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NSA Warns iPhone and Android Users: Disable Location Tracking
The National Security Agency (NSA) has issued a warning to iPhone and Android users, emphasizing the importance of disabling location tracking on their devices. This warning comes in light of the recent Gravy Analytics data leak, which exposed millions of user locations worldwide.
According to the NSA’s advisory, mobile devices store and share device geolocation data by design, making it essential to protect this sensitive information. “Location data can be extremely valuable and must be protected,” the agency warned. “It can reveal details about the number of users in a location, user and supply movements, daily routines (user and organizational), and can expose otherwise unknown associations between users and locations.”
Security researcher Baptiste Robert echoed these concerns, stating that the Gravy Analytics leak is not just any ordinary data breach but a national security threat. By mapping military locations in Russia alongside the leaked location data, he was able to identify military personnel in seconds.
The NSA’s warning highlights the need for users to take control of their privacy settings and reduce the amount of location data shared. To do so, it recommends:
1. Giving apps as few permissions as possible: Ensure that apps are not using or sharing location data. Set privacy settings to either not allow location data usage or only use it while the app is in use.
2. Disabling advertising permissions: Limit ad tracking by setting privacy settings to minimize it. Reset the advertising ID for your device regularly, at a minimum of once per week.
Apple iPhone users can take advantage of the “Allow Apps to Track” setting, which should be disabled. This ensures that no apps will prompt you for permission to track your activity across other companies’ apps and websites.
On the other hand, Android users must delete or reset their advertising ID in order to protect their privacy.
The NSA emphasized that it is crucial to be aware of how location information becomes available and take steps to reduce sharing. By being mindful of these settings and disabling location tracking, users can minimize the risk of their sensitive data falling into the wrong hands.
It’s essential for all mobile device users to follow these guidelines to ensure the protection of their privacy and security.
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Zak Doffman
Source: http://www.forbes.com
