Privacy Groups Slam Apple Over iPhone, iPad Tracking Devices
- Posted on April 21, 2011 at 8:47pm by
Emily Esfahani Smith
- Print »
- Email »
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Privacy watchdogs are demanding answers from Apple Inc. about why iPhones and iPads are secretly collecting location data on users — records that cellular service providers routinely keep but require a court order to disgorge.
It’s not clear if other smartphones and tablet computers are logging such information on their users. And this week‘s revelation that the Apple devices do wasn’t even new — some security experts began warning about the issue a year ago.
But the worry prompted by a report from researchers Alasdair Allan and Pete Warden at a technology conference in Santa Clara, Calif., raises questions about how much privacy you implicitly surrender by carrying around a smartphone and the responsibility of the smartphone makers to protect sensitive data that flows through their devices.
Much of the concern about the iPhone and iPad tracking stems from the fact the computers are logging users’ physical coordinates without users knowing it — and that that information is then stored in an unencrypted form that would be easy for a hacker or a suspicious spouse or a law enforcement officer to find without a warrant.
Researchers emphasize that there’s no evidence that Apple itself has access to this data. The data apparently stays on the device itself, and computers the data is backed up to. Apple didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment by The Associated Press.
Tracking is a normal part of owning a cellphone. What’s done with that data, though, is where the controversy lies.
A central question in this controversy is whether a smartphone should act merely as a conduit of location data to service providers and approved applications — or as a more active participant by storing the data itself, to make location-based applications run more smoothly or help better target mobile ads or any number of other uses.
Location data is some of the most valuable information a mobile phone can provide, since it can tell advertisers not only where someone’s been, but also where they might be going — and what they might be inclined to buy when they get there.
Allan and Warden said the location coordinates and time stamps in the Apple devices aren’t always exact, but appear in a file that typically contains about a year‘s worth of data that when taken together provide a detailed view of users’ travels.
“We’re not sure why Apple is gathering this data, but it’s clearly intentional, as the database is being restored across backups, and even device migrations,” they wrote in a blog posting announcing the research.
Allan said in an email to the AP that he and Warden haven’t looked at how other smartphones behave in this regard, but added there’s suspicion that phones that run Google Inc.’s Android software might behave in a similar way and is being investigated.
Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Alex Levinson, a security expert, said the tracking Apple‘s devices do isn’t new — or a surprise to those in the computer forensics community.
The Apple devices have been retaining the information for some time, but it was kept in a different form until the release of the iOS 4 operating software last year, Levinson, technical lead for the Katana Forensics firm, wrote on his blog.
Through his work with law enforcement agencies, Levinson said he was able to access the location data in older iPhones and warned about the issue over a year ago. The location data is now easier to find because of a change in the way iPhone applications access the data, he said.
“Either way, it is not secret, malicious, or hidden,” Levinson wrote. “Users still have to approve location access to any application and have the ability to instantly turn off location services to applications inside the settings menu on their device.”
The existence of the location-data file on the phone is alarming because it’s unencrypted, the researchers said, which means that anyone with access to the device can see it.
Charlie Miller, a prominent iPhone hacker, said a security change that Apple made last month would make extracting the file from the phone in a remote attack very difficult. Even if an attacker were to break into someone’s phone looking for the file, he wouldn’t have the right privileges to access the file.
The data is “pretty well-protected on the phone,” Miller, principal security analyst with Independent Security Evaluators, said in an interview.
“On the phone, they take a lot of precautions.” He said. “It‘s sort of frightening in the sense that it’s there, and it‘s full of information about where you’ve been, but the good news is it’s not easy to get to.”
But it’s a different matter when the data is transferred to another computer in a backup. If the backup computer is infected with malicious software, the file could easily be located and sent to the hacker. A way to protect against that is to encrypt the iPhone backup through iTunes, the researchers said.
The issue has prompted several members of Congress to write letters to Apple, based in Cupertino, Calif., to answer questions about the practice.
Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., said it raises “serious privacy concerns,” especially for children using the devices, since “anyone who gains access to this single file could likely determine the location of a user’s home, the businesses he frequents, the doctors he visits, the schools his children attend, and the trips he has taken — over the past months or even a year.”
Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., questioned whether the practice may be illegal under a federal law governing the use of location information for commercial purposes, if consumers weren’t properly informed.
“Apple needs to safeguard the personal location information of its users to ensure that an iPhone doesn’t become an iTrack,” he said in a statement. “Collecting, storing and disclosing a consumer’s location for commercial purposes without their express permission is unacceptable and would violate current law.”
