This might be a little OT.
Fry is very surprised when the logs reveal where she's been
what wi-fi her phone has connected to...
and what cellphone towers it has connected
to, effectively showing her detailed movements anywhere in the world.
I've no doubt it also logs every app she uses (and for what purpose),
and what sites she's browsed. Anyone know what Siby was using to examine
the logs? Would it be via a wi-fi or Bluetooth connection?
Unfortunately, there's no transcript available, but it would have made interesting reading for those outside the UK who can't access iPlayer.
No doubt those logs are accessible by Google, Apple, and the phone manufacturers.
Jeff Layman <Jeff@invalid.invalid> wrote
This might be a little OT.
Hi Jeff,
Every time you post a question, I learn a lot from the answer I give you.
See these screenshots I just made to answer your questions for you.
<https://i.postimg.cc/Gh06dWgb/privacy01.jpg> Saved Map searches
<https://i.postimg.cc/zDd6RLfX/privacy02.jpg> Saved Wi-Fi networks
<https://i.postimg.cc/HLgym4FS/privacy03.jpg> GMS indexes a lot of data
<https://i.postimg.cc/L6QDm7Vx/privacy04.jpg> GMS mobile apps used
<https://i.postimg.cc/cJLdfv3x/privacy05.jpg> GMS music files played
<https://i.postimg.cc/MK54VdmB/privacy06.jpg> GMS music groups used
<https://i.postimg.cc/bYDN6SBd/privacy07.jpg> GMS music recordings made
<https://i.postimg.cc/brQ77PnV/privacy08.jpg> GMS all your contacts
<https://i.postimg.cc/gcCjHqHg/privacy09.jpg> All connected cell towers
Do you see similar information on your Android phone?
Fry is very surprised when the logs reveal where she's been
If you have Developer options on, look at what Firebase reveals.
Settings > Google -> Firebase -> Maps ->
<https://i.postimg.cc/nhCCVxmB/mapsloctrack03.jpg> Every map search!
But if you're smart about setting up Android, there's nothing left!
<https://i.postimg.cc/Gh06dWgb/privacy01.jpg>
what wi-fi her phone has connected to...
Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi > 3dots > Advanced Settings > Manage Networks > Select All > Delete
This is a tough one to keep clean because you have to have the
"autoconnect turned off" in order to stay out of Google's DB.
You need to make a shortcut to it I guess, to periodically clean it.
<https://i.postimg.cc/zDd6RLfX/privacy02.jpg>
But the problem is you have to make a choice on privacy:
a. If you leave autoconnect off, you won't shout it out
b. But if you do that, you need to remember the Wi-Fi network
c. Or, you could type it in manually every time (nobody wants that)
and what cellphone towers it has connected
to, effectively showing her detailed movements anywhere in the world.
I wasn't sure where the log of all cell towers connected to was, so I ran
an app which told me - but I don't know how to get it from the settings.
*NetMonster* by Michal Mrocek (free,adfree)
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=cz.mroczis.netmonster>
It's pretty scary.
Apparently it accessed a log of every cell tower you've connected to.
But I'm not really sure as there are a lot of numbers involved.
You can list by "all cells", "all operators" & "all technologies".
And you can export the cell tower log and the GPS location of each.
Here's what that cell-tower connection log looks like (back to September).
<https://i.postimg.cc/gcCjHqHg/privacy09.jpg> All connected cell towers Note: I wasn't sure what to blank out as there are many numbers.
Andy or Frank - you're the only ones who might know where the logs are.
Do you know where Android stores all the cell tower connection logs?
I've no doubt it also logs every app she uses (and for what purpose),
and what sites she's browsed. Anyone know what Siby was using to examine
the logs? Would it be via a wi-fi or Bluetooth connection?
The Google Firebase logs a lot. Tons. Yes, app usage also. Take a look.
Settings > Google -> Firebase -> Google Play Services -> Mobile Application
If what's in that database doesn't scare you, nothing else will.
Unfortunately, there's no transcript available, but it would have made
interesting reading for those outside the UK who can't access iPlayer.
No doubt those logs are accessible by Google, Apple, and the phone
manufacturers.
Look at all this data from just clicking a few Android settings.
<https://i.postimg.cc/Gh06dWgb/privacy01.jpg> Saved Map searches
<https://i.postimg.cc/zDd6RLfX/privacy02.jpg> Saved Wi-Fi networks
<https://i.postimg.cc/HLgym4FS/privacy03.jpg> GMS indexes a lot of data
<https://i.postimg.cc/L6QDm7Vx/privacy04.jpg> GMS mobile apps used
<https://i.postimg.cc/cJLdfv3x/privacy05.jpg> GMS music files played
<https://i.postimg.cc/MK54VdmB/privacy06.jpg> GMS music groups used
<https://i.postimg.cc/bYDN6SBd/privacy07.jpg> GMS music recordings made
<https://i.postimg.cc/brQ77PnV/privacy08.jpg> GMS all your contacts
<https://i.postimg.cc/gcCjHqHg/privacy09.jpg> All connected cell towers
That's only scratching the surface.
What do you see on your phone when you do the same things I just did?
Do you see similar information on your Android phone?
Mainly not, though when Developer mode is activated I can see the
Firebase info. As I have most things shut off, the only info Firebase
has are for Google Play Services and also for Messages. Also, I think
that Xiaomi locks things down and controls them even more than Google does.
If you have Developer options on, look at what Firebase reveals.
Settings > Google -> Firebase -> Maps ->
<https://i.postimg.cc/nhCCVxmB/mapsloctrack03.jpg> Every map search!
Yep, see above concerning Firebase. What does SEND UPDATE-INDEX mean?
Is that info sent to Google?
