Computing and Location Data – The Good, Bad, and Ugly

If you are not offline, location information is tracked. Online use increases exposure to location data by apps and services. Many times, we as users trade some of our privacy for services at a significant discount. Facebook-type platforms sometimes offer free access. I am going talk just about one type of data – location.

Anytime you are using an application or cloud based service, you can pretty much guarantee it is using some of your “internet” information to verify or track location information. This is not necessarily a bad thing. For example, licensing requirements for many of the franchise football, basketball, baseball games have requirements that only allow viewing within a specific geographical area. This means services like your TV provider will check your location to ensure they are not violating their licensing agreements. Some governments use location data to track or block foreign influence for the publicly accessible internet. Many services or apps use location data. Google Maps, for example, gives directions from your current position to your destination via location data. Exercise apps and gadgets use location data to perform their calculations. Apple tags and other geo-tracker devices require location data in order to perform their services. Recently location data has been use to solve crimes by either providing detailed timeline of the victims moments or confirming the predator’s location.

They key is knowing consent. Understand that NOTHING is free. Moreover, the most powerful tool we have as end users is the data we generate. Companies will pay significant amounts of money to Google and other search engines for demographic and location information about their current or potential customers. We you sign up for something actually READ the user agreement. User agreements will spell out what apps/websites/services are gathering about your activities including if it uses location information and who they share it with.

So, let’s talk about geo trackers. Do you own a pet? Ever had to look for a dog or cat that got out of the yard? Especially if you live in an urban area you need to think about these types of products/services.

• Fi Series – https://a.co/d/0bmeiPyW
• GPS Pet Tracker – https://a.co/d/08iQgALZ
• Apple Air Tag Collar (tag not included) – https://a.co/d/01o6LmOp

How many of us want to track our luggage or some other piece of equipment?

• Android based air tag – https://a.co/d/01WopLIG
• Apple air tag – https://a.co/d/0fcENzfQ

What about a child or elderly person living on their own? Parents or concerned caretakers may want to track their location. Make sure you have the legal authority to track someone’s location. Companies typically use this for tracking employee travel especially if it involves a company car. Stalkers and so-to-be ex spouses have used this technology and ended up on the wrong side of law.

• Angle Sense GPS – https://a.co/d/0ea0CWgv
• GPS Tracker for Vehicles – https://a.co/d/0izqva8n

Some of the most common trackers are your laptop, smart phone, tablet, or desktop computer. Not only can these devices (with the right software and internet connection) track your physical location but they can also track your internet site location. This does bring a concern about employers wanting to install/use your personal device(s). My recommendation is to say no installation of any software or device on my personal property. You want tracking on the car, then provide the car. You want software installed on a laptop, then provide the laptop. It is too easy for settings to be changed and software that was ONLY supposed to track work related activities really tracked everything that was happening.

Basically at this point you should assume that unless you are living a lifestyle that is completely off grid that your location is known by more than one service/system at any one time.

Give me a call/text (657-210-0619)/email ([email protected]) if you are looking for a solution and what to find the right balance between cost, privacy, and convenience for something you would like to track.

If you prefer, here is the link to by calendar to schedule a meeting! Link: https://calendly.com/pdavis830