Noiseworks PR - notable for its silence
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Microsoft collects WP7 location data without user knowledge
SMARTPHONE DEVELOPER Microsoft has been caught out on claims that it doesn't collect location data on Windows Phone 7 (WP7) handsets without user authorisation.
Microsoft has been embroiled in a row over its WP7 location data after a lawsuit was filed claiming that WP7 sends user location data even when the user declines authorisation for the device to do so. The lawsuit alleges that the data is sent to inference.location.live.net, a Microsoft service.
After the lawsuit was filed, Microsoft denied it collects any location data without the user's express permission. Now Rafael Rivera, known for his jailbreaking of WP7 phones, has conducted tests that show packets are sent to both agps.location.live.net and inference.location.live.net.
Rivera claims the packets provide "pin-point accuracte positioning information", adding that this was before he granted the camera application access to location data. He concludes, "In my case, the phone determined its exact location via Microsoft services prior to me explicitly allowing such behavior."
Rivera repeated the tests with different builds of WP7, citing the same behaviour in each version. Things could be different in the upcoming Windows Phone 7.5 'Mango' update, however.
If Rivera's findings are corroborated by third parties, and one might think that won't be too hard, then Microsoft has been caught with its pants down, lending further merit to the lawsuit.
The issue of location data is particularly sensitive due to the fact that people usually keep their phones in close proximity. This means if the device is sending location data back to Microsoft, or any other firm, without the user's consent, effectively that company can track the user like Big Brother. µ
Tags: Microsoft
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All phones track you, not just the operating systems (apple/google/MS) but the carriers too, and the government via sneaky ways even on top of the carriers.
As for your description of who would worry; in the eyes of fascists we are all guilty, especially the innocent.
This (privacy etc) is all a small price to pay for the technological INNOVATION that is the LoseDoze Fone7. I would give up everything to have the capability to install the internet onto my phone and browse the web and point and click and cut and paste and be able to do all of the things that are DIFFICULT if not outright IMPOSSIBLE to do with any other phone O/S.
I dont see the problem, you are all paranoid, what does it matter if microsoft knows where my phone is? It would help me to find it if I lost it. It seems to me the only people who are concerned about this are ones with something to hide.... Just buy another phone...
Easy fix... Don't buy a device running MS's poor excuse for a mobile OS.
Why anyone would want one in the first place is beyond me. Slow, clunky, wasteful of battery power. I could come up with some more but y'all get the picture.
I also don't recommend Apple's crud. Bargain components at a premium price. PAH! they can keep 'em.
Apple saved its data to the phone itself. No one ever showed it was being sent to Apple, though having the data there is still bad because anyone who got your phone (i.e. the cops or feds) could easily download that data and see where you've been in the past.
If Microsoft is actually sending the data to their own servers, its even worse.
This type of data is too tempting for any Apple, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, etc. type company to leave alone permanently unless there are some serious laws passed to make this indisputably illegal. But good luck getting congress to do that, they would roll over the minute someone mentions terrorism or harm to children!
While Apple had applications intentionaly written to save to a location, it seems that Windows picture app probably has a simple design that allows for conspiracy.
The picture app allows to send location data if wanted, but has a feature to disable. However, I'm betting that its just a feaure to disable to tagging of the location, and that somewhere its still "sending" some data.
This allows for conspiracy theorists, and should be a simply fix and can be overlooked at MS because they arent saving that data. Apple on the other hand was INTENTIONALLY saving that data.
@ dcj2: "what about any number of other apps on the phone that request location data?" -- Do you think it EXCUSES M$ if ALL of their applications spy on you? Can you see how hate of M$ has a basis?
if you get a windows phone, you dont own it, it allows microshaft to own you!
dont be a mug, vote with your feet and send a definite message to these over-zealous companies by just avoiding stuff that does this.
by boycotting their intrusive products, they will suffer financial loss for their intrusive behaviour.
even though they profit financially from this information, they still have the cheek to ask you for money too!
it is immoral and an infringement of the human right to privacy
"...this was before he granted the camera application access to location data..."
The camera application??? OK so he may not have authorized that specific app, but what about any number of other apps on the phone that request location data? Heck, most of the games available in the Marketplace now request tracking data so they can push ads. Is he sure none of those were authorized either?? Bottom line: application level security isn't a real test. He should turn off the GPS radio - lock it down at the device level - then look for location tracking data. If he finds it under those conditions, then slam away at MS. Otherwise its just MS flame-baiting.
Don't forget to fully define the actual financial "loss" before proceeding with the lawsuit.