The iPhone Has Been Tracking Where You Go

Apple users are already convinced Steve knows what's best for them, so I doubt they will care. And if by some chance they do, maybe we'll see a mass exodus of iVictims.

The issue isn't that it tracks where you go (all modern cell phones do this, smartphone and dumbphone alike). The issue is that it stores all of this information in a plain text file, and not only that, but also spreads it all over the place.

If you ever lose your iPhone, or your iTunes gets hacked, or your MacBook gets stolen/hacked, all a would-be thief has to do is open that file and he'll know exactly when you'll be out of your house, and for how long, perfect for a home invasion.

How is this a bad thing? the only people who shouldn't want to keep a personal record of their movements are criminals...

Ipad does the same throufh both 3G and Wi Fi.

Every cult member needs to be tracked!

Well at least we won't be home when the home is invaded

quantumrand, you can only see past activity with the application, in a very fast forward mode and not the exact location (it's not using the GPS technology for it) to know 'exactly when you'll be out of your house, and for how long" that's complete nonsense. In fact, if somebody wanted to stalk you in such way, all they have to do is hack your where's my droid/find my iphone/lookout account on either iOS or Android.

This is something that needs to be explained, but I think some people are overreacting with the completely inaccurate information this file captures.

note: I DO NOT own an iPhone or an iPad.

People like quantumrand think they're so important.

No one really cares where you've been, where you are or where you're going, quantum. If they want to break into your house they'll just have to watch you drive away in your car.

I would guess that 99% of the population don't want to be tracked wherever they go and have it stored for several reasons, you claim 99% of the population is criminals for wanting to protect their freedom? What agency/advertisement company do you work for?

Yeah, I gave the tracking program a try and the locations it is storing are not very accurate and apparently my iPhone took a trip to Vegas without me at some point. I know GPS isn't exactly accurate for civilian use, but over 1,000 miles off is a bit much.

Ever heard of civil liberties?
Tell you what if you are so happy with this let's have the Government implant a GPS chip in every newborn baby
Then fingerprint everyone regardless of crimes being committed or not
Your DNA being kept on file
And a CCTV camera installed in your bedroom
...
what a 'tard...

Being tracked without permission? Against the law isn't it? They've tracked probably millions of people...... By my calculations, we could take Apple for everything they're worth and more.

What I don't understand is why this is being stored on local computers. What use does it have to anyone if it's not being sent to Apple or some other company?

Considering that the Eula is accepted when the hardware is purchased/used the user sells away that part of their freedom voluntarily, and then considering how much effort Apple have put into protecting the gathered data and that it's even copied to the computer on synchronization tells me all i need to know how much Apple care about their customers privacy...

Probably stored in itunes so it can be retrieved by a third party at any moment. All they have to do is log in or hack your itunes account.
Creepy... and to think they were bitching about Google as being evil for storing some wifi hotspots locations. I dont carry the wifi hotsopt with me, but this is a cellphone, it's supposed to be on you.

@quantumrand iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 encrypt all data on the device using strong AES. So it's not so much a plain text file that some bad guy can swipe.

Apple offers a remote wipe feature for free to iPhone 4 and iPad users. iPhone 3GS users can get this functionality if they subscribe to Apple's MobileMe. If you're silly enough to lose your iPhone or it gets stolen then you just activate the remote wipe as fast as you can.

The tracking is mostly useful for finding your iPhone if it gets lost/stolen. This could prove helpful to the Police.

thats why i stay away from Apple

The one synced to the home PC is unencrypted yet identical, so the fact that it is encrypted the iPhone doesn't make it secure.

Umm how about someone using this info they got from your Iphone to track you and rob/kidnap or whatever you when they know you go by a certain place.

well the thing is why exactly would you want strangers to know your position anytime.. what if someone hacks the apple server one day and get all your information?.. how'd you feel if someone's following your girlfriend or kid the whole time.. even if they dont do nothing?

Mr Jobs is pals with the Obozo regime and they are doing it for the FEDS. Fraulein Janet Napolitano and her army of Gestapo goons, Zeich Heil, has to watch their enemy, the American people, Seig Heil. No more Apple products for me Ubuntu will be my next laptop, I may even look into replacing OS X on my Macbook Pro with Ubuntu.

What if some group comes up with an automated way to get this info off the phone? What if some group hacks Apple and steals a good portion of this database? I doubt they would target an individual, but they may resell this data and it would make its way to illicit servers where any criminal can obtain these lists. But today's criminals are stupid. They just mug old ladies and stuff like that. Not smart enough to use a computer. I am sure companies that house email addresses and passwords for other companies like Chase and Amazon are impervious to this sort of activity as well.

Listen kid, I been all over this galaxy,... and there aint no all powerful I-Whatever controls my destiny!!
Just to clarify, don't own an I of any type.....and never F'ning will!

Unless of course they put it in the agreement that by accepting to use the phone and its software you also agree to being tracked...

Just because they put it in a contract or EULA does not make it legal or above the law. If that were true then you could get people to work for less than minimum wage.

CURRENTLY you either give up essential freedoms and privacy or live with absolutely no technology. As long as the understanding of the Law preaches you can live without technology businessmen will abuse us due to our needs of these devices.

You're tracked, recorded and watched by invisible eyes about everywhere you go. That's not restricted to Apple and didn't begin with Apple but they're taking a step further, indeed.

Actually this file is not encrypted.

You show me where in the EULA that Apple constantly tracks your whereabouts in a secret file that secretly sync to your home machine.

Then prove to me that the home machine doesn't have a facility in iTunes that secretly uploads it to Apple for the purpose of... who knows what?

Oh, really? So you think the only people who don't wish to be spied on and have privacy are criminals? Then good sir I challenge you. For every moment of your life I want you to tell me exactly where you plan to go, where you go, and what you do. To the exact detail. If you go over a girlfriends house, I want to know when, where, why, as well as the events that take place.

Does this sound reasonable to you? If not then you must be a criminal right? So from tomorrow and from then on I am expecting you to give me a full daily report of everything you do. You may email me such on here. After all your not a criminal right?

This is possibly the most ridiculous thing I have ever read here. Ever

Read the entire article, the portion of the eula is actually there where the user allow apple and their friends to collect and use that data, its shocking that they even won't bother to encrypt it properly and that it even synchronizes it to the computer, to what end.. we won't likely ever know that answer. The only answer i see is apple don't care for shit about your privacy, thats what all this tells me!