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Location & security settings / My Location

Hi all,
On my phone, under Settings -> Location & security settings, I have these two:
Use Wireless networks
(See location in applications (such as Maps) using wireless networks
Use GPS satellites
(Locate to street-level (bla bla...)
When I try to enable any of the above, I get a Location consent message, asking me to Agree/Disagree on Google 's location service to collect anonymous location data.
If I Disagree (which is a natural response to any such privacy invading options), then I cannot enable locating method on this Android phone (mine is Sony Xperia Sola)!
My question is, is that same for any Android phone? Or is this only Sony specific.
Is it possible to remove this behavior?
I think its a total nonsense of how this is implemented.
And I think none of this nonsense should be even allowed to run on a Linux-enabled hardware ...

no. that's on all Androids not just just Sony.

improve location accuracy popup dialog

There are 3 location settings,
1. GPS, Wi-Fi and mobile networks – this lets Google use any of these to find your location even if Wi-Fi or location is turned off. When this is switched on, you’ll often find Google Play Services is one of the biggest issues.
2. Wi-Fi and mobile networks – this disables the GPS chip inside your Galaxy S6 Edge and is probably the least useful of the three options. Relying on just mobile networks and Wi-Fi will allow you to find your location quickly but will then use a lot of data and battery as it relies on your Wi-Fi and mobile networks to keep track of your location.
3. GPS only – this is actually the mode I use as it prevents Google scanning in the background (more on that below). It has its pitfalls in that it can take a while to find your location but the battery savings from not having Google scanning are plentiful.
We know that option 1 and 2 could lead to extreme battery drain because Google uses the location manager and wake up the device. When you attempt to turn on either the first or the second option, you’re greeted with a prompt from Google to “Improve location accuracy”. The option means that anonymous location data can sporadically be sent to Google even when no apps are running, and as a result, this can have a large impact on your battery life, especially when using Google Now or widgets that depend on location. If I choose one of these options I do not see the dialog anymore. Maybe I accidentally clicked "don' t show again".
How can I get the dialog back???
When I enable the locations, it is always set to option 1, even if I had 3 the last time. Anybody else have this problem??

Go to the settings in Google +

wolfloestoffel said:
Go to the settings in Google +
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't have google+ installed on my phone. What would I find there?

You can choose and set one of the 3 options to find the locations.

wolfloestoffel said:
You can choose and set one of the 3 options to find the locations.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes thank you, I know that. But every time when I set option 3 and switch location on/off it is always set to option 1 again. Did you even read my post?

Go to apps, google framework services, clear data and cache. I has the same problem, not because of battery drain but because I don't want to do the dirt job of mapping wifi networks for google. I'll like to do it, but just if google ASKS for it

azerk said:
Go to apps, google framework services, clear data and cache. I has the same problem, not because of battery drain but because I don't want to do the dirt job of mapping wifi networks for google. I'll like to do it, but just if google ASKS for it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you! works like a charm

Where does Android get its location updates from?

I have installed a fake GPS application (Lockito) and set it up as Mock Location App. It doesn't actually matter which one I use, it's always the same behaviour.
I start a route, but it's jumping to my real location every 4 to 5 seconds, stays there for a similar amount of time and jumps back to my faked location.
My understanding is that this mock locations dev option would overrule ANY location update from somewhere else, but seems it isn't.
What I tried:
- Device administrator: turn off any administrator
- Location set to "GPS only".
- turn off wifi scanning
- smalli patch activated in magisk (with mock location checked)
- fused location on (or off) -- no change in behaviour
- Using the "experimental mode" of Fake GPS routes: no change in behaviour
- Google Play Services 21.2.12-16 (I tried uninstalling the current version, but this leaves my fake gps app not working)
- Installing the app as a system app (restart afterwards): no change compared with the normal
- Google Maps 10.47.1 (reverted this back to 9.26.1)
So, what I'm wondering is: what process is injecting my real location?
And should that even happen when using the mock locations? As far as I know if I would be using mock locations it should just use this info as my gps information... And not use any other data?
Does anyone have any hints on what I can still try?

coder.toolbox said:
I have installed a fake GPS application (Lockito) and set it up as Mock Location App. It doesn't actually matter which one I use, it's always the same behaviour.
I start a route, but it's jumping to my real location every 4 to 5 seconds, stays there for a similar amount of time and jumps back to my faked location.
My understanding is that this mock locations dev option would overrule ANY location update from somewhere else, but seems it isn't.
What I tried:
- Device administrator: turn off any administrator
- Location set to "GPS only".
- turn off wifi scanning
- smalli patch activated in magisk (with mock location checked)
- fused location on (or off) -- no change in behaviour
- Using the "experimental mode" of Fake GPS routes: no change in behaviour
- Google Play Services 21.2.12-16 (I tried uninstalling the current version, but this leaves my fake gps app not working)
- Installing the app as a system app (restart afterwards): no change compared with the normal
- Google Maps 10.47.1 (reverted this back to 9.26.1)
So, what I'm wondering is: what process is injecting my real location?
And should that even happen when using the mock locations? As far as I know if I would be using mock locations it should just use this info as my gps information... And not use any other data?
Does anyone have any hints on what I can still try?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Find your location settings on system settings, select your Google account then turn off location accuracy, you want the location setting on, but you don't want the improved accuracy.
Sent from my SM-S767VL using Tapatalk

Droidriven said:
Find your location settings on system settings, select your Google account then turn off location accuracy, you want the location setting on, but you don't want the improved accuracy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. This I knew already. Yesterday night I finally figured it out what was going on & posted it here: forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=83200513&postcount=6163.

