Will android collect info about wifi routers even if Google Play Service is disabled?

[kipkip]

Hi,
If I'm the wrong forum I apologize and would be happy if directed to the proper one.


Androids newer versions have changed the 'GPS' button into a 'Location' button which now offers 3 options for determining your position (recording WiFi router information and comparing it to a Google database, using the devices GPS, and doing both) each of those options prompt a disturbing and annoying popup each time you turn the GPS on, "advising"/badgering the user into sharing his information with Google.

The only solution which I found to this popup problem (without installing any 3rd party apps or rooting the phone) involves disabling the Google Play Service- that however created something strange which I'm not sure about... If previously the user could choose which way of locating he wants and the device remembered it- now every time the GPS is turned on it is automatically goes into "local device&WiFi tracking" mode (the first option).


I want to know if a)Does the device indeed monitors that information (even if it can't send it anywhere with Google services being disabled)? b) any way to stop it? c)can this default be changed so that only the local GPS chip will be used?


Thank you very much!

 

[Rukbat]

Is there a reason you don't want a database of dynamic IP addresses and their locations, if it helps your navigation app? (The fact that they have a router's IP address today doesn't mean that the same router will have the same address tomorrow. And the "location" of the router is approximate - mine covers about half a city block, so their "location" covers a lot of houses.)

 

[kipkip]

Well, lets call it privacy concerns.
Are you sure that android logs IP only? Is it wise from Googles perspective? As far as I know they actually also log MAC addresses and any other identificational information, because like you said, dynamic IPs do change daily, while routers rarely change location .
Anyway, there is also the issue that many routers (including the ones in my area) have static IP (also even dynamic IPs change only when you reconnect to your provider which might take a while), and of course the fact while positioning by wifi is not super accurate- it is close enough. If all that wasn't enough then I guess it's also a matter of principle.

 

[kipkip]

up up

 

[kipkip]

and away....

 

[jwt873]

The thing is, you may be able to prevent your phone from sending your Wi-Fi router's information to Google. But, others with this service enabled who come within close proximity of your router will be able to capture the info and pass it on to Google anyway. It might be a friend dropping by for a visit, a next door neighbor, or someone driving by on the street.

Unless you live in the middle of nowhere, there's not much you can do about it.

This applies to both Android and Apple devices.... When you sign up to Google Play (or iTunes), you hand away a whole lot of privacy.

 

[kipkip]

Well, actually I'm mostly not signed into google play (signed in a couple of times with a friends account and then logged out) precisely for the reason of minimizing my interactions with Google.

You are correct about Googles information scour by the multitudes and to be honest I am quite pissed about it, reminds me of some Heinlein novel, but I'm doing what I can to avoid it with my own router by a) disabling the SSID and b) denying wifi from anyone with a mobile device (besides mine).

Anyway at the moment I'm looking for a soution for my own device so to at the very least I will not become one of those Google Snitches P).
Among other reasons.

Thank you.

 

[kipkip]

upsy