Data is shared even when you are not actively using your mobile device.
The report is based on a study published by Professor Doug Leith at Trinity College Dublin.
While Google handsets are said to collect more data than iPhones, data collection practices appear to be similar for both companies.
Details such as the serial number of the hardware, Wifi MAC address, IMEI, phone number, and SIM insert are among the data shared by smartphones.
Apple, which positions itself as privacy, seems to be collecting too much data.
IPhones not only collect data about smartphone activity but also spy on nearby devices. When someone connects to a wifi network, the WiFi addresses of other phones on the network are sent to the Cupertino giant.
I think most accept that Apple and Google need to collect data from our phones in order to provide services like iCloud or Google Drive. But when we just use our phones as phones – to make and receive calls and nothing more – it ‘s much harder to see why Apple and Google need to collect data.
But in this study we find that Apple and Google are accumulating a wealth of information in that very situation. It seems redundant, and it is difficult to see why it is needed.
A WiFi MAC address identifies a device on a WiFi network and so, for example, it specifically identifies your home router, hotspot cafe or office network. That means Apple can keep track of the people near you, as well as when and where. That is a matter of great concern. “- Prof. Leith.
There is no way to pull out of the data collection and there are concerns that data companies could link devices to other sources such as web browsing.
This research explains how smartphones work. Modern cars routinely send basic data about vehicle parts, safety status and service records to car manufacturers, and mobile phones work in very similar ways. This report details these contacts, which help to ensure that iOS or Android software is up to date, that services are working as expected, and that the phone is secure and running. effectively.