If someone were to ask you how secure your iPhone is and how well you’re protecting your data, would you be able to give them an honest answer? If you’re even hesitating slightly to answer that question, it may be time to take a good look at your iPhone settings and make necessary adjustments — and one great place to start is with your location settings. The location settings could be set, whether you know it or not, to track your whereabouts any time you leave your house with your phone. This may sound creepy, but it actually can serve a useful purpose in some cases (such as when you’re relying on maps to get you from Point A to Point B). The problem becomes when your settings are out of your control and you truly have no idea that your phone is tracking you and no intention of letting it track your every move. This is the location setting you should always have turned off, according to security experts.
Disable Significant Locations
You can disable Significant Locations on iOS because apple uses your information to show related ads and suggestions on Apple apps, according to Sayan Dutta, co-founder and editor at ReadUs247.com.
“On iOS, you can disable the following location services,” Dutta says:
Compass Calibration
Device Management
Location-Based Alerts
Location-Based Suggestions
Motion Calibration & Distance
Setting Time Zone
Share My Location
Sharing.framework
Keep in mind: Location services aren’t all bad. According to Dutta, Location is a very important service for many apps to run. “Like Maps, Uber, or any food delivery services which require location service to track your exact location and come at your service,” Dutta says. But this setting also shares your location with apps you’ve installed. “Generally, location services should remain on while you’re using it,” Dutta says. “Android and iOS come with an option to allow the location while using the app. This is suggested for all the users to opt for this option only, so that no one can track your location through the app when it’s turned off.”
Disabling location services does not guarantee that your device cannot be monitored in some other way, but leaving it on is far more dangerous, Dutta reminds us.
If you’re interested in turning off or adjusting location settings for specific apps, IT Expert Christine Walker suggests focusing on the following:
Google Maps
“Go to Settings – Google Maps – Settings and turn off the option that says ‘aggregate device details, Y our IP Address, And Device Settings Are Automatically Applied To All Maps Connected To This Device,’” Walker says. “This will ensure that Google Map data is no longer shared with any applications you use with Google Maps, which may include other apps or websites.”
When used carefully and considerately, Location Services is excellent for helping to make your life more convenient. Just be sure to know which settings are set and when so that you have complete control over how your phone is tracking you and what it’s doing with that information.
