Google admits it tracked user location data even when the setting was turned off

[Linus_torvalds]

Not a surprise. Everybody new this.

I try as much as i can to avoid google.

 

I use Sailfish OS on my nexus 5. So no google and no google apps at all.

I use startpage search engine

Openmailbox email

Firefox browser

Arch Linux OS

Dnscrypt with Opendns like dns servers.

 

Hell, i try to avoid not just google also Microsoft and Apple. These are main companies to avoid if you care about your privacy.

[crosstiger]

13 minutes ago, DrMacintosh said:

The difference between Google and Apple when it comes to data collection is that Google makes its money from its data collection. Apple makes its money from selling you Services and Products and doesn't really need your information, just your money. 

 

Google doesn't sell services, it gives them away for free and they don't make enough from their extremely limited hardware line to keep them going. 

You really think that apple isn't selling the information they collect? Don't be silly. Selling information is the got to way to make money in 2017.

[DrMacintosh]

1 minute ago, crosstiger said:

You really think that apple isn't selling the information they collect?

Sure they do, but they don't focus on it since its not nearly as profitable as releasing a new iPhone every year. And you can turn the tracking off......

[TidaLWaveZ]

There's actually no reason to be worried about this.

 

All it does is allow Google to know where your device is in use by seeing which cell towers are servicing it. Your service provider can already do this.

 

Just another typical anti-company x thread.

[Graham Carter]

Meh @ shocking revelation!  To the peeps who like to hide from the world... run to the hills!

I personally think that location data gathering is great, for one reason... when your on a long journey and using google maps as your satnav, it provides almost real-time traffic updates.... really useful when Im coming home from work and need to make a deviation to avoid the traffic! Or visiting family in Scotland, helps avoid douchey pileups

[Drak3]

30 minutes ago, ARikozuM said:

inb4 Good Guy Google Goons attack.

Onii-Chan Senpai is only making sure that we don't get lost down a dark alley, Neko-kun. They really only have the best of intentions, desu.

 

 

 

And now I sit back as the forum, and by extension the world, burn.

[crosstiger]

1 minute ago, DrMacintosh said:

Sure they do, but they don't focus on it since its not nearly as profitable as releasing a new iPhone every year. 

I wouldn't say it so easily. If you sell the right information to the right buyer you can make a LOT of money. Just think of it - every iPhone user hosts potential data that could be sold but not every iPhone user will buy the next one.

[dizmo]

Great, so they are putting it in a patch that likely won't be released by a huge number of OEMs? Solid.

Not that I care. I just wish I'd stop getting fucking notifications asking me to rate places I'm sitting in or telling me the bus stop location....or worse, asking me the bus stop times.

[DrMacintosh]

3 minutes ago, crosstiger said:

every iPhone user hosts potential data that could be sold but not every iPhone user will buy the next one.

You don't need every user to buy the next one when your margins are as high as Apples are. And realistically Apple is gaining more users than it is losing rn.  

[mynameisjuan]

6 minutes ago, TidaLWaveZ said:

There's actually no reason to be worried about this.

 

All it does is allow Google to know where your device is in use by seeing which cell towers are servicing it. Your service provider can already do this.

 

Just another typical anti-company x thread.

But...but.... they now will know where you are exactly....and do really really bad things with that knowledge like send you an AD of things around you!!!!!!!

[mr moose]

3 minutes ago, crosstiger said:

I wouldn't say it so easily. If you sell the right information to the right buyer you can make a LOT of money. Just think of it - every iPhone user hosts potential data that could be sold but not every iPhone user will buy the next one.

 

It's not just valuable to them as a salable commodity, it's also gold to them as a developer.  If they don't know where their customers are going or what they are using their phones for they can't tailor them to the market.   Googles travel directions are so good because they track this data, If apple want to compete in any way they'll have to track data too.

[TidaLWaveZ]

1 minute ago, mynameisjuan said:

But...but.... they now will know where you are exactly....and do really really bad things with that knowledge like send you an AD of things around you!!!!!!!

Or maybe save you if you've been kidnapped.

[DrMacintosh]

9 minutes ago, TidaLWaveZ said:

There's actually no reason to be worried about this.

 

All it does is allow Google to know where your device is in use by seeing which cell towers are servicing it. Your service provider can already do this.

Then why are they patching it? 

[mynameisjuan]

1 minute ago, DrMacintosh said:

You don't need every user to buy the next one when your margins are as high as Apples are. And realistically Apple is gaining more users than it is losing rn.  

The statistic of how many people companies are losing is retarded. Market share between Apple and Android has been pretty stagnant and since you know, the population is growing constantly, there are more people to buy devices. Even if there is a huge swing in share the amount of population growth accounts for most of it.  

[DrMacintosh]

2 minutes ago, mr moose said:

If apple want to compete in any way they'll have to track data too.

They seem to be competing extremely well. They don't need market share when they make like 90% of the profit in the smartphone market.  

[Matu20]

So "Don't be evil" need not apply?

[mynameisjuan]

1 minute ago, TidaLWaveZ said:

Or maybe save you if you've been kidnapped.

Hey, we dont tolerate positive use cases here.

 

But seriously, more good than bad comes from this as long as its stays secure.

[Drak3]

1 minute ago, DrMacintosh said:

Then why are they patching it? 

Consumers are stupid and buy into "mah privacy" charades.

[mynameisjuan]

2 minutes ago, DrMacintosh said:

Then why are they patching it? 

Because most people like in this thread bitch and whine. 

[DrMacintosh]

Just now, mynameisjuan said:

But seriously, more good than bad comes from this

Well its being patched so......

[Matu20]

17 minutes ago, mate_mate91 said:

Not a surprise. Everybody new this.

I try as much as i can to avoid google.

 

I use Sailfish OS on my nexus 5. So no google and no google apps at all.

I use startpage search engine

Openmailbox email

Firefox browser

Arch Linux OS

Dnscrypt with Opendns like dns servers.

 

Hell, i try to avoid not just google also Microsoft and Apple. These are main companies to avoid if you care about your privacy.

You are one stubborn fuck, I admire your strength

[DrMacintosh]

Just now, Drak3 said:

Consumers are stupid and buy into "mah privacy" charades.

You don't get to call consumers stupid when they are the only reason a company like Google can exist. 

[TidaLWaveZ]

2 minutes ago, DrMacintosh said:

Then why are they patching it? 

Because people like you and outlets like the verge spreading the story like it means anything at all.

[DrMacintosh]

Just now, TidaLWaveZ said:

Because people like you and outlets like the verge spreading the story like it means anything at all.

We're just messengers. 

[mynameisjuan]

1 minute ago, DrMacintosh said:

Well its being patched so......

Patch it or have people cry like babies for the next few months? Wonder what easier. Its just a pacifier for all the babies, no purpose but to shut them up.