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I've noticed that Google Maps, for instance, can guess where you are using phone towers or something even when GPS is turned off.

Does this apply to 3rd party apps? Can any app figure out where you are?

If so, are there large security implications there?

Basically as a developer, couldn't you build a background process that tracks every the location of every phone that has your app installed?

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4 Answers 4

An app with permission to use the internet could also approximate your location using your IP address even without any location permissions.

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You can restrict this information by adjusting you location settings i.e. under location services switch off the option to use wireless networks.

This should stop most if not all from reporting your current position.

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Yes, but the application has to request the LOCATION_COARSE permission.

This uses a couple different sources used to find the approximate location.

  • Wifi access points: Google tracks the location of access points by gathering information about them when people have GPS on. Then they can use these access points to tell you where you are when you don't have GPS. You would have to have Wifi on in order for the device to use this method.

  • Cell Towers (tries to get at least 3, so it can triangulate the location, just like in the movies. Ok, this part isn't entirely true. They could use 2 towers (or even 1) to get your approximate location, but it wouldn't be nearly as accurate as 3.)

There may be other sources that are used, but I do not know of them, at least I can't think of any right now.

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Apps can get your approximate location without GPS, but only if they have the "coarse location" permission. The "fine location" permission lets an app get your GPS location too, if GPS is enabled.

When you an install an app, Android shows you the permissions it needs. If you don't see coarse or fine location in the list, the app can't get your location.

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