Not knowing how to protect one's own privacy can expose the user to excessive disadvantages. One of the newest technologies is the GPS, and it is now being used in cell phones and cameras. This has enabled people to locate unfamiliar places and establishments. However, privacy concerns have been raised because of the undefined limits on the use of this tracking technology. New models of cameras and phones are now outfitted with GPS. Users enjoy its features from simple photo taking to uploading on the internet.
The main point of the issue raised is the risk involved with anybody being able to access the user's location from cell phone data. Basically, many phones can maintain complete records of where a person has been. Using this data with Google maps, the phone owner's location data can be easily mapped showing wherever he or she had been for any period of time.
Exchangeable Image File, or EXIF, is used in GPS-enabled phones or cameras to store photos. This is now generally used by almost all new models of digital cameras. Kept photos will include data regarding shutter speed, F number, exposure compensation, ISO number, date and time the image was taken, etc. These are all information about features of the stored data and do not create problems on privacy. It is the ability of cameras to store GPS information that ignites privacy concern because anybody can easily locate where the picture was taken.
Apple and Google have the same belief towards this privacy issue. They say that the users have to be responsible for protecting their privacy. The technology is there, but users are the ones who can elect whether or not to use it. Users can easily disable, or switch off location tracking features in their phones. In addition, Google also denied the traceability of identification numbers of each phone signal. It could be recalled that Google assigns a unique signal for each handset.
Some groups do not favor the idea of switching off GPS features. GPS technology has been applied in many valuable applications. New phone models are designed to operate lots of new apps that are location enabled. Not taking advantage of the benefits of this feature will make one's phone "useless".
One effective way of resolving the problem is to set limits on the use of GPS data. Phone users and manufacturers can also hope that the government can do as much to catch up with the fast-changing technology. Meanwhile, users have to make sure that they can protect their own privacy.
This can be done by limiting the sharing of data, particularly GPS enabled photos, online. One should take time to think well before uploading photos to any website, especially social networking sites. Users should be alert that most sites always ask the user whether or not he or she wants to reveal the information before posting. This makes one fully accountable for his or her own privacy.
The main point of the issue raised is the risk involved with anybody being able to access the user's location from cell phone data. Basically, many phones can maintain complete records of where a person has been. Using this data with Google maps, the phone owner's location data can be easily mapped showing wherever he or she had been for any period of time.
Exchangeable Image File, or EXIF, is used in GPS-enabled phones or cameras to store photos. This is now generally used by almost all new models of digital cameras. Kept photos will include data regarding shutter speed, F number, exposure compensation, ISO number, date and time the image was taken, etc. These are all information about features of the stored data and do not create problems on privacy. It is the ability of cameras to store GPS information that ignites privacy concern because anybody can easily locate where the picture was taken.
Apple and Google have the same belief towards this privacy issue. They say that the users have to be responsible for protecting their privacy. The technology is there, but users are the ones who can elect whether or not to use it. Users can easily disable, or switch off location tracking features in their phones. In addition, Google also denied the traceability of identification numbers of each phone signal. It could be recalled that Google assigns a unique signal for each handset.
Some groups do not favor the idea of switching off GPS features. GPS technology has been applied in many valuable applications. New phone models are designed to operate lots of new apps that are location enabled. Not taking advantage of the benefits of this feature will make one's phone "useless".
One effective way of resolving the problem is to set limits on the use of GPS data. Phone users and manufacturers can also hope that the government can do as much to catch up with the fast-changing technology. Meanwhile, users have to make sure that they can protect their own privacy.
This can be done by limiting the sharing of data, particularly GPS enabled photos, online. One should take time to think well before uploading photos to any website, especially social networking sites. Users should be alert that most sites always ask the user whether or not he or she wants to reveal the information before posting. This makes one fully accountable for his or her own privacy.
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It is not just phones that can give away your actual location. Every time you browse the Internet you are letting websites know where you are. To surf anonymously use an anonymous proxy to mask your actual location.