Google Tracking: Mobile Privacy

Many people have become accustomed to carrying their mobile phone with them at all times and the phone performing functions far more than making and receiving calls. Even people who say that the device "spies" on them can be surprised when confronted with data from their devices, showing just how much information about them is held in the hands of third parties.

Serino provided Curtin a mobile phone for analysis. Using techniques commonly available on data available to service providers such as Google and Apple, Curtin created a map showing the phone's user's pattern of behavior, including locations and timing, and how correlation with other data would allow for higher-order conclusions such as location of home and work.

What do third parties do with such data? Under what circumstances do they share the data with others? For what purpose?

About Danielle Serino

Danielle Serino is the Investigative Consumer Reporter for WKYC. She is an Emmy Award winning anchor and investigative reporter who graduated Northwestern University. She has worked in major news markets including Miami, Chicago and New York.

About Interhack

Columbus-based Interhack is a cybersecurity and forensic data analysis firm with a nationwide practice. Originally a privacy and security research group, the firm today provides expert services for organizations, executives, and attorneys in need of the best answer that science can provide to questions addressed by data. The firm is online at web.interhack.com.