Your iPhone Might Be Hiding Your Location History
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SAN FRANCISCO (CBS NEWS) - What if someone had a list of everywhere that you go, along with the exact time that you arrive and leave there each day? Well, as it turns out, that information is stored on many of our smartphones. But it is possible to beat the feature that is tracking your every move.
This is a feature found on the iPhone. It is not new, but most people do not know how to find the list of frequent locations, nor do they understand how that feature actually works. When users were asked if their phone had frequent locations enabled, the common responses were something like "I'm not sure" or "I don't know."
Here is how to find it on your iPhone. Click on the Settings icon, then the option for Privacy, and then Location Services. From there, scroll down to System Services and then click into Frequent Locations. It will tell you if the feature is turned on or off.
Once there, many iPhone users were shocked by what they found. Not only was that feature on, but the devices already labeled home and work addresses, all without the user's knowledge.
"This is a little creepy," said one person.
"I feel a little bit sick," another user added.
Privacy experts, like Noah Swartz of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, have long been concerned by the implications of this hidden information. "One of the concerning things is, this is hidden from you in your phone," Swartz said. "This could be used by abusive partners. It could be used by police in an investigation. It could be used by your boss, or your company, if you gave them access to your phone or if you're using a work phone."
Cell phone data can also be subpoenaed for both criminal and civil cases, such as divorce proceedings.
According to Apple, the data is stored only on your device -- unless you opt in to help them improve maps. Then, the company added, the data is stored by them anonymously. Or, you can just delete your history of locations, if you choose to, and turn the feature off.
But you first need to know how to find it.