Privacy Vs Smartphones

With the advancement of the cell phone technology, it now becomes mandatory for people to bring their cell phone to wherever they are. It lets you to be in a mobile mode and do activities that were once the domain of desktop computer such as surfing the internet, sending emails or reading ebooks.You can also find locations through your Google Map or GPS, and at the same time listen to your favourite music.

But this technology advancement comes with a price. You are no longer entitled to your privacy and your little precious smartphones are emitting signals telling where you are at that exact time and place. You are being spied and you are ok with it. When you carry your cell phone, the GPS chip inside your phone will always be sending signals to third party through Wifi or phone network. This signal tells exactly where you are.

That’s why certain apps requires you to allow sharing of location for it to function. Be careful also to install certain apps that even share your location without you giving the permission to do so. The authority now does not need to put bugging devices to track people, knowing only your phone number is enough to track you down.

With some apps installed that track downs your preferred routes, preferred locations to go to, and also where you usually shop, it is not possible that someone higher is monitoring your lifestyle and determine whether you are a threat to the nation or not.


Triangulation method to locate cell phones

As covered in previous posts, there is a specific method of locating your cell phones through the triangulation method. What is the triangulation method? If you have seen many CSI episodes, you probably have an idea what the method is all about.

It is basically the method of determining the cell phones location by measuring the angles to it from identified known points or a fixed baseline. By referencing the speed of radio signals, the distance and location from the unknown point can be estimated by identifying three to four known points. The known points can be where the antennas for the cell phone operator is mounted. The first known point identifies the distance to the cell phone.

The second known point then narrows down the location to two points. The third known point is then used to identify the exact location of the cell phone. Basically the concept is narrowing the exact location of the cell phone by eliminating the large area of a certain location to pinpoint location by using three filters or three known points. Two direction lines define a point area and the third line defines the exact location.

Tracking your lost iPhone

So, you just come home from your dinner with friends and suddenly you do not know where you put your iPhone. Did you left it at the restaurant or at work? Or probably it is still in your house. You probably fear the worse that someone might have stolen your iPhone. Luckily locating an iPhone is quite easy with the Find iPhone apps.

First of all you need to download this app to your iPhone. Then you must log in to the app with your Apple account ID. Once activated, the device will share its location. The minimum network requirement for it to track the device is either through GPS signal, 3G, WiFi, or location triangulation via cell towers. What is a location triangulation via cell towers? I will deliberate on this in future post.

If you have an ipad or any other Apple devices, you can easily track your iPhone by logging into your account via the find iPhone apps. There it will list all of your devices that are connected to the iCloud. Once it detected your device, it will show the location of your device on a map. You can also have the option of remote triggering the device to omit ringing sound or lock it so that it cannot be used by unwanted parties. Other interesting thing is that you can also follow other people’s Apple’s devices through your list of contact.

Once you select the list of contact you want to follow, it will notify your friends and family that you are following them through the iPhone apps. It is a very neat app and it can also reduce your worries if you lose your iPhone or misplaced them. However, please beware that if you do have your phone stolen and when you use the app, it tracks down your phone to a single location; please do not just barge in to that place to retrieve your phone. You will never know how dangerous the thieves might be.

Do not get yourself hurt or die just because of an iPhone. Your life is much more valuable. Get some help. The police are the best choice to report to and let them do the job.