Resident Pulser

Apple’s new iPhone and iPad security feature limits cell networks from collecting precise location data

https://infosec.pub/post/41260668

Apple’s new iPhone and iPad security feature limits cell networks from collecting precise location data - Infosec.Pub

The new security feature makes it more difficult for police and malicious hackers to obtain a person’s precise location data from a cell phone company.

Jan 29 at 11:10pmWeb
Show threadSPRUNTJan 29
I feel like this will also have a detrimental effect on emergency medical response and the way they have to use geolocation with cell calls.
Show threadCodename_gooseJan 30

Not trying to start anything, but from the article:

Apple said switching on the feature does not affect the precision of location data shared with apps, or shared with first responders during an emergency call.

Show threadmassive_bereavementJan 30
What do you mean with "article"?
Show threadCodename_gooseJan 30

The link in the original post to the TechCrunch website/article

techcrunch: Apple’s new iPhone and iPad security feature limits cell networks from collecting precise location data

Apple's new iPhone and iPad security feature limits cell networks from collecting precise location data | TechCrunch

The new security feature makes it more difficult for police and malicious hackers to obtain a person's precise location data from a cell phone company.

TechCrunch
Show threadmassive_bereavementJan 30
I was joking, but I salute your enthusiasm and good will.
Show threadCodename_gooseJan 30
I’m bad at detecting sarcasm. Thank you for being cordial about it.
Show threadLordMayorJan 30
The phone can send GPS coordinates with 911 or 112. They don’t need to triangulate off of cell towers.
Show threadotterJan 30
InB4 the inevitable breach and/or revelation that Apple’s been exploiting it for profit the whole time.
Show threadMalReynoldsJan 30

Hmm, x Doubt. As I understand it mobile providers can locate phones via triangulation of signal strength, which would be independent of the phone OS. The apple blurb says

With this setting turned on, some information made available to cellular networks is limited. As a result, they might be able to determine only a less precise location

Perhaps the OS or the baseband report location to make tracking more effective in the case of only being within range of one or two towers, but those words are pretty weaselly. About the only thing this could do is turn off information apple has already been giving providers, which begs the question, why were they doing that?