Apple and Google track your location with computers, too

Security

Break out your tin foil hats, people β€” they’re out to get you. Apple finally issued a statement on Wednesday regarding the recent uproar over iOS devices tracking their owners’ locations, but a new report from The Wall Street Journal will ensure that consumers can continue to cry foul. According to the WSJ, Apple and Google both track users’ locations not only using mobile devices, but also using computers. Apple allegedly collects location information each time its Mac computers scan for wireless networks, and Google is said to collect location data from Wi-Fi connected computers that use its Chrome browser or its search toolbar plug-in with other browsers. The report notes that it is unclear how Apple and Google use this data, and it says in “most cases” the location tracking services are opt-in.

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38 Comments
  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_GP2WYAHXS6CRUREISWBGPUSUGE Michael

    Good thing i have my tin foil hat on.

    Otherwise i’d be in trouble.

  • http://twitter.com/MrKow84 Kyle

    this is not news, if you think this is something NEW then you are just dumb… some how this will all get turned into a Droid Doesn’t do that conversion and how apple sucks the big donkey… in 5..4..3..2..1..

    • http://twitter.com/ChazClout ChazClout

      You FOOL! Droid doesn’t do this. Apple sucks the big donkey…..

      :p

      • http://twitter.com/MrKow84 Kyle

        Awesome !! thank you that feels good to laugh…

    • http://www.droiddoes.com/ Norm

      With DROID you have to opt in. Apple just does it no matter what. I guess whatever makes you feel better.

      • http://twitter.com/MrKow84 Kyle

        lol your special.. but I’m sure your mom tells you that every morning =)

      • http://twitter.com/MrKow84 Kyle

        lol your special.. but I’m sure your mom tells you that every morning =)

      • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_BHMB52ZFMATI5KS7D4JT6UU7NA Eric W

        actually you have to opt-out

  • http://twitter.com/stalkbrandon Brandon V. Fletcher

    This is not news. When I use latitude on the web, google asks can the computer be track. Keyword is “asks”

  • http://twitter.com/ChazClout ChazClout

    I’m in ur computerz trackin ur locashuns!

    As long as it’s with my permission, I couldn’t give a s**t.

  • Anonymous

    For crying out loud, give it a rest.

    They collect location data because WE WANT LOCATION SPECIFIC RESULTS. When I type in “Movie Showtimes” I get showtimes for my area, without having to enter my location each time. This is something you can Opt out of. I honestly don’t know if it is Opt in or not because I’ve been using Chrome for a long time, so I don’t remember my initial settings.

    Seriously people, having a company track your location isn’t instantly something evil. What do they use it for? To give you more accurate information. And if they’re both building a mobile mapping service, it makes sense that they scan for positioning of wifi networks from browsers. This gives them a much bigger potential footprint. (Not everyone has a smartphone)

    And as your article states, these kinds of services are Opt In.

  • Anonymous

    So don’t use Mac or Chrome. Got it.

  • Anonymous

    So don’t use Mac or Chrome. Got it.

  • Bigbrother Iswatchingyou

    The real issue people have is that when the government comes in and orders google or apple to hand over the logged location data. At that point it becomes a weapon to use against you.

    • Drew

      Who’s to say this hasn’t happened already?? Remember that meeting President Obama had with Jobs, Schmidt and Zuckerberg a couple of months ago at a private residence in San Francisco?? Hmmm…

  • JasonS

    Lol this Zach dude is pretty parhetic. Such a industry puppet who obviously values his technology over his freedom. He’s a terrorists dream!! Lol.

  • JasonS

    Lol this Zach dude is pretty parhetic. Such a industry puppet who obviously values his technology over his freedom. He’s a terrorists dream!! Lol.

    • Anonymous

      You’re saying words, but I can’t glean any meaning.

      • JasonS

        Sorry you lack comprehension skills.

    • Anonymous

      Valuing technology and specs above all are the God given right of every goofan (aka apple hater!)

      • http://twitter.com/MrKow84 Kyle

        aka douchebag…

  • Adam Bullock

    I don’t understand the furor because hasn’t this been common-knowledge for awhile? BTW, guess I should get it out there now: Google serves up better quality search result pages cos they know your location/history of searches. OUTRAGE.

  • http://twitter.com/kaiyel1 Kyle Miller

    BREAKING NEWS! Apple and Google are now tracking Microsoft! RIM unfortunately has been denied to be tracked by India!

  • KCRic

    On my home desktop Google thinks I’m in Russia or some sh!t so I could give a damn less, Oh the magic of Tor – thank you.

    • Jake

      LOL! I’m at work but my phone thinks I’m at the Chick-Fil-A about a mile away. When I’m at home it doesn’t even think I’m in my subdivision but on a country side road about 2 miles away.

  • http://twitter.com/n8d n8d

    I had an alien probe shoved up my ass when I was abducted by those buggy-eyed bastards years back.

  • joeldf

    “…and Google is said to collect location data from Wi-Fi connected computers that use its Chrome browser or its search toolbar plug-in with other browsers.”

    Well, I don’t use either Chrome or the plug-in on my PC. But exactly how would it be really “tracking” a stationary PC? Or my wife’s PC when hers connects to the same wifi router every time that has also been stationary for several years now.

  • joeldf

    “…and Google is said to collect location data from Wi-Fi connected computers that use its Chrome browser or its search toolbar plug-in with other browsers.”

    Well, I don’t use either Chrome or the plug-in on my PC. But exactly how would it be really “tracking” a stationary PC? Or my wife’s PC when hers connects to the same wifi router every time that has also been stationary for several years now.

    • AnonGuy

      People with laptops and perhaps even mifis?

  • Yup

    nice zach, another apology for steve and co….just how good does his d1ck taste?

  • Yup

    nice zach, another apology for steve and co….just how good does his d1ck taste?

  • Anonymous

    Google tracks your location???!!! Get out of here….. Sigh…..

    • http://twitter.com/atlharry Harold Min

      Apple tracks your location???!!! Get out of here….. Sigh…..

      • Anonymous

        No they don’t maybe instead of reading false bullshit do a little research. They track your location? yet there’s a fix in the next os update. Boy you people try to use any bs to bring apple down but it will never work.

      • http://twitter.com/atlharry Harold Min

        Wow. Delusional.

  • Anonymous

    Google tracks your location???!!! Get out of here….. Sigh…..

  • KPa

    I can’t believe we’re still doing this…

  • http://twitter.com/palfrei Peter Palfrei

    Told you so!

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