Alasdair Allan and Pete Warden, two security researchers have announced that since the release of iOS 4 every device with a SIM (iPhone,iPad) tracks the location of the device on a ongoing basis determined through cell-tower triangulation and stores it in a local database. The position is not determined through GPS which hints that this data is used to improve the network quality. The data is only on your local device and is not transfered to Apple or any 3rd party so you wont need to worry about being tracked. The only problem i see on this matter is that this file is unencrypted available on your device and local backups so if someone steals your phone or Mac they can create pretty scary movement log. Also this gives a little insight on the tracking abilities of the phone companies and the government.The database is stored in a hidden file called "consolidated.db". The stored data includes a timestamp together withlatitude and longitude for each tracked point. The timing seems to be pretty random at first sight, but a local test indicates that the data will be saved (at least) on a cell-tower switch or incoming calls/messages.
Pet Warden released a open source tool to visualize this data which is available at http://petewarden.github.com/iPhoneTracker/.
Quick facts:
- The data is only stored locally and is not transfered to anyone
- The data is not determined through GPS so its more a mere guess than an exact location.
Apple should encrypt the data in future firmwares to make sure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands.
Update
I made a GoogleMaps based implementation based on this application check it out
MyPhoneTracker
Update
I made a GoogleMaps based implementation based on this application check it out
MyPhoneTracker
18 comments:
great this might be useful
nice post!!!!
I tend to grab for my tin-foil hat when I hear things like this.
Hah, tough luck, Apple.
and there you go. next will be "brain control" app, for politicians
Well, we have the remote wipe in case of theft but then again, what good is a movement map for a thief that does not know me personally?
Wow! Cool! And a little scary.
man its crazy, we have lost so much privacy with advancing tech
great post
good to hear
This is not good! That's why I turn off my gps (that and to save battery) on my android.
google has something of this kind. when i make a search on google in my phone it says whats near me.
this is kinda cool... but I'm not sure if I like it
Damn that is a cool app but damn dangerous if a weirdo or creep steals my phone he can have a map of my most visited spots and locations good thing i dont own this kid of phones.
@Malkavian how do you know your phone doesn't do the same?
@metaphysicalfarms its not determined via gps
cool, looks like a good way to find the nearest starbucks location
Man this is kinda weird not sure I'm too fond of it!
Tin foil hat time!
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