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Location data stored on iPhone and 3G!
By siliconindia
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Thursday, 21 April 2011, 23:28 IST
Bangalore:Researchers named Alasdair Allan, senior researcher in astronomy at the University of Exeter, Pete Warden, who discovered the log file named 'consolidated.db' ,announced that they found what looks like secret files on the iPhone that tracks user location and stores it on the device, without the permission of the device owner.
Its unclear what the data is used for and why Apple has been collecting it in Apples iOS products. This leads to the storage backup of an individual's whereabouts and routines without the user's knowledge.
"By passively logging your location without your permission, Apple has made it possible for anyone from a jealous spouse to a private investigator to get a detailed picture of your movements," the researchers wrote in their FAQ.
Warden developed an application for users which can be downloaded onto a PC and can find out the current location a person is in. The database of location information is stored primarily on your phone; these files can also end up on your computer. The researchers' visualization app shows large blue dots for frequent activity and smaller red or orange-colored dots for less frequent activity.
It is believed that the tracking was not begun until iOS 4, which was released in late June 2010. Along with iPhones, 3G-enabled iPads are also keeping track of the data. It is also believed that the application intentionally cuts down on the accuracy of this data to keep the software from being used for bad things.
The researchers contacted Apple's Product Security team, and the team did not revert back to them. Questions like the collected data of the user, risks involved and what can be done, were asked by the CNET.