Apple CEO: iOS doesn't track your location, Android does!

[Emil]

Last week researchers discovered that Apple's 3G devices regularly record your position (this is not GPS data, it is based on cell tower and WiFi base station triangulation, but it does show a clear path of the user's movements) into a hidden file called consolidated.db ever since iOS 4. There have been comparisons to how Android records such data (less data is cached, it is harder to access) and the original report has even prompted investigations by regulators in France, Germany, Italy, and South Korea.

A MacRumors reader decided to email Apple CEO Steve Jobs asking for clarification on the issue, and hinting he would switch to Android if he has to. Jobs reportedly responded by saying that Apple does not track users but that Google does:

Q: Steve,

Could you please explain the necessity of the passive location-tracking tool embedded in my iPhone? It's kind of unnerving knowing that my exact location is being recorded at all times. Maybe you could shed some light on this for me before I switch to a Droid. They don't track me.

A: Oh yes they do. We don't track anyone. The info circulating around is false.

Sent from my iPhone

Although it has been shown that Android also gathers location information, it was also made quite clear that the database is limited to a much smaller list of entries and is regularly wiped by the system. From what researchers discovered, ever since iOS 4, iPhones and 3G iPads have been storing a long list of latitude-longitude coordinates and timestamps, all of which is kept across backups, and even device migrations. To make matters worse, the file with said data is unencrypted and unprotected, and it's on any machine you've synced with your iOS device.

In the email, it appears that Jobs is either poorly informed, or that he is deliberately trying to make Apple look better and make Google look worse. Either way, both companies may end up having to make some changes; at the very least the user should be told what their device is doing.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/43492-apple-ceo-ios-doesnt-track-your-location-android-does.html

 

[Cota]

I had gave this one a long thinking and it seems that it does have a functional use, tracking the "hot spots" in wich the company needs to expand his service quality or give a crap and let it like it is, but who knows dont work in AT&T or any other company like such.

Maybe if companies started explaining more instead of using sweet talk to calm down users about their stupidity, maybe and just maybe users would start to really see how things are really.

 

[SSaywell]

Don't Google tell you about the tracking when you set up your device, least that's something.

 

[Vrmithrax]

Wow, Steve... Just... Wow...

The Apple reality distortion field in full view for the world again, right there. Deny the problem (like they did with the 1-finger disconnect iPhone 4 antenna issue), then point to the competition and try to start a witch hunt (like they did with the wrap your hand around an Android phone awkwardly to show loss of signal).

Is a massive sense of denial and/or a belligerent lack of comprehension of facts backed by actual evidence a prerequisite for being an Apple exec? I mean, I know it's part of the makeup of the rabid Apple fanatic, but still...

 

[dotVezz]

Wow... just... wow...

Congratulations, Steve Jobs. You've just won the retarded-comment-of-the-day award. Every day for the next month.

 

[captaincranky]

Good Lord, "the pot calls the kettle black"! That's worth coverage on the national news, plus a segment on "Nightline"! (It's the exactly why of it that has me confused).

 

[Trillionsin]

There's got to me more to it!

Why would Steve reply to this guy? If he was lying, why would he?

Cell phones are always going to track your location in one fashion or other.

...but to then say "No, we dont. THEY DO!"

Why not say, "We all do, or rather the cellular communication towers are capable of this." or you know.. whatever...

 

[captaincranky]

Why not say, "We all do, or rather the cellular communication towers are capable of this." or you know.. whatever...

True enough, they have to know which tower you've used. How else would they send you the bill for it?

 

[mario]

Another sensationalist headline, what he means is Apple doesn't track anyone the information is stored on your devices and it's not on the web. On the other hand Google tracks every move you make on the internet and they keep your information for 18 months, try this visit HipMunk www.hipmunk.com and then you'll start noticing HipMunk ads on every page you visit that has Google Ads.

And Chrome is the only browser that haven't committed on implementing the "Do Not Track" feature that is already implemented in Firefox, IE, Opera and the next release of Safari. Guess why they haven't signed up for it, tracking people is their business.

 

[gwailo247]

Cota said:
I had gave this one a long thinking and it seems that it does have a functional use, tracking the "hot spots" in wich the company needs to expand his service quality or give a crap and let it like it is, but who knows dont work in AT&T or any other company like such.

Maybe if companies started explaining more instead of using sweet talk to calm down users about their stupidity, maybe and just maybe users would start to really see how things are really.

Come on, they got busted. Of course this is being done to track your location. Considering that their 2009 patent about marketing to you based on your location history just was revealed, this is just the tip of the iceberg. They want to sell your entire history to third party vendors for money. And considering that you can't opt out of this history tracking without opting out of iTunes, and correspondingly out of using your iPhone or iPad with any kind of functionality, this is not a tiny non issue, but the start of things to come.

 

[captaincranky]

Come on, they got busted. Of course this is being done to track your location. Considering that their 2009 patent about marketing to you based on your location history just was revealed, this is just the tip of the iceberg. They want to sell your entire history to third party vendors for money. And considering that you can't opt out of this history tracking without opting out of iTunes, and correspondingly out of using your iPhone or iPad with any kind of functionality, this is not a tiny non issue, but the start of things to come.

I can, (and do), exist quite happily without iTunes.

