this post was submitted on 22 Mar 2025
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Android Apps Use Bluetooth and WiFi Scanning to Track Users Without GPS (cyberinsider.com)
submitted 1 week ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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cross-posted from: https://infosec.pub/post/25439167

A new study reveals that thousands of Android apps covertly collect location data using Bluetooth and WiFi beacons, allowing continuous tracking and profiling of users without explicit consent.

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Well, honestly what do people expect if they give apps access to that information without having the app provide a reasonable justification as to why it needs that information?

Edit: Not saying the people are the root cause, the apps that take advantage of them are assholes, but people should be more stringent on the information they provide

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Unfortunately most people (even technical people) don't think that hard, or can't be bothered.

I said this as early as 2010, and my technical peers (I'm in IT) called me paranoid.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Yeah that's unfortunately true.

What most people tell me when I try to advise them is:

"I've been doing it this way for years. So if what I'm doing is wrong then companies already have my data and it's pointless to change. And if the companies don't have my data already, then what I'm doing is fine and it's pointless to change."

Edited for clarity