The fact that your devices can give away their locations is something you already know. After all, websites do not magically appear in your native tongue whenever possible. Usually, websites determine the best language to present according to visitors’ IP addresses. Besides this identifier, there are other ways for entities online to learn your location.

But sometimes, you might want to keep your whereabouts a secret. Furthermore, you do not want to overpay for online goods merely due to your location. Let's see what factors make location tracking possible and how you can hide this identifier.

How does your device know your location?

The location of your device can be shared and determined in several ways. A few of these various ways are related to the networks the device is connected to.

GPS Data

Satellites are used to determine your device’s location when using GPS. Therefore, no internet service is required, and this technology can work pretty much anywhere.

Both Android location services and Apple location services use GPS data. API can also access this information using third-party apps from these platforms when you use them. You can deny permissions to these apps to read your location individually every time you open them or by making necessary changes in the app settings. Alternatively, you may disable your device location from the device’s settings.

If your location data is turned off, that information may be made available upon request by your provider. It can be done if the device is lost or stolen or when you make a call to an emergency number.

The internet connections

Devices capable of connecting to the internet are allotted an Internet Protocol Address. The internet service provider assigns these addresses and acts as one of the central identifiers for users’ online journeys.

Even if your Wi-Fi is turned off but your data is turned on, your mobile may still reveal your position. It works like Wi-Fi, but, in this case, it's the network provider that creates the connection instead of the ISP, which also gives access to your data.

Disclosure by accident

We live in a high-tech world, and you may invariably forget a few simple things. Such oversight may also give your location away. You may well have turned off your device location, but the photos you posted or any information you shared on social media can still give your location away.  

Is sharing location data safe?  

In some cases, it's essential to allow some apps to use your device location. That makes it possible to locate stolen or lost devices, and it's also a big help for first responders to respond in emergency cases.

Google may use your location data to suggest places of interest, the transport options available, and tell you the weather. With the help of aggregate information, they can also talk about traffic conditions and arrival times. Google Profile can also help you share your location details with a select few.

On the flip side, the location data you share with the apps on your device is something you should be cautious about. After all, they are owned by privately owned business entities. Besides, this location data can reveal your routine and home addresses.

Again, social media sites may reveal your location to “friends” who might be people you would rather not see. Your location details may also be used to target you with advertisements—an unhappy situation. Occasionally, streaming sites may use geo-restrictions to block certain content after getting to know your location.

One effective way to bypass geo-restrictions and hide your location from sites is to use a Virtual Private Network. With a VPN, you connect to the internet through a remote server. In turn, you can mask your real IP address with the one belonging to a VPN server.

You can easily find out what is your IP address. After establishing a secure connection via a VPN, you will see a new IP address. It should pinpoint a location you have chosen from server lists.

Conclusion

All you need to do to protect yourself from the perils of having to share your location data is to just be careful about the permissions you grant to individual apps. You won’t need to leave your phone home or avoid connecting to the net. Again, there are advantages to location sharing. It helps locate your device if it's lost, and first responders can reach people in emergencies. Therefore, location sharing, like most other technologies, can be both a boon and a bane.

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