 

[TrekExpert]

Phew, I feel much better now. If Steve said it's not true than it isn't. All those other researchers must have some kind of conspiracy with Google to make apple look bad.

Or not...

 

[Guest]

...at least adolf was honest about his true intentions...

 

[captaincranky]

...at least adolf was honest about his true intentions...

Indeed, but perhaps he was a bit less than forthcoming with the purpose of the concentration camps

 

[matrix86]

marioestrada said:
Another sensationalist headline, what he means is Apple doesn't track anyone the information is stored on your devices and it's not on the web. On the other hand Google tracks every move you make on the internet and they keep your information for 18 months, try this visit HipMunk www.hipmunk.com and then you'll start noticing HipMunk ads on every page you visit that has Google Ads.

And Chrome is the only browser that haven't committed on implementing the "Do Not Track" feature that is already implemented in Firefox, IE, Opera and the next release of Safari. Guess why they haven't signed up for it, tracking people is their business.

Wanna try reading this article again? Steve knows the guy is talking about iOS, and not web browsing. Discussion of web browser tracking has nothing to do with this article or Steve's response. There's no doubt that phones track your location, but the way iOS does it isn't very safe. It puts the info in an unencrypted folder and (if I read this right) also moves that info onto any device that you sync your phone with.

 

[mario]

@matrix86 yes it is unsafe, but Apple does not know anything about your location as the headline might lead to believe as you can notice from other comments.

 

[Guest]

wow....simply wow. he sounds like a kid having a fight with another kid on an elementary school playground. i suppose the next thing we hear will be: "no, the sky isn't blue....its pink...because i said so." just goes to show you how far out there the apple people are. personally, i'm waiting for the last lemming to fall off the cliff

 

[captaincranky]

wow....simply wow. he sounds like a kid having a fight with another kid on an elementary school playground. i suppose the next thing we hear will be: "no, the sky isn't blue....its pink...because i said so." just goes to show you how far out there the apple people are. personally, i'm waiting for the last lemming to fall off the cliff

I'm guessing you mean Steve Jobs? It he the infamous he to which you are referring?

 

[lawfer]

Vrmithrax said:
Wow, Steve... Just... Wow...

The Apple reality distortion field in full view for the world again, right there. Deny the problem (like they did with the 1-finger disconnect iPhone 4 antenna issue), then point to the competition and try to start a witch hunt (like they did with the wrap your hand around an Android phone awkwardly to show loss of signal).

Is a massive sense of denial and/or a belligerent lack of comprehension of facts backed by actual evidence a prerequisite for being an Apple exec? I mean, I know it's part of the makeup of the rabid Apple fanatic, but still...

Nah, this is much more than just corporate denial. At least in that, there are certain marketing and/or PR factors involved.

What Steve Jobs has become is easily defined by one word: delusional.

 

[captaincranky]

Nah, this is much more than just corporate denial. At least in that, there are certain marketing and/or PR factors involved.

What Steve Jobs has become is easily defined by one word: delusional.

I'm thinking that Steve Jobs has finally become the "Anti-Sheen"....!

All that's left for him to do is book his, "Flaming Anal Torpedo of Lies Tour".

 

[gwailo247]

I'm thinking that Steve Jobs has finally become the "Anti-Sheen"....!

All that's left for him to do is book his, "Flaming Anal Torpedo of Lies Tour".

What is the opposite of a Warlock Assassin?

[nerd]

A Cleric Paladin?

[/nerd]

 

[captaincranky]

What is the opposite of a Warlock Assassin?

[nerd]

A Cleric Paladin?

[/nerd]

Clench your but cheeks, unkca Stevie's a comin' ta gitcha...!

J.O.B.S. is actually an acronym...! It stands for "Jump On Board Sucka"....

You have to be familiar with the, (now defunct), TV series, "Dollhouse", to understand where Stevie Boy recruits his customers. Suffice it to say, "they all try to be their best"......

 

[Guest]

Man, so many of you behave like little children jealous of the neighbor who's got a better bicycle than you.

Are you really so envious of a phone?

Regardless of all your prepubescent nonsense, there is nothing delusional about Steve's statement. Learn how to read.

Apple has locational data on it's customers phones. Yes, it needs to be more secure and users need a way to disable it. Same with Android.

'nuff said.

Now go get yourselves an iPhone and stop your infantile rants.

 

[PC nerd]

I don't trust Apple. Or a word Steve Jobs says.

At least Android is open source. Apple's stuff is all locked. Because they are bastards...

 

[Guest]

Learn to read? He quite clearly said 'Oh yes they do. We don't track anyone' <- Did you miss this part?

So he's lying and attempting to defend his company once again when its the only one under the spotlight by saying 'these guys did it too!' That doesn't hold up in court if you've been done for speeding 'everyone else was!' and I don't see how it really works here.

Sure, the others do track your location, it isn't difficult, but Android's data is anonymised and deleted often, and Microsoft's is only the most recent location (apparently). I do believe (given Apple's earlier patent alluding to location-based marketing) that Apple uses the data, or intends to use the data, for marketing. I cannot say for the others, as no investigation has been done, but the 'scandal' if you will is that Android makes it quite clear that you will be tracked, while IOS does it 'behind closed doors' without your consent, or without you knowing.

So, who's the child? Mr Jobs smacks of Master Jobs to me after that statement.