On today's post of ToBeSecured, I want to discuss location services and how it can be unfavorable to and for us.
Not to give you a scare but you never know who's interested in your life, watching your every move, lurking through your information on the internet and social media platforms, and plotting to harm you. Some of you may feel that everyone has a choice to be active on the internet, share personal information with others, and enable the features that comes with the devices they purchase. Which, in some instances may be true, but with the way the world is evolving, the digital presence is stronger than ever, and technology is taking over.
Looking back on the experiences I have had, I can recall many instances where I've had to take a minute and reevaluate my life based on how private I have been or ways to improve my safety. This applies to both the virtual world and real-world instances.
Let's look into the location feature of OUR devices and how it can affect us in the real world and virtually. First and foremost, how does location services work? A combination of GPS data and cell tower triangulation can reveal your current location wherever your phone has a signal. Whenever you enable your location services on your device, others around or near you now have access to where you are. We're talking REAL-TIME.!
Now, I completely understand if you are using the location services feature for GPS purposes, to send your location to a friend, or in case of an emergency. The issue I have with users and this feature is how they abuse it for social media purposes, malicious acts, or my favorite - reducing the privacy of their life. Reduced privacy is the primary stumbling block of location tracking. How many of you can admit that you enable your location on your devices and never disable it until an application you're using makes you aware.
How many of you like to share your location on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook? Jane Doe just checked in at Applebee's on College drive 5 minutes ago. John Doe just posted a tweet from Old McDonald, AZ. Does that seem familiar to you because I notice it all the time as I'm scrolling down my timeline. What if Jane or John has a stalker and they now have access to their location? There are safety precautions we can take and being aware of instances like this which could prevent us from becoming a victim.
Before departing from your destination, check to see if your location services are disabled. If you are using your GPS and you have arrived at your destination, turn your location off. Don't check in on Facebook or allow your social media platforms to use your location.
These companies are already collecting our data as it is. Location information collected by cellphone companies can provide an incredible intrusive glance into the private lives of cellphone users. For this reason, it is feasible to disable location tracking features. However, tracking information remains available to phone providers and emergency services. Many of us do not take the time to read the privacy terms and conditions contract; instead we just accept the risks and unknowns. It is significant we read these documentations not only to be aware of its conditions, but in case something happens, we know why or what to do. Reading is fundamental and it never hurts to learn something new.
If you would like to discuss further, please leave a comment or ask a question. I'd love to chat with my readers and hear your thoughts. Thank you for dropping in and remember ToBeSecured!
Comments