GPS Tracking

Which is More Common GPS or Cellphone Tracking?

The Wall Street Journal recently surveyed local, state, and federal authorities on the use of cellphone tracking in comparison to its use of wiretaps and GPS tracking devices, and found that cellphone tracking was much common than the other two methods. In order to obtain data for their survey, the WSJ submitted records requests to the 20 largest state and local police departments in the U.S., by number of sworn officers.

Here’s what they found:

Eight agencies produced at least summary statistics suggesting that state and local agencies track thousands of cellphones in real time each year. The most frequent user was the Los Angeles Police Department, which tracked 295 cellphones last year, up 35% from 2009. ”We’re starting to look more and more at cellphones and what people are doing with them,” an LAPD spokeswoman said.

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Cell Phone Companies Selling Personal Information

Perhaps this isn’t a new revelation for the majority of us reading this post, but our cellular phone providers know where we live, what websites we visit, what apps we download, what videos we like to watch on YouTube and they can even track our whereabouts at any given time, all thanks in large part to the rise of the smartphone.  This personal historical and location-based information is then sold by mobile phone companies to third-party businesses in order to generate extra revenue.

In mid-October Verizon Wireless changed its privacy policy to allow it to record customers’ location data and Web browsing history, combine it with other personal information such as age and gender, aggregate it with millions of other customers’ data, and sell it on an anonymous basis, which means they are sitting on a treasure trove of highly marketable data.  For example, if a small-business owner wants to find out where the best location would be to open a frozen yogurt shop, they could purchase a marketing report from either AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint or Verizon on a specific area.  The report might show how many people in that given area searched for frozen yogurt from their mobile Web browser.

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Privacy Debate Goes On and On

Protect Yourself, but Use to Your Advantage

Any time someone brings up the issue of privacy and security one of two reactions is almost always observed:  anger or apathy.  This polarizing topic has many up in arms these days because there are more ways to breach your privacy than at any other time in history.

GPS Tracking systems are also in the mix of these debates.  In fact, talking about the vulnerabilities of using GPS Tracking is a good thing.  You need to know that you are vulnerable and at what point you are being put at risk so that you can take measures to protect yourself.  Here’s what you should know about GPS’s dark side:

Here’s What You Should Know

GPS Enabled Cell Phones Make You Vulnerable.  When you turn on the GPS feature on your smartphone, you can be tracked.  This means that you need to be aware of the times when you need it and when you don’t and then turn it off.  Or, just face the prospect that someone could hack into your phone and monitor your location in real time.  Turn the feature off, and be sure to password protect your phone’s functions.

GPS Tracking of Your Vehicle Makes You Vulnerable.  Movies used to be the only place that we saw devices that were used to track a car’s movements.  That is no longer the case.  Devices can be attached to your car without your knowledge (it only requires two wires).  If you are in a legal dispute with someone, in a divorce for example, it would not be unheard of to have your car tracked by a spouse or ex-spouse for the purpose of collecting information that could be used against you.  Be extra aware if you are in these situations. (more…)

Safety and Security are the Focus

Not as Robust, but Not Bad, Either

In a previous article, we pontificated that it would be just a matter of time until all vehicles have GPS Tracking devices straight from the manufacturer.  Now, Ford is adding GPS Tracking to their Sync 911 Assist option.

What this system does is send the location information of a vehicle if it is involved in an accident.  This is good news for Ford owners who have been longing for this type of system to be implemented as a option on Ford vehicles.

GM’s OnStar has been the standard against which any other system is measured.  But Ford’s is not as robust.  There are a few important differences. (more…)

Cell Phones Might Not Help You

Better to Have Two Sources of Help

The news about vehicle ownership is that people are keeping their vehicles longer than they ever have because of financial issues.  This means more miles on vehicles that would have otherwise been traded or sold.  More vehicles with over 100,000 miles are using streets and roads in our communities. (more…)

Distracted Driving in Focus

New Laws Target All Distracted Driving Incidents

Source acquired via CTV, May 6, 2010, Edmonton, Alberta – Alberta has just made Bill 16 official, and drivers throughout the province are taking notice. Bill 16 prohibits driving distractions of any kind including personal grooming, reading, writing, and texting. The message that the Transportation Minister is giving Albertans is clear: “when you’re in your vehicle, your focus must be on driving.”

While this is one of the most stringent anti-distraction laws out there, Alberta isn’t the only province considering anti-distraction laws. In fact, many of the states within the United States are currently trying to find ways to prevent drivers from texting while driving – a dangerous habit that costs many drivers their lives. Throughout the world, texting while driving has become a major issue. (more…)

A Help for Distracted Drivers

Multiple Functions Make this a Popular App

Source acquired via Washington Examiner, May 5, 2010, Middletown, MD – John and Joana Tsinonis recently invented a type of software that could change the way teens drive. The software, called proTextor, was invented to prevent teens from sending or receiving texts and phone calls while driving. Using a GPS tracking device, proTextor detects when a vehicle is in motion, and automatically blocks all incoming and outgoing texts and calls. (more…)

Technology Used for Nefarious Purposes

Children and Teens are Most Vulnerable

Source acquired via BC Local News, May 5, 2010, British Columbia, Canada – Last week, a 54-year-old Vancouver man was arrested on charges of sexual toughing, sexual assault, and sexual interference of a 15-year old. This week, the man in question will face a Vancouver court. The man allegedly contacted the teenage boy through a social networking application, and tracked the boy using a GPS-equipped cell phone.

Recently, 54-year-old Mark G. Woodland of Phoenix, Arizona, was found stabbed and beaten to death on the floor of his apartment. Woodland’s roommate told police that Woodland met a date using a social network application. When the murder was first reported, the application name was divulged. Today, Phoenix police have asked that the application be referred only as “an unknown social network.” (more…)

Distracted Driving Becoming a Major Contributor to Accidents

Incidents are on the Rise

Distracted driving is becoming a large threat to safe driving on our streets and roads.  Vehicle manufacturers are not helping the situation, either.  The rush for better and more exciting information and entertainment in vehicles is cause for concern over the amount of distraction that it adds to an already dangerous environment.

The statistics support the amount of concern.  Almost 6,000 people were killed and over 500,000 were injured as a result of distracted driving accidents in 2008 (2009 data not yet available).  These numbers are supplied by the U.S. Department of Transportation. (more…)

Cell Phones Used for Nefarious Purposes

Who is at Risk?

Source acquired via Toronto Sun, Toronto, Canada, April 29, 2010 – Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Vancouver have begun to question the safety of GPS-equipped cell phones. Almost every Smartphone now comes with a GPS locator or GPS tracking application, and this (warns RCMP) can lead to stalking, abuse, and other crimes. Recently, a 54-year old man was charged with illegal sexual acts after he traced a teen boy using a GPS tracking cell phone application.

Safety Measures?

The application was developed as a dating tool for gay men. The application promises to find gay men within a certain area, and it lives up to its promise by tracking fellow users down to the last foot. When two users are in the same area, the application can pinpoint the exact location of any user. This is precisely how the 54-year old man in question found his teenage victim. (more…)