What Is "Location" And How Does It Relate to Me?

[pdmike]

Settings/Location

What does this mean? If I enable all of the Location options, what am I opening myself up for? I read in today's paper where the U.S. Supremes have said the police must have a search warrant before they can track someone with a cell phone. Does this relate to Locations?

Can I be tracked if I have Locations enabled? Can I NOT be tracked it I have Locations disabled?

Or am I completely off base here? Tell me about "Location." Exactly what funciton does this perform on my phone?

[Shadez]

It basically lets apps and in the need of an emergency, first responders pinpoint your location.

[pdmike]

It basically lets apps and in the need of an emergency, first responders pinpoint your location.

Apps owned by whom? Anyone who wants to download them? So if I enable Location on my phone, am I opening myself up to being tracked by anyone who wants to go to the trouble of simply downloading an app that will let them track me?

What if I DISable Location on my phone? Will that prevent my being tracked without my knowledge or consent?

[Shadez]

No, only apps that ask you if you want to share your location. Usually like photo apps.

[Fonzz]

Apps owned by whom? Anyone who wants to download them? So if I enable Location on my phone, am I opening myself up to being tracked by anyone who wants to go to the trouble of simply downloading an app that will let them track me?

What if I DISable Location on my phone? Will that prevent my being tracked without my knowledge or consent?

I believe law enforcement (armed with a warrant) can track any cell phone (assuming it's powered up) to a certain degree (general area) by knowing which cell tower you're using. Maybe more accurately if they could triangulate using 3 towers (not sure about this aspect). Although I don't think this is what you're concerned with.

I hear stories now and then about wanted and missing people being tracked this way...

[bruben7886]

Location is used by apps such as maps, GPS, place locators (like to find restaurants "near you"). Read the permissions of apps before you download them and decide for yourself if it seems like a need for the app to operate or provide service. Yes, google maps needs to know where I am in order to get me from a to b....so I download it and use it. Yes, dictionary.com needs my location so I can see what words people around me are looking up....but do I need to know that the sweet little old lady next door is looking up "bondage" and "sadomasochism"? Do I want my neighbors knowing I looked up "you" for spelling purposes, thus revealing to them what a dumb a$$ I really am? No, so I don't download it.
The choice is eventually up to you.
Can this feature be abused? Of course, but I figure I am no Jack Bower, no terrorists are after me, so I don't worry about it. As far as the good guys are concerned, Big Brother can track me as soon as I turn a phone on. Then again, they can also track me via every time time I use a debit card, log into the internet, walk past an ATM ....I don't worry about it.
In closing....yes, you can be tracked; but, you already are leaving tracks all over the place (OnStar in your car....). So, turn the location on, read app permissions, and enjoy your phone!

Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using DroidForums

[pdmike]

Location is used by apps such as maps, GPS, place locators (like to find restaurants "near you"). Read the permissions of apps before you download them and decide for yourself if it seems like a need for the app to operate or provide service. Yes, google maps needs to know where I am in order to get me from a to b....so I download it and use it. Yes, dictionary.com needs my location so I can see what words people around me are looking up....but do I need to know that the sweet little old lady next door is looking up "bondage" and "sadomasochism"? Do I want my neighbors knowing I looked up "you" for spelling purposes, thus revealing to them what a dumb a$$ I really am? No, so I don't download it.
The choice is eventually up to you.
Can this feature be abused? Of course, but I figure I am no Jack Bower, no terrorists are after me, so I don't worry about it. As far as the good guys are concerned, Big Brother can track me as soon as I turn a phone on. Then again, they can also track me via every time time I use a debit card, log into the internet, walk past an ATM ....I don't worry about it.
In closing....yes, you can be tracked; but, you already are leaving tracks all over the place (OnStar in your car....). So, turn the location on, read app permissions, and enjoy your phone!

Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using DroidForums

Thank you. I guess it's time to get a little more specific. Is there software (or apps) out there that will enable one individual (not the government, not a police agency, not a large corporation - just one individual) to track another individual without the person being tracked knowing about it? Do I have to get even more specific?

[bruben7886]

Good question. Sorry about the previous looooong reply
Yes, apps like vz family locator allow you to track another phone on your plan. Once again, I'm sure some kid has figured out a hack to abuse this.

Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using DroidForums

[pdmike]

Good question. Sorry about the previous looooong reply
Yes, apps like vz family locator allow you to track another phone on your plan. Once again, I'm sure some kid has figured out a hack to abuse this.

Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using DroidForums

If you know, can this be done without the knowledge of the person being tracked? Let's suppose I want to track someone's location without their knowing they are being tracked. I know they have a cell phone, but that's all I know. Can I use an app such as the one you mention here (vz family locator) to track this person? How much do I have to know about their phone? I would assume I have to know at least their cell phone number. Anything else?

[bruben7886]

With vz locator the person tracked has to be on your account (hence the name vz family locator). I don't know of apps on the market that allow you to track someone without their knowledge. I would guess that a nefarious app to track would require the "trackee's" phone number
Soooo.....who are you stalking?

Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using DroidForums