Privacy: Does Android upload your home AP SSID/BSSID/GPS if the home AP broadcast beacon is "hidden?"

Privacy: Does Android upload your home AP SSID/BSSID/GPS if the home AP beacon is "hidden?"
Does hiding your home AP broadcast beacon prevent UPLOAD of your SSID/BSSID/GPS to Google?
If so, how?
Background:
Anyone navigating on Android who drives by my home after they pressed OK to the Google Maps query is likely automatically uploading to Google my private information without my consent.
To continue, turn on device location, which uses Google's location service. [No Thanks or OK]
By default, this simple act turns the Android phone that drives by my home into a spying device for Google:
Android11-Settings > Location > Location services > Google Location Accuracy = ON
​Google's location service improves location accuracy by using Wi-Fi, mobile networks, and sensors to help estimate your location. ​ Google may collect location data periodicaly and use this data in an anonymous way to improve location accuracy and location-based services. ​ Turning this off will result in your device only using GPS for location. ​ This may impact the accuracy of location used by apps such as Maps and Find My Device.​
All I'm asking with this question is whether turning off the home access point broadcast beacon (aka hiding the SSID) prevents those phones from UPLOADING my information to Google servers (and to other servers) by default.
Please be advised this question has nothing to do with using "_nomap" as part of the SSID. ​The question is independent of whether _nomap is used because the upload to Google by phones driving by your home of your SSDI/BSSID/GPS still occurs with or without _nomap on a broadcast SSID.​

I'm interested in this as well. I've lowered the signal strength so you can't connect to it from the street, hidden SSID, but I'm pretty sure that [Forgot to not be evil] Google will collect all and any data it can get hold on. For example, if using an app to check signal strength, it recognizes the WIFI signal, so I'm guessing it's getting picked up by G as well. It's only a guess... and a history knowledge from them getting high on personal data

