Apple stealthily recording, storing GPS position of iPhone, 3G iPad users [video]

By on Apr 20, 2011 at 11:18 AM
mobile April 20, 2011

Several researchers at O’Reilly have discovered an extremely troubling feature of iPhones and 3G iPads running Apple’s iOS 4. In a blog post and accompanying video, the site details that Apple is storing the GPS coordinates of cellular iDevices locally, in an unencrypted and unprotected file. “Ever since iOS 4 arrived, your device has been storing a long list of locations and time stamps,” reads the post. “We’re not sure why Apple is gathering this data, but it’s clearly intentional, as the database is being restored across backups, and even device migrations.” O’Reilly goes on to note that along with a list of timestamped GPS coordinates, the file also contains a list of Wi-Fi access points that the affected device has been in range of. “Anybody with access to this file knows where you’ve been over the last year, since iOS 4 was released,” the brief continues. The file in question — named consolidated.db — is present in the backup file created when syncing a cellular iOS device with iTunes, and, obviously, on the iOS device itself. “Why this data is stored and how Apple intends to use it — or not — are important questions that need to be explored,” writes the team. Apple’s security team did not respond to O’Reilly‘s request for comment. The video made by the researchers is after the break.

Read [O'Reilly] Read [iPhone Tracker app]

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  • Aboxoflogic

    As an ex Apple employee I can tell you why. They are using the GPS data to study the demographics of their users and where to add additional Apple Stores. Beat the old way we did it – Mac User Groups.

  • AppleFanboy

    But Apple is my god.. Of course they know where I am at all times.. They created me.

  • http://www.TechedOn.com Achilles Stravoravdis

    Not News: Anyone with half a brain should acknowledge that: “When buying a mobile device, understand that companies will be tracking and using location/use data.”

  • http://twitter.com/r3vmixman Anthony Mayberry

    I don’t mind. Apple’s like my Big Brother. Always watching my back. /sarcasm

  • dwinsmith

    Android phones actually send the data to Google so they can use if for Maps Traffic analysis. Did that spook anyone??

  • http://twitter.com/salkatib Sharif Alkatib

    Source please.

  • Nomaillst

    Can it be used to find locations of Wifi devices? The wifi only Ipads have no gps and rely on a wifi database for location. This can generate a database

  • Steve Hillshire

    Wow, great “feature” for spouses to spy on their significant other. I mean, this can be nothing other than a “feature” right? Law enforcement can now use this to really tell where you were tonight!! And forget encrypting it….leave it all hang out. Awesome!! Go Apple!!!

  • http://www.baylanbilisim.com/index.php/isortaklari/arvento Arvento

    “Ever since iOS 4 arrived, your device has been storing a long list of locations and time stamps,” reads the post. “We’re not sure why Apple is gathering this data, but it’s clearly intentional, as the database is being restored across backups, and even device migrations.”

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