Skip to content
Tech News
← Back to articles

Every way your phone tracks your location - and how to stop it

read original more articles
Why This Matters

Understanding how smartphones track your location is crucial for consumers concerned about privacy. While location services offer convenience, they also pose risks of unwarranted data exposure, making it important to know how to control and limit tracking. Implementing simple privacy checks can significantly reduce your digital footprint and protect personal information.

Key Takeaways

monkeybusinessimages/iStock/Getty Images Plus

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.

ZDNET's key takeaways

Location settings can expose private data.

Several phone signals can reveal your location.

A few privacy checks can reduce tracking.

You know where you were this afternoon. Perhaps so do your family, friends, or colleagues. However, you might also have unwittingly shared your whereabouts with companies and other organizations.

Connected devices give us the opportunity and convenience of on-the-go maps, satellite navigation, sharing our location with those we trust, and even ordering products and services for quick delivery. But the combination of GPS systems, cellular towers, Wi-Fi networks, Bluetooth, and other signals can combine to pinpoint your location -- even when we don't want it to.

Also: 7+ phone privacy settings to check and turn off ASAP - to avoid exposing your personal data

You might think turning off GPS on your smartphone means that you can't be tracked. However, even if you think your location is private, carrying your handset around and connecting to specific services can still reveal where you are.

... continue reading