iOS location tracking file likely a bug,

**American Patriot** · April 21st, 2011, 18:04

Thursday, April 21, 2011 iOS location tracking file likely a bug, Apple could address issue with next udpate
By Neil Hughes
Published: 12:00 PM EST

A file that stores a detailed history of the approximate location an iPhone or 3G-equipped iPad has been is a result of a bug in the iOS operating system, and could be addressed by Apple in the next iOS update, according to a new report.

John Gruber of Daring Fireball commented on the controversial location tracking log Thursday. Though he cautioned that he doesn't have a "definitive answer" as to why Apple is storing users' location data in a database file, he has been told it is in fact an error.

"My little-birdie-informed understanding is that consolidated.db acts as a cache for location data, and that historical data should be getting culled but isn't, either due to a bug or, more likely, an oversight," Gruber wrote.

"I.e. someone wrote the code to cache location data but never wrote code to cull non-recent entries from the cache, so that a database that's meant to serve as a cache of your recent location data is instead a persistent log of your location history. I'd wager this gets fixed in the next iOS update."

Though the tracking file has existed since iOS 4 was released last year, and was even recognized before, the information gained traction on Wednesday when a pair of security researchers detailed the issue. They found that the iPhone and 3G-capable iPad are "regularly recording the position" of the devices and saving them in a hidden file.

The data in the consolidated.db file is backed up and restored through iTunes, and can even be transferred to a new device when syncing. Though the information is not shared with Apple or anyone else, the researchers view the file as a potential security threat, as anyone with access to the file could know where a person has traveled since owning an iOS 4-powered device.

Because data collection started with the release of iOS 4 last June, the file can be a comprehensive collection of locations with tens of thousands of data points stored. The location is believed to be determined through cell-tower triangulation, which is less accurate than GPS.

The researchers, Peter Warden and Alasdair Allan, have provided a free tool to the public that allows users to look at their own stored location data. Users are also advised to encrypt their iOS backups through iTunes to maximize security.

**American Patriot** · April 21st, 2011, 18:04

Sure it was a bug....

**Malsua** · April 21st, 2011, 19:27

When is a feature a bug? When enough people complain about it.

**American Patriot** · April 21st, 2011, 19:31

It wasn't a bug.

Apple is tight lipped over this. I'm hearing some nasty reports. FCC has jumped in, and the Congress is livid. LOL

(They are pissed they are being tracked by Apple and might be on a list to be fired).

This is going to get a lot uglier. Watch and see.

**Malsua** · April 21st, 2011, 20:07

Well, they did say that no application is using the data.

Right?

**American Patriot** · April 21st, 2011, 20:22

Irrelevant.

Collecting the data SECRETLY, with no opt-out, without even letting users know it's there and uploaded to your PC for anyone to find who is computer savvy and looking... that's criminal.

Seriously - I would say that there are a lot of people up in arms over this today. Apple is looking somewhat foolish for creating this and I would honestly like to know WHY they did it? For what POSSIBLE legitimate purpose do you create a database on someone's machine so as to track every move they make and NOT TELL THEM?

Big Brotherism at it's finest....

**MTStringer** · April 22nd, 2011, 13:36

This is a worldwide issue, correct? Police everywhere can access this information as well? This ought to get VERY interesting.

**American Patriot** · April 22nd, 2011, 13:42

Police with the equipment....

**MTStringer** · April 22nd, 2011, 20:42

I don't use cell phones, period. Annoying invention, seems nobody can do so much as drive, eat or defecate w/o one these days. My thoughts immediately went out to the poor, overworked attorneys, judges, etc who will inevitably be forced to take time out from their hectic schedules to completely dissect this issue. Then, of course, there's the media...., and the politicians, and eventually, here at least, the Supreme Court. Seriously though, the police are bound to explore the possibilities, leading to the inevitable legal challenges, and that's just here in the US. Why, this could be a bigger story than the royal wedding