Everyone knows your location
timsh.org
How I tracked myself down using leaked location data in the in-app ads, and what I found along the way.

An amazing bit of digital detective work here. Seems like Linux mobile is your only off ramp from being exhaustively tracked

  • lurch (he/him)@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    19·
    2 days ago

    This problem solved, but whenever you change your network or IP and then periodically, your phone will report to Firebase, so you can receive push notifications.

    You can block those with software that simulates a local VPN with a filter, but you won’t get any more push notifications. Now push notifications are not just the ones you see. Some apps use invisible ones to get infos they need to work.

    • yetAnotherUser@lemmy.caEnglish
      1·
      1 day ago

      But when Firebase gets that network/IP change report, what information does it get? Because if it only gets the public IP address, the reported IP will still be the VPN one, not the real one, right? So, if that were the only information reported to Firebase, wouldn’t you still be protected? Does Firebase block requests when you’re using a VPN (this could be detected, for example, if certain aspects of the network have changed but the IP hasn’t)? Is that what you mean with not getting push notifications when simulating a local IP with filters?

      PS: From my research, the WiFi’s SSID can also be used to track someone’s whereabouts, but depending on where you are and how many networks have used the same SSID, it may work work well or badly. You can see that by going to https://wigle.net/ (which is a database on WiFi networks with some publicly-available information), go to the map, type in the SSID field, and click “Filter”. I’m not sure if Firebase gets that info in the network reports, but I find it likely that it does.

      • lurch (he/him)@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        2·
        24 hours ago

        It gets your unique tracking ID, so it knows you’re the same person now with different IP. If you use apps that store location data in firebase (eg. find my device, fitness trackers, emergency alert apps) it will upload your GPS location and maybe nearby wifi names, if you set it to be extra precise.