Many mobile phone users are unaware that their phones and apps can track their location without their permission. This information is valuable to data brokers and companies selling targeted advertising.
Your phone is constantly communicating with nearby cell towers and sending your location to the app’s creators, service providers and 사람찾기흥신소 other apps you use. This information is also recorded by social media sites that allow you to ‘check in’ to locations.
Spyware
One of the most pervasive forms of malware on the Internet is spyware, a malicious program that infects a computer or mobile device to gather information without the user’s knowledge. Spyware can collect information like web browsing habits and download history, as well as usernames and passwords for online banking or social media accounts. It can also take control of the device to spy on the user or breach security technologies.
While the most common use of spyware is to track activity on the computer, it can also be used to track a person’s physical location through the GPS on a smartphone. Mobile spyware apps can also eavesdrop on phone calls, record surroundings, capture photographs or even remotely shut down the device. These spy apps are often marketed to parents as tools for monitoring their children’s data usage, but they can also be used by jealous spouses or employers, as evidenced by reviews of the mSpy app in the Apple App Store, which include comments from users seeking to catch a cheating partner.
Spyware comes in many different forms, including Trojan malware that infects computers by appearing to be something useful and legitimate but secretly monitors activity; tracking cookie files that follow users through the Internet; and system monitors that log keystrokes, capture images and record audio. It can be sold to third-party organizations or used by cybercriminals, hackers and stalkers.
GPS Devices
GPS devices are used to track personal whereabouts by utilizing the signals sent by satellites. They are not only useful in finding your car or home, they can also help you track your loved ones while they’re traveling or out and about. Personal GPS tracking devices are available as apps on smartphones or dedicated hardware units that use cellular networks to transmit data to the device’s monitoring center.
These tracking systems are ideal for people who travel often or face security risks like social workers and visiting nurses. They can be placed on a purse, backpack, or person’s wrist or neck and monitored using an online dashboard. They can even be set up to alert you via SMS when they’ve crossed a geo-fence you’ve established. Dedicated GPS tracking devices are a more secure option than apps because they can’t be disabled or erased.
Companies can also benefit from using GPS tracking for their employees. They can monitor the observance of labor laws and overtime, optimize routes for fleets, improve customer service with real-time delivery updates, and confirm that time records are accurate. However, if you plan to track the location of an employee’s phone or vehicle, it’s best to consult with an attorney first to ensure that you are in compliance with all applicable employment laws. You should also make sure that your employees are aware of the fact that their locations are being tracked.
Internet Search Engines
Internet search engines work by scanning the World Wide Web and indexing the information they find. They then respond to requests for specific words or combinations of words. The first such engine, created in 1990 by Alan Emtage, was called Archie, which stands for “archive” without the “v.” This program downloaded directory listings from public anonymous FTP sites, creating a database of file names.
Today, a popular search engine may hold hundreds of millions of pages and documents in its index. It also receives tens of thousands of inquiries per day. Search engines are the most widely used way to navigate the Internet and get answers to specific questions.
The top three most used Internet search engines in the United States are Google, Yahoo and Microsoft Bing. These are the only ones that are available for use with most browsers. There are other search engines that are not as popular, including Startpage and DuckDuckGo. Some of these swear off data tracking to keep your searches private.
You can limit how much information your Internet search engines collect on you by using private browsing or incognito settings. You can also register with various groups to stop targeted advertising from a particular company. For example, you can register your name with the Digital Advertising Alliance to opt out of personalized ads on Google.