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Apple's strict privacy stance, especially on the tracking of its iPhone users, has received a hit following the controversy about the iPhone 11 Pro tracking of users' location even when not given the necessary permissions.

While the latest versions of iOS gave users more granular control over sharing of the location data, with respect to how third-party apps can access the location data. And perhaps, given that Apple made it a lot clearer, and also applying the so-called "the carrot and stick" formula to improve the privacy of its users.

But, the finding credited to Brian Krebs, a security researcher, proves that the iPhone 11 pro "intermittently seeks the user's location information even when all applications and system services on the phone are individually set to never request this data."



The persistent tracking issue appears to be present only in the latest iPhone operating system (iOS 13.2.3) on iPhone 11 Pro devices, which oddity is somewhat related to the support for super-fast WiFi 6 routers, and may involve the introduction of some new hardware.

Apple claims the culprit is the Ultra-wideband technology which is an industry-standard that is still subject to international regulatory requirements; and that iOS require users' location to help determine if the device is in prohibited areas in order to have the ultra-wideband disabled so as to comply with the regulations.

Also, the U11 chip which is present in Apple's latest devices, necessary for short-distance, and high-bandwidth data transfer uses location data; it is also used for Apple's system for sharing items directly between Apple devices without navigating to messages, known as AirDrop. And presumably, it will also apply to Apple's "tile-tracking" feature which is expected to debut in the nearest future.

Apple, however maintains that "the management of ultra-wideband compliance and its use of location data is done entirely on the device, and that it is not collecting the user location data" which should be rather a bit comforting.

Apple admits the iPhone 11 Pro intermittent Location tracking issue



Apple's strict privacy stance, especially on the tracking of its iPhone users, has received a hit following the controversy about the iPhone 11 Pro tracking of users' location even when not given the necessary permissions.

While the latest versions of iOS gave users more granular control over sharing of the location data, with respect to how third-party apps can access the location data. And perhaps, given that Apple made it a lot clearer, and also applying the so-called "the carrot and stick" formula to improve the privacy of its users.

But, the finding credited to Brian Krebs, a security researcher, proves that the iPhone 11 pro "intermittently seeks the user's location information even when all applications and system services on the phone are individually set to never request this data."



The persistent tracking issue appears to be present only in the latest iPhone operating system (iOS 13.2.3) on iPhone 11 Pro devices, which oddity is somewhat related to the support for super-fast WiFi 6 routers, and may involve the introduction of some new hardware.

Apple claims the culprit is the Ultra-wideband technology which is an industry-standard that is still subject to international regulatory requirements; and that iOS require users' location to help determine if the device is in prohibited areas in order to have the ultra-wideband disabled so as to comply with the regulations.

Also, the U11 chip which is present in Apple's latest devices, necessary for short-distance, and high-bandwidth data transfer uses location data; it is also used for Apple's system for sharing items directly between Apple devices without navigating to messages, known as AirDrop. And presumably, it will also apply to Apple's "tile-tracking" feature which is expected to debut in the nearest future.

Apple, however maintains that "the management of ultra-wideband compliance and its use of location data is done entirely on the device, and that it is not collecting the user location data" which should be rather a bit comforting.
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