If the constant fear of your smartphone device spying on you or tracking your location is worrisome, you might want to read on.
A new report by researcher from Cybernews is raising the curtain on a new form of Google surveillance on the rise, even with GPS disabled. Yes, it’s always like you cannot get rid of a feature that sends secret data to Google servers from your device.
What is even more worrisome is how the device routinely tries to download new codes and that gives rise to more security risks.
Thanks to Ernestas Naprys, a study was carried out with Google’s new Pixel 9 pro XL which entailed default settings and new Google accounts. Traffic was proxied and a customized security certificate examined all the activities and chats. Rooting the device did disable a few features.
Since the testing arose with new accounts set to default, no effect were seen in terms of changes done to privacy and security. Every 15 minutes or so, Naprys saw packets of data sent from the phone to Google servers. Moreover, the device shared location, numbers, status of the network, and even email IDs.
To be more specific, the data was traced to endpoints at Google including its Face Grouping and Policy Enforcement. While we agree that some clear sensitivities do exist in terms of other private information, location data is very sensitive. Remember, someone could be tracking your data including your live location.
Above all, it’s being done without user consent and without them being aware. Now experts are looking down deep at the several reasons why collection of this information might be needed to get certain features up and running. But the fact that communication is arising with servers that users have zero consent to is eyebrow-raising.
Image: DIW-Aigen
Read next:
• Meta Says It’s Aware Threads Has An ‘Engagement Bait’ Issue
• Google Play May Be Forced To Make Huge Changes After Judge Calls Out Its Illegal Monopoly Behavior
A new report by researcher from Cybernews is raising the curtain on a new form of Google surveillance on the rise, even with GPS disabled. Yes, it’s always like you cannot get rid of a feature that sends secret data to Google servers from your device.
What is even more worrisome is how the device routinely tries to download new codes and that gives rise to more security risks.
Thanks to Ernestas Naprys, a study was carried out with Google’s new Pixel 9 pro XL which entailed default settings and new Google accounts. Traffic was proxied and a customized security certificate examined all the activities and chats. Rooting the device did disable a few features.
Since the testing arose with new accounts set to default, no effect were seen in terms of changes done to privacy and security. Every 15 minutes or so, Naprys saw packets of data sent from the phone to Google servers. Moreover, the device shared location, numbers, status of the network, and even email IDs.
To be more specific, the data was traced to endpoints at Google including its Face Grouping and Policy Enforcement. While we agree that some clear sensitivities do exist in terms of other private information, location data is very sensitive. Remember, someone could be tracking your data including your live location.
Above all, it’s being done without user consent and without them being aware. Now experts are looking down deep at the several reasons why collection of this information might be needed to get certain features up and running. But the fact that communication is arising with servers that users have zero consent to is eyebrow-raising.
Read next:
• Meta Says It’s Aware Threads Has An ‘Engagement Bait’ Issue
• Google Play May Be Forced To Make Huge Changes After Judge Calls Out Its Illegal Monopoly Behavior
