#5 Global Positioning System (GPS)

We use GPS almost on a regular basis. The technology is useful in many ways. But the problem arises when the platform of GPS shift to mobile phones. Many of the app developers use GPS enabled apps to track the spending and social habits of users.  A perfect example of this one is FourSquare, which allows the users to post their hangout places simply by “checking in” on the app.

Things will go smooth until and unless these data get into the hands of the interested outsiders. But app developers, in a way to increase popularity, provide their Application Programming Interface (APIs) to third parties. Some of these third parties tend to misuse the data as what happened with an app called Girls Around Me. The app used Facebook’s and FourSquare’s APIs to display the location, pictures and even names of nearby women to anybody who use that app.

The most interesting thing about the app is that for making individual people's information available to its users, the developers did nothing illegal. Everything was strictly under the laws. Now just think about the security threat arise with availability of personal information to strangers.