Марија said:
Notice that this is BENotice that this is BEI'm interested in this as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for letting me know the solution will also be useful to you as that's why I asked it.
We want a definitive solution for people like you and me (we can't be the only ones who care about our home AP privacy).
I think anyone who is concerned about their home privacy wouldn't want their SSID/BSSID/GPS in a public database if they didn't expressly opt IN on purpose.
The default assumption by Google (and many others) is, I suspect, that if you publicly broadcast your SSID in the clear, then you're opting in.
Even though I disagree with this default assumption I have to understand the logic which is why I don't broadcast my SSID.
By not broadcasting my SSID I'm (hoping) it's signaling my intent to opt OUT.
Марија said:
I've lowered the signal strength so you can't connect to it from the street, hidden SSID, but I'm pretty sure that [Forgot to not be evil] Google will collect all and any data it can get hold on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thank you for that idea of lowing the signal strength (which only some routers will allow, I think) but I need all the signal strength I can get.
And more to the point most people need all the signal strength they can get, I think.
Even so, while lowing the signal strength may help, it still won't work for the Android devices that walk close enough to your front door to access your signal after using Google Maps.
Pragmatically, all it takes is the postman or the Fedex guy or the UPS guy to have his Android phone on with his "Google Location Accuracy" turned on.
It's even worse if they have "Improve accuracy" turned on, as that adds additional "Wi-Fi scanning" and "Bluetooth scanning", which is another can of worms we'll stay out of for this thread.
Speaking of Google Maps, you can "fix" the problem of Google Maps secretly turning on "Google Location Accuracy" but you have to go into your Android settings to find the special Google Maps (Google Play Services actually) "activity" named
com.google.android.location.settings.GoogleLocationSettingsActivity​
Actually the activity Google Maps used is a secret undisclosed activity one step BELOW that com.google.android.location.settings.GoogleLocationSettingsActivity activity since the "OK" in Google Maps automatically secretly toggled it on.
Nonetheless, I set a shortcut to the com.google.android.location.settings.GoogleLocationSettingsActivity which allows me to turn the "Google Location Accuracy" toggle off (while leaving the "Location" toggle on) after I say "OK" to the Google Maps query to turn on location.
BTW, the undisclosed hidden secret activity is a specific Google activity that only Google does, as far as I know.
No other program that I know of secretly toggles "Google Location Accuracy" on other than Google Maps which is one reason Google is being sued in Arizona as we type for their secret tricks to get our private data uploaded to their public servers.
Марија said:
For example, if using an app to check signal strength, it recognizes the WIFI signal, so I'm guessing it's getting picked up by G as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is where our little secret lies!
I have absolutely no doubt that the phone's radio picks up the hidden BSSID (because I can see the hidden BSSIDs on my phone when I use any decent Wi-Fi graphing app).
However........
It's my understanding (which I need to find a reliable source to back it up) that someone's phone that is typically set to upload the SSID/BSSID/GPS by default will NOT upload that BSSID if it's hidden.
What's important is that sentence assumes that the typical upload of the SSID/BSSID/GPS requires the SSID to be broadcast in the clear.
If that's true, then simply HIDING the SSID broadcast beacon will stop other phones from uploading your SSID/BSSID/GPS to not only Google servers, but potentially Mozilla, Kismet, Wigle, Netstumbler, and other servers.
Note that I'm not saying it can't be done by a determined program. What I'm saying is that it's my understanding that it isn't done.
Notice the profound implications?
If I'm correct, then HIDING THE SSID broadcast is far BETTER than using _nomap (although I'd still use nomap also) simply because hiding the beacon broadcast is making it clear your intent to even those public databases that do not respect the nomap.
I think this is the way the Android SSID/BSSID/GPS upload typically works.
Of course ... there's more to the story...
One problem with hiding your SSID is that it kicks the privacy can down the road because now your phone is constantly asking by name for that SSID when you're not connected and your Wi-Fi is on.
Of course, there's a simple fix for that secondary problem (which works in Android 11 at least), which is to set your Wi-Fi on your phone to stop asking for your hidden SSID when you're out of range of it.
That don't-ask-by-name-for-my-hidden SSID setting on Android 11 is
Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi > (select an SSID) > gearicon > Auto reconnect = OFF
Марија said:
It's only a guess... and a history knowledge from them getting high on personal data
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would like to find a reliable source that backs up that guess that Google and Mozilla and the others (Kismet, Netstumbler, Wigle, etc) "don't" get your SSID uploaded to their servers by default if your home AP SSID beacon broadcast is hidden.
Notice I said "don't" which I think may be the case only in the default situation, as I'm well aware any determined person "can" upload even your hidden home AP BSSID/GPS information manually to any public server they want to.
In the end, I have a solution that I'm constantly honing to improve it where I want to accomplish two things here.
I want others to be able to do what I can do, and
I want others who know more than I do add to what we can all do in terms of keeping our SSID/BSSID/GPS out of Google's hands (and that of Kismet and the rest).

To clarify things: Android OS is developed by a consortium of developers known as the Open Handset Alliance and commercially sponsored by Google. It is free and open-souce software. It's source code is known as AOSP.
Android OS isn't collecting data as Google Mobile Services ( GMS ) do.
If you do not need any GMS applications or services, a high-quality AOSP ( like LineageOS what is just a modded version of AOSP ) protects your privacy at 100%, IMO.

jwoegerbauer said:
If you do not need any GMS applications or services, a high-quality AOSP ( like LineageOS what is just a modded version of AOSP ) protects your privacy at 100%, IMO.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with you that I should switch to aosp given that I have no need for gms services.
But the phone is still technically owned by T-Mobile for two years (it was free) so I am under the impressions (see below links) that I can't add aosp yet (is that true?).
Question Does anyone know how to root the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G?​
Question Any chance that a Samsung Galaxy A32 5G can get aosp?​

[PRIVACY] Is it true for you (as it seems to be for me) that Google Maps will no longer route using just GPS (Maps requires Wi-Fi "precise scanning")?

Bad news.
Apparently Google has recently changed the Android Google Maps app such that it no longer routes using only GPS.
I tested it without a Google account, and with the following turned off in the Android 12 Settings.
STEP 1
In Settings | Location | Location services, turn everything off.
Specifically make sure three things are off that are important.
Google Location Accuracy
Wi-Fi scanning
Bluetooth scanning
STEP 2
Then go to Settings | Location | App permissions & find "Maps."
Make sure the only setting turned on is "Allow only while using this app."
Specifically make sure "Use precise location" is definitely turned off!
STEP 3
Then turn ONLY the GPS (blue marker) on (Settings | Location | On).
Now try to route in Maps from your current position to any other location.
STEP 4
When you start Google Maps (remember, you're not logged into Google at any time), you can press the bullseye to find your current location (it will momentarily complain on the bottom that "Precise location denied" with a link to "Settings")
If you don't get that warning, then go back and check that you didn't enable it for Maps because that warning is what forces precise location.
STEP 5
Then in the Google Maps search box, enter somewhere a few miles away.
You'll get the normal half screen of map and half screen of pictures.
STEP 6
Press the blue "Directions" button and you'll get the white "Choose start location" box, which when you press it, you get a choice of "Your location" or "Choose on map" so you select the "Your location" option.
You will again get the "Precise location denied" warning, with a link to "Settings" which if