This is a tough one to keep clean because you have to have the
"autoconnect turned off" in order to stay out of Google's DB.
I have Wi-Fi turned off all the time, because my mobile data allowance
is more than enough for my needs. As I need a mobile (cell) connection
for phone calls anyway, it has to be on all the time. At least by
turning unnecessary wi-fi off I'm not tracked by that.
Here's what that cell-tower connection log looks like (back to September). >> <https://i.postimg.cc/gcCjHqHg/privacy09.jpg> All connected cell towers
I can't match that, but here are a couple of screenshots from the
programme I mentioned:
<https://ibb.co/QXkxSnP>
Screenshot1 shows what the OS is reporting every time it talks to a tower.
<https://ibb.co/MDg65wv>
Screenshot2 shows a small part of the wi-fi access sites the OS has
recorded.
Settings > Google -> Firebase -> Google Play Services -> Mobile Application
If what's in that database doesn't scare you, nothing else will.
Very scary! I notice in Firebase that there's a "System Tracing" which records "system activity for later analysis to improve performance". Do
you see that in you options? I wonder what that does.
I think we all knew what Google does with *our* private information, but
it's interesting to see it demonstrated.
Jeff Layman <Jeff@invalid.invalid> wrote
Do you see similar information on your Android phone?
Mainly not, though when Developer mode is activated I can see the
Firebase info. As I have most things shut off, the only info Firebase
has are for Google Play Services and also for Messages. Also, I think
that Xiaomi locks things down and controls them even more than Google does.
I'm surprised that you have so little, as I've certainly turned off everything that I could find and still there's stuff in Firebase.
For others lurking, you have to do this to see what we're seeing:
1. Turn on Developer options
2. Then go to Settings > Google > Firebase
Be prepared to be shocked.
If you have Developer options on, look at what Firebase reveals.
Settings > Google -> Firebase -> Maps ->
<https://i.postimg.cc/nhCCVxmB/mapsloctrack03.jpg> Every map search!
Yep, see above concerning Firebase. What does SEND UPDATE-INDEX mean?
Is that info sent to Google?
1. I have no idea what "send update index" does.
2. Worse... I see that some are _automatically_ sent!
Andy... do you have any idea where these Firebase updates are going?
This is a tough one to keep clean because you have to have the
"autoconnect turned off" in order to stay out of Google's DB.
I have Wi-Fi turned off all the time, because my mobile data allowance
is more than enough for my needs. As I need a mobile (cell) connection
for phone calls anyway, it has to be on all the time. At least by
turning unnecessary wi-fi off I'm not tracked by that.
Oh yes you are being tracked by Wi-Fi even when you have it off.
In multiple ways. From your home even. It's really complicated so it would take too long to explain it to you here.
Suffice to summarize:
A. Turning off wi-fi (or bluetooth) does NOT stop Android
from _automatically_ uploading your Wi-Fi (or Bluetooth) location data. B. Worse, even without an Android (or Apple) phone,
your Wi-Fi location data is constantly _automatically_ being uploaded
whether you know it or not.
You can do something about it. But you have to know about it first.
That's what I was alluding to when I said "this is a tough one".
Here's what that cell-tower connection log looks like (back to September). >>> <https://i.postimg.cc/gcCjHqHg/privacy09.jpg> All connected cell towers >>I can't match that, but here are a couple of screenshots from the
programme I mentioned:
<https://ibb.co/QXkxSnP>
Yeah. That's the same as this screenshot, only put into a graph for you.
<https://i.postimg.cc/L6QDm7Vx/privacy04.jpg> GMS mobile apps used
Screenshot1 shows what the OS is reporting every time it talks to a tower.
Can you doublecheck that?
I did not see you give a screenshot of tower cells.
Just apps & wi-fi access points.
<https://ibb.co/MDg65wv>
Screenshot2 shows a small part of the wi-fi access sites the OS has
recorded.
Yeah. That's the same as this screenshot, only put into a listing.
<https://i.postimg.cc/gcCjHqHg/privacy09.jpg> All connected cell towers
What we need is a way to show all the previous cell tower connections
that just digs up the log from which that screenshot above came from.
Settings > Google -> Firebase -> Google Play Services -> Mobile Application
If what's in that database doesn't scare you, nothing else will.
Very scary! I notice in Firebase that there's a "System Tracing" which
records "system activity for later analysis to improve performance". Do
you see that in you options? I wonder what that does.
I don't see anything about "System Tracing" here...
Settings > Google -> Firebase ->
I think we all knew what Google does with *our* private information, but
it's interesting to see it demonstrated.
I learned from adding value to your information that the cell tower connections are being saved, so I opened a separate thread on that.
*Firebase? Where is your Android cell tower connections log?*
<https://groups.google.com/g/comp.mobile.android/c/iT4i40Ze5QY>
If anyone knows how to find the cell-tower connections db, let me know.
Can you doublecheck that?
I did not see you give a screenshot of tower cells.
Just apps & wi-fi access points.
Some confusion as I wasn't clear. The screenshot show what info was
being reported to the towers every time a connection was made, not info
about the towers themselves.
I don't see anything about "System Tracing" here...
Settings > Google -> Firebase ->
My apologies...I was accessing too many screens and looked at the wrong
one. "System Tracing" is in Developer Options, not Firebase. However,
what "system activity" is it recording?
*Firebase? Where is your Android cell tower connections log?*
<https://groups.google.com/g/comp.mobile.android/c/iT4i40Ze5QY>
Let's hope that someone replies. Would anyone in XDA know about it on a rooted phone? I also hope someone can answer the "SEND UPDATE-INDEX"
point you've raised in a separate thread.
Final point, not of great importance. You keep referring to me as Jeff
Layton when it should be Jeff Layman. :-))
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