require any permission's, unless sensor's are needed. And the app's you have to have and know are spyware. Combine that with watching your bluetooth, wifi and gps, is a full time job.
Well, I am pretty much put off by having real-time tracking resource available to anyone. GPS for my personal use seemed okay. Having it put me in touch with nearby resources seems good to. But lax enforcement of the law and we all suffer an invasion of privacy. And the opportunity of advertisers to stalk customers is unattractive to me.
RDL2004
Posts: 2,554
Comments
In all seriousness, though, I am generally underwhelmed by Google's ability to use the data I'm sure they have about me. I regularly see missed opportunities where I think "shouldn't Google know enough about me to do XYZ right now?" I mean, if they are going to collect all of this data to make my experience better, then make it better already!
Here is mine over the last 6 months, but you can also use the calendar to request a specific day, and play it (There actually is a PLAY button) to see chronologically where you were and when.
... you CAN turn off tracking BTW on your phone ... but to "see" anything at all on a PC using Google location history, you MUST logon with an account that is tied to your phone.
I happen to be an American living overseas and that makes me a bit wary of who might take an interest in me. It might be wise to have a Yahoo account that you share with people that you don't want potentially tracking you.
I suppose that this is all useful and productive for government tracking down real terrorist (which we are all quite aware of), but it does create stalking on a whole new level. From what I understand, the USA even mandated that every cellular phone sold must have GPS included.
Many are never completely turned off that the battery cannot be removed. I am not sure that 'airport/airplane mode' will really isolate one for the sake of privacy.
I suppose that if you are traveling, it may allow your credit card company to confirm you are where the card is being use. I might zip off to Japan or Bali without telling them I'm going.
Erlend
Having a separate email account for contact with people that are casual acquaintances and not tied into any location tracking may help to assure a good vacation.
If I take the phone out to make a call, then they know where I am (approximately)
It's hopeless.
We need some kind of tor network for phones.
Problem is I have not seen any for about ten years. The last one I saw, about ten years ago, was being dug out of the ground at the time.
I did see an old British red pay phone in the north of England a couple of weeks back. It was in a hotel lobby, non-working just a historical relic.
I believe there are some dotted around England still, those red telephone boxes are historical protected buildings! Not sure if any of them still work.
Edit: Oh, and there is a pay phone on the wall in my local pub. It has not worked ever since I have known it. Again just an artifact for curiosities sake.
Occassionally I see one and am a bit surprised, but the phone company is very happy to no longer have to run around fixing so many vandalized devices or collect coins.
I have a gut feeling that we went from having a government provide radio ankle bracelets tomonitor house arrests of minor criminals to providing to providing governments with something similar for just about everyone.
A very clever bit of political finesse. It's all done now.
Same thing with traffic/security cameras, credit/debit cards.
I actually have "Prey" on my smartphone. Left the phone in a cab, a few months ago and when I went to the cab office to retrieve it, the driver denied ever finding it...UNTIL I showed him the location map (his residence), pictures of his ugly mug attempting to unlock it and pics of the inside of his house.
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/09/its-official-blackberrys-android-phone-the-priv-will-launch-this-year/
Higher security, better privacy might just be the niche that revives Blackberry.
"Blackberry obviously isn't falling in with the current Android OEM groupthink, and that makes the Priv one of the more exciting devices to come along in some time. We're excited about a Blackberry device. What year is it?"
As I recall, the Germans at one time were offering cellular phones with greater privacy that what most of the market provides.
https://www.silentcircle.com/
I'm not exactly sure if Blackberry PRIV is going to be so wonderful.
http://seekingalpha.com/article/3688156-blackberrys-weaker-security-for-the-priv-could-impact-enterprise-and-government-adoption
BOTH are Android phones.
But the bottom line may just be that governments want to snoop.
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-08-02/news/33001399_1_blackberry-enterprise-encryption-keys-corporate-emails
That sounds like fun - put "Prey" on cheap phones and leave them places to see what kind of adventures they go on. Then retrieve them at some point...or turn the information over to authorities if it gets dicey.
The company believes in working with law enforcement to make court-ordered surveillance of its devices possible, its COO said.
http://fedscoop.com/blackberry-taking-balanced-approach-to-encryption-lawful-intercept