You're Definitely Going to Want to Turn This Creepy iPhone Feature Off ASAP
As technology continues to take over our lives, the struggle to maintain privacy becomes even harder. But while we may take special steps to limit what apps have our information and update our privacy settings on Facebook, it turns out that just having your phone on you at all times has some creepy consequences. Every place you've ever visited-the local supermarket, the office where you work, your child's preschool, your own home-is being stored in your iPhone, including the address and the number of times you've been to that location. Feeling a bit weird about that? Yeah, us too.
The culprit is a feature hidden deep in your privacy settings called "Frequent Locations," and while it's not new, it often goes unnoticed by iPhone users, according to Metro. For years, the system has been pinpointing the places you visit on a map and logging your arrival and departure times from each location. The backlog of detailed information essentially allows Apple-or anyone who gets their hands on it-to predict your daily routine.
"Every place you go, where you shop, where you have a drink – it is all recorded," computer scientist Noel Sharkey told Metro back in 2014. "This is a divorce lawyer's dream. But what horrifies me is that it's so secret. Why did we not know about this?" While Apple has said the Frequent Locations feature merely helps improve the Maps app and that no data leaves the phone, it's hard not to worry it could end up in the wrong person's possession. "If you put that information in someone else's hands, then it becomes powerful, and in some cases, dangerous," Sharkey added.
So how do you turn it off? Here's what you do:
Open your 'Settings' menu
Select 'Privacy'
Select 'Location Services'
Scroll really far down and select 'System Services'
Scroll more and select 'Frequent Locations'
Select 'Clear History'
Swipe left on the 'Frequent Locations' tab to turn it off
Better safe than sorry!
(h/t Travel+Leisure)
Follow Country Living on Facebook.
You Might Also Like
Related Video:
Watch original series, sports and more on go90.
