Are you aware that your smartphone knows more about your whereabouts than even your closest friends? This might sound like something out of a sci-fi movie, but it’s true. Your smartphone, be it an iPhone or Android device, keeps track of your locations through its location services feature.
Apple Users, You’re Not Immune
Apple users, don’t think you’re exempt from this tracking. Your iPhone is just as guilty of keeping tabs on your daily whereabouts. It even has a feature known as Significant Locations that stores detailed information about the places you visit most frequently.
The Purpose Behind the Tracking
The intention behind this constant monitoring, according to Apple, is to enhance your user experience. It helps your phone provide personalized services like predicting traffic routes and improving photo memories based on the locations significant to you. However, this feature has raised concerns about privacy invasion.
Is Your Data Secure?
Despite these concerns, Apple assures users that the data exchanged between their cloud-connected devices is encrypted, making it inaccessible to anyone without the proper credentials. This should provide some relief to those worried about their privacy.
How to Access Your Significant Locations
Curious to see what your smartphone knows about your movements? Accessing your Significant Locations is relatively simple. Follow these steps:
- Open your iPhone’s settings.
- Tap Privacy & Security.
- Select Location Services.
- Scroll down and tap System Services.
- Look for Significant Locations and tap on it.
- After entering your password or using FaceID, you’ll find a list of locations you’ve visited, albeit not always precisely accurate.
Protecting Your Privacy
If you’re uncomfortable with your phone keeping tabs on you, there are steps you can take to protect your privacy:
- Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services > Significant Locations.
- Tap Clear History to erase your Significant Locations history on all devices linked to your Apple ID.
- To disable Significant Locations, slide the toggle next to it to the left.
Google’s Tracking
But what if you have a Google account? If you’ve been using Google Maps, there’s a good chance Google knows a lot about your movements too.
Managing Your Google Location History
Here’s how you can manage your Google Location History:
- Sign in to your Google account.
- Click on your profile picture and select Manage your Google Account or visit your Google Account page.
- On the left, click on Data & Privacy.
- Under “History Settings,” click on Location History.
- At the bottom, click Manage history.
You’ll see a map with details like your saved home and work locations and your past trips. You can even search by year or specific day to view your complete travel history.
Protecting Your Google Privacy
If you want to stop Google from tracking your every move, follow these steps:
- Return to your Google Account page.
- On the left, click on Data & Privacy.
- Under “History Settings,” select Location History.
- Click Turn off.
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In today’s world, where data privacy is a growing concern, it’s essential to understand how your devices track your every move and take steps to protect your privacy. So, dive into your device’s settings and take control of your location data to ensure your personal information remains in safe hands.