Apple shares rose $9.20, or 2.7 percent, to $351.71 on the strength of the company’s latest quarterly financial results, which showed Apple’s net income nearly doubled, in large part on strength of iPhone sales.
Popular Stories
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 577 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 404 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 403 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 372 Comments
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 343 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 403 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 404 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 343 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 150 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 302 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 403 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (40)
svedka
Posted on April 22, 2011 at 11:11amThe devices only still make calls to keep their place in our categorical minds, they are actually more of a sales pitch we carry with us. I think I have to push more buttons to get to the phone feature than i do to get to the buy some useless crap feature. Granted I have a mil spec not that smart phone but I am sure the stupid thing is working harder to sell me jingles than it is to let me have a decent conversation.
Report Post »florida123
Posted on April 22, 2011 at 9:20amGreat we give our children phones so they can contact us anywhere anytime and all the while some perverted freak is following them around…………..Come on Apple what exactly are you thinking?? Oh i know $$$ in selling info to marketing firms…………This needs to stop!!!!!
Report Post »LICENSEDTOCARRY
Posted on April 22, 2011 at 8:10amAnd your point is?
Report Post »TelepromoterNChief
Posted on April 22, 2011 at 1:26amA cell phone is going to be a personal GPS. Thats what cell phones do. This is s smear campaign against Apple since they did not give enough to Obama or his party.
Report Post »LICENSEDTOCARRY
Posted on April 22, 2011 at 8:09amIs anyone suprised that the Apple Zombies have no problem with this.
Report Post »SandyfromChesterfield
Posted on April 21, 2011 at 11:51pmWell if vote stealer Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn. and “cap and trade” advocate Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass are concerned about our privacy this must be bad! Funny how this came out about Apple and Apple was named least green tech company due to reliance on dirty coal all on the same day! What a coincidence.
Report Post »TouchStoneMT
Posted on April 21, 2011 at 11:08pmLike I tell my teen daughter:
Report Post »“Never put anything on the ‘net you wouldn’t let me put on the tailgate of my truck.”
lylejk
Posted on April 21, 2011 at 10:36pmMentioned this on a another forum that I frequent, but my cell phone service doesn’t support the iPhone, the iPad toy is way too expensive for what it can do imo, and I don‘t like Apple’s Business model so many years ago I made a vow never to purchase an Apple product and thus far I‘ve been able to keep my vow and don’t think I’ll break it any time soon. :)
Report Post »Lars Skipole
Posted on April 21, 2011 at 10:15pmI just read on Drudge (I think) that both Android and iPhone does in fact send data to Google and Apple, respectively. It is downloaded several times an hour.
Report Post »Entropy
Posted on April 21, 2011 at 10:12pmWhat’s up with all of this tracking BS? I would not buy an Apple product no matter what. If you do , you are a fool.
Report Post »peter008
Posted on April 21, 2011 at 9:46pmIf Apple is gathering all this information you better believe the government is spending our tax dollars to buy it from them. Mel Gibson’s “Conspiracy Theory” is more real than we think.
Report Post »Pat Alexander
Posted on April 21, 2011 at 9:41pmThe article is wrong. Apple already admitted that they collect this data.
A big Obama supporter and the MOST controlling company in the tech industry. They put all kinds of limits on their devices to “guide” how you use them – all the while charging nosebleed prices…
Don’t be surprised if it comes out that their other 3G devices (iPad iPod) are collecting the same info.
What did you expect??
Report Post »TSUNAMI-22
Posted on April 21, 2011 at 9:36pmI watched it. It didn’t give me a “warm fuzzy”, that’s for sure. The whole thing reminds me of what termites do. They chip away a little at a time until the whole house collapses.
Report Post »Workforit
Posted on April 21, 2011 at 9:30pmSome things in life are really simple. If you don’t want to be found, don’t take your cell phone, or turn it off… Turn it on again when you need it, then turn it off again. Earlier in my business career that blasted thing rang 100 times a day, I’d have to have a spare battery to make it thru the day. Now I just receive messages and return the important calls… Simple.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on April 21, 2011 at 9:42pmit still records your location even when turned off you have to remove the battery for it not to record your location
Report Post »Entropy
Posted on April 21, 2011 at 10:07pmPsychosis is correct. Take out the battery. Otherwise they are watching you.
Report Post »pnh
Posted on April 21, 2011 at 9:29pmThe Obamacare special, the electronic medical records exists to track us. Those records will be the way the government tracks and control our lives.
Report Post »LiveNation
Posted on April 21, 2011 at 9:28pmThe irony of it all – The Apple 1984 commercial
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYecfV3ubP8
Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on April 21, 2011 at 10:56pmSteve Jobs became everything he hated and created a monster. He is just like Openhimer, after creating the Atom bomb, realized he release a plague on the world. Jobs only despised IBM because HE wanted to be IBM and have power over people. He is a classic liberal hippie who wanted everyone to kiss his behind and control the nation with his ideas and ideals.
Report Post »mharry860
Posted on April 21, 2011 at 9:26pmDarmok, Apple is not an advertiser on Limbaughs show, never, ever, not even once. Rush is just a fanboi.
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on April 21, 2011 at 9:33pmI heard him go on about Apple, I always thought he was advertising for them. My mistake.
Report Post »mharry860
Posted on April 21, 2011 at 10:40pmHe does that every time he gets his new Apple toys, he may be apologetic for them, but it‘s just because he’s a fanboi. I was disappointed that the map app that shows you the info only works on macs, I wanted to see mine.
Report Post »miles from nowhere
Posted on April 21, 2011 at 9:20pmWill not own this junk!
Report Post »miles from nowhere
Posted on April 21, 2011 at 9:19pmTHOMAS242007 Thank you
Report Post »BetterDays
Posted on April 21, 2011 at 9:15pmAs I’m responding to this on my iPad I feel a sudden urgency to understate my opinion, strange buzzing sound, error codes, sirens, door …………………………………………………….h……..e……………l……………………………………..
Ok my iPad is all better now, and the shot that nice man in the black uniform in the corner with a gun gave me is kickin…………..zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on April 21, 2011 at 9:14pmminnesota cops use a device that lets them get acces to ALL the information on your phone locatio pictures contacts etc even with a password
all they do is hook it up to the phone in the care and it downloads the info
Report Post »BetterDays
Posted on April 21, 2011 at 9:12pmThanks for the link, everyone should watch it.
Report Post »dealer@678
Posted on April 21, 2011 at 9:03pmLeave apple alone. How else are we gonna find out where Weiner and Frank do it
Report Post »TSUNAMI-22
Posted on April 21, 2011 at 9:29pmOhhhhh…..he shoots, he SCORES !!!!!!!!!
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on April 21, 2011 at 8:59pmAt this point Apple should obligate themselves to advise customers how to adjust privacy setting, such as password to access information.
Report Post »jefferson-not-jackson
Posted on April 21, 2011 at 8:56pmCan you say ‘Big Brother’?
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on April 21, 2011 at 8:52pmWe know who they are, we know where they live and we know how they voted…..Andy Stern.
We just know where you are and what you surfed……Apple.
lovenfl3
Posted on April 21, 2011 at 9:10pmWhile I’m a Rush Limbaugh fan, it was very dissapointing to hear him flip flop on this issue today on his show. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIMRNUGXxII The last guy I expected to hear, actually buy the explanation provided by Apple.
Report Post »Gold Coin & Economic News
Posted on April 21, 2011 at 9:14pmWait till we find out exactly how the government is going to use all this data.
Report Post »John 1776
Posted on April 21, 2011 at 9:17pmEven if it’s not the government, Data bases get hacked. Do you really want everywhere you go to be in a database?
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on April 21, 2011 at 9:18pmRemember, Limbaugh is an entertainer, he even says it, and one of his advertisers is Apple, in fact when the IPAD came out he was giving away the EIB IPad. So, he is not willing to bite the hand that feeds him.
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on April 21, 2011 at 9:21pmRemember who held a fundraiser for him in SFO , the CEO of this :
Report Post »http://www.salesforce.com/
Imagine what kind of bonanza this CRM -cloud’s info will be for enemies of America
thermonator
Posted on April 22, 2011 at 8:25amAll cell phones “track” you, otherwise you wouldn’t be able to make a call.
Digital 4G technology is how much information is sent over your cell phone signal. 4G= 4 trillion bytes of information a sec. In order to be able to do that the “cell site” has to know exactly where you are.
The old “analog” cell signal was more like a radio signal that goes out in all directions, like throwing a rock in a pond, the wave goes in all directions. A digital signal doesn’t work this way, it is a more compact direct signal that goes from point a to b.
The mail man knows where you live, and ATT knows where you go, what are you gonna do?
Report Post »