Are you using an internet combo (calls+ internet) provided by your telecommunication service provider? Then you are being watched by Google which records your every move online as well as in the real world.
Even if you do not use such services on your smartphone, then remember that your smart phone’s WiFi connectivity will open up certain things to the web search giant. It can be your mode of commute to your house or office or the places frequently visited by you. Everything is now being recorded by Google with or without your knowledge.
However, the internet juggernaut argues that all this espionage-related activity is being done to offer better services to its Android users in near future. You can take the example of Google Maps for instance. Once you keep your mobile data connection on, your location, visiting places, time spent at those spots, mode of commute are all being recorded by Google. It says that all this info helps it to offer better services via its Google Maps tool like traffic predictions and reviews related to certain places, malls, restaurants, roads, etc…
But in a report published in Quartz Media LLC, it’s clearly mentioned that Transmission of location history via WiFi hotspots could lead to eavesdropping on all the devices connected to the hotspot. This includes info such as address strength and the frequency of the connected Wi-Fi or Bluetooth nearby, phone calls made from the phone, messages sent and received from the phone, usage of different applications, the charging level of the phone battery and details related to GPS coordinates.
At the time when cyber attacks are becoming increasingly common, tech companies like Google should well inform their service users on what is being collected from them.
Though the web search giant says that it allows users to control on what is being saved in the location history and what is being deleted, there is no proof of valid evidence that the whole activity is not being recorded in the background servers.
So, the next time you connect your smartphone to WiFi or mobile data, be aware that Google is spying on your online activity as well as your movements in the real-time world.
