Apple Addresses Location Concerns
Apr 27, 2011, 8:04 AM by Eric M. Zeman
Apple today published a Q&A document regarding the iPhone's location tracking and storing behavior. Apple says that the data captured by the iPhone does not represent users' exact locations, but is instead a crowd-sourced map of cell towers and Wi-Fi hotspots. Apple says it keeps this database so that the iPhone can supply accurate location data more quickly when called upon by applications that need it. Since the entire database is too large to store on an iPhone at any given time, only a small cache of it resides of the device. The rest is synced back to a computer, where it is "protected but not encrypted." Apple noted that users who encrypt the back-up files of their iPhone by default also encrypt this location data, though it can't be done selectively. Apple admits that there is a bug with the system and it stores too much data for too long, and also continues to collect location data when location services are turned off. Apple said it plans to issue a software update soon to fix these issues. Apple also noted that user information is not shared with third parties unless expressly approved by the end user. Apple also noted that it collects traffic information that it hopes to one day use to improve live traffic conditions to iPhone users. Apple said that the data will be encrypted once the next major version of iOS is released.
from Apple
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| Subject | Author | Date |
| I'm calling bullcr*p! | Living Silver |
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| This is interesting but... | Troll-Bait |
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| Here's the Full Q&A | Eric M. Zeman |
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