Are You Sure You Want to do This?

[Joe C.]

I had an appointment in Ocala this morning, and wasn't sure how to get to the address, so I went to download Google Maps. Just before hitting the key to download the App, I read the conditions. Google will access your phone, your contacts, your financial info, your browsing history, email, etc. Needless to say, I didn't download Google. I think that it is very dangerous to do so. Giving them access to just about everything on my phone? I wouldn't be surprised if it included the passwords to other Apps, banking accounts, etc.
I don't think that most people read the "fine print" before downloading an App.
Just 'sayin.

[retiredguy123]

My Google Maps app only allows a permission to access my location. The other permissions are not allowed. You can change the permissions for apps by going to "settings" "apps" "maps" and "permissions". I think Google Maps is a very useful app.

[Keefelane66]

?did you make it to your appointment

[PugMom]

one more reason to avoid google

[davem4616]

use the app Waze

[retiredguy123]

use the app Waze
The Waze app uses the same permissions as Google Maps. The only permission you need to allow for either of the two apps is your location. You can disallow all other permissions.

[Papa_lecki]

use the app Waze
Google bought WAZE in June 2013

[Joe C.]

Yes, I made it to my appointment with time to spare. I have a good sense of direction.

[Jack58033]

Why not buy a Garmin?

[coffeebean]

My Google Maps app only allows a permission to access my location. The other permissions are not allowed. You can change the permissions for apps by going to "settings" "apps" "maps" and "permissions". I think Google Maps is a very useful app.
I cannot imagine not having Google maps at my fingertips.

[coffeebean]

one more reason to avoid google

Why when you can disallow all the permissions with the exception of your location?

[Garywt]

I hate anything Google. I try to avoid it but they own other things. I use AAA triptiks and I use Bing Maps as well as GPS in the car.

[skarra]

You have no privacy - get over it if you want the convenience.

Read the conditions on anything, including your phones OS.

[Miekies]

use the app Waze

It's owned by Google

[PersonOfInterest]

I had an appointment in Ocala this morning, and wasn't sure how to get to the address, so I went to download Google Maps. Just before hitting the key to download the App, I read the conditions. Google will access your phone, your contacts, your financial info, your browsing history, email, etc. Needless to say, I didn't download Google. I think that it is very dangerous to do so. Giving them access to just about everything on my phone? I wouldn't be surprised if it included the passwords to other Apps, banking accounts, etc.
I don't think that most people read the "fine print" before downloading an App.
Just 'sayin.

Don't worry. They probably have all of your information on hand already. They know where you bank, what you buy, what you eat and where you go.

[Larryandlinda]

‘They’ know who you are, where you are,
What you’re doing, whom you know, where you’re going, and more.
You can drive but you cannot hide

[DaleDivine]

I cannot imagine not having Google maps at my fingertips.

Yep, I use Google Maps and Waze all the time.
My Kia Sorrento doesn't have "Navigation", it works off my Iphone Google Maps.
Just set up Google Maps for location only...
:bigbow::bigbow:

[JoelJohnson]

I hate anything Google. I try to avoid it but they own other things. I use AAA triptiks and I use Bing Maps as well as GPS in the car.
Bing, part of Windows, is not any safer (maybe even less so). If you want to be scared, read the terms of service from Microsoft (if you can even find all the sub documents). With Windows they have the right to see everything on your computer and even though people say you can turn that off, there is no real way to check that. That's why I use a Chromebook for most things, but to be safe I use Linux.

[Cliff Fr]

Don't worry, they only use all of your information to suggest things you can buy to make your life better. It's all perfectly harmless :)

[Beyond The Wall]

Wake is owned by google

[OhioBuckeye]

Joe, I’m with Google but never got a message like this. (not yet anyhow) If I ever get a message like this I’ll drop Google faster than I read their warning. That’s BS & that’s being socialist! What server would you go to then?

[Andyb]

I would suggest a VPN network, regardless

[cphague]

Why do you think all these things like apps are "free"? If you are not paying for something with money, you are paying for it in other ways such as information about yourself that they can use to make money.

[Ken D.]

use the app Waze
Which is owned by Google

[juddfl]

My computer guy was here yesterday. He told me to use DuckDuckGo instead of google as they don't ask for your personal information. I tried it and it works great.

[oldtimes]

You are worried about Google and yet here you are on an open forum where anyone in the world can view what you post.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Joe, I’m with Google but never got a message like this. (not yet anyhow) If I ever get a message like this I’ll drop Google faster than I read their warning. That’s BS & that’s being socialist! What server would you go to then?

I get messages like that whenever I add a new app. Not always the same message, but similar. The message lets me know which types of access the app requires, in order for the app to work properly. And it lets me know which features it wants to use, that I can opt out on.

Sort of like - if you have a GPS app of ANY kind, you are giving it access to your location and identity, your camera, recorder, and the vehicle you are driving at any given moment. If it involves satellite communication, it will make use of ALL of that at some point or another. If you want GPS to work, you accept it. You can always de-activate those permissions when you're not using the GPS, and then reactivate them whenever you turn it on.

You can ALSO set your apps to not "run in the background" so they're only using those permissions ONLY when you're actively using the app. When you close the app, it ceases to continue communicating with your phone. This is also a great way to save battery power.

[Geodyssey]

Don't worry, they only use all of your information to suggest things you can buy to make your life better. It's all perfectly harmless :)

Sen Schumer said last week "If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear".

[Geodyssey]

f you have a GPS app of ANY kind, you are giving it access to your location and identity, your camera, recorder, and the vehicle you are driving at any given moment. If it involves satellite communication, it will make use of ALL of that at some point or another. If you want GPS to work, you accept it. You can always de-activate those permissions when you're not using the GPS, and then reactivate them whenever you turn it on.

This is not true. GPS RECEIVERS are one-way devices. They are incapable of uploading any data to satellites.

Some GPS devices may also connect to cell or wifi services, but that's not necessary to determine your location from satellite data.

[coralway]

Don't worry. They probably have all of your information on hand already. They know where you bank, what you buy, what you eat and where you go.





100% correct

[Spalumbos62]

My Google Maps app only allows a permission to access my location. The other permissions are not allowed. You can change the permissions for apps by going to "settings" "apps" "maps" and "permissions". I think Google Maps is a very useful app.

Thank you.....

[Randyj66]

Very interesting! You're worried about privacy but your posting on a public forum with a non encrypted type of e mail service! Just checking??

[Bill14564]

Very interesting! You're worried about privacy but your posting on a public forum with a non encrypted type of e mail service! Just checking??

Major difference between that data someone might choose to post or to send over email and the data stored on the phone.

[oldtimes]

Major difference between that data someone might choose to post or to send over email and the data stored on the phone.

Not really. Much of what they store on their phone is also on their computer or tablet.

[patn61]

use the app Waze
WAZE was purchased by Google in June of 2013.
Who Owns Waze? Hint, It Isn'''t Former CEO Noam Bardin (https://marketrealist.com/p/who-owns-waze/)

[OhioBuckeye]

Oh you’re way better than I am, my computer smarts aren’t as good as your. I’ll just keep doing what I’ve been doing delete it. Sorry! Your expertise is way beyond my knowledge. Whew!

[Bill14564]

Not really. Much of what they store on their phone is also on their computer or tablet.

I thought the comparison was between use of an unencrypted email (almost all are) and allowing an app permission to access much of the data stored on the phone. The text of an email contains only what I type while the telemetry data sent from an app back to the developer could contain anything the app has permission to access.

A Google or Gmail *app* on your computer could request permission to access the data on your computer. The gmail tool running in a web browser is much more restricted. Yes, a malicious web application can reach out and access data it isn't supposed to, which is why we don't click on random links in emails or text messages, but it is unlikely that the gmail web page would risk doing that.

I trust Google, Gmail, Facebook, and others to spy on my in every legal way that they can. If I use Gmail, Google Contacts, and Google maps then I'm not surprised at all when I see a "Pin" on the map showing the upcoming reservations that I made through Gmail. I trust them all to collect marketing information and show me targeted adds that I skip past. But I also trust them not to be foolish enough to bypass normal Windows security to access files they did not create.

On the other hand, if I load an app and give it permissions to access files it didn't create then I recognized I am taking a risk. I still trust Google and Facebook in that case but I haven't trusted updates for games and other apps.

[oldtimes]

I thought the comparison was between use of an unencrypted email (almost all are) and allowing an app permission to access much of the data stored on the phone. The text of an email contains only what I type while the telemetry data sent from an app back to the developer could contain anything the app has permission to access.

A Google or Gmail *app* on your computer could request permission to access the data on your computer. The gmail tool running in a web browser is much more restricted. Yes, a malicious web application can reach out and access data it isn't supposed to, which is why we don't click on random links in emails or text messages, but it is unlikely that the gmail web page would risk doing that.

I trust Google, Gmail, Facebook, and others to spy on my in every legal way that they can. If I use Gmail, Google Contacts, and Google maps then I'm not surprised at all when I see a "Pin" on the map showing the upcoming reservations that I made through Gmail. I trust them all to collect marketing information and show me targeted adds that I skip past. But I also trust them not to be foolish enough to bypass normal Windows security to access files they did not create.

On the other hand, if I load an app and give it permissions to access files it didn't create then I recognized I am taking a risk. I still trust Google and Facebook in that case but I haven't trusted updates for games and other apps.

The point is that simply being connected to the internet in any way shape or form poses a risk. People are afraid of an app like Google which actually tells you what data it will access yet log on to TOTV and post personal information not realizing how many people (scammers) worldwide can access it.

[Tbrazie]

use apple maps if you can

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

So check it out:

If you have an iPhone, you give Apple permission to monitor your usage to make sure you're not breaking their rules. Apple has access to EVERYTHING you do on their phones.

One snippet of several in their privacy rules:
Apple uses personal data to power our services, to process your transactions, to communicate with you, for security and fraud prevention, and to comply with law. We may also use personal data for other purposes with your consent.

Samsung's privacy policies aren't as robust, but they generally amount to the same thing.

The takeaway: if you own a device that you use to access the internet in any way, shape, or form, then ALL of the information you have on that device is made available to at LEAST the company that provides you with that access.

You have no choice. By virtue of the fact that you have intentionally used their service to access the internet, you give them access to your device and everything on it.

If you want to be "safe" then ditch the cell phone, computer, tablet, laptop, get landline, and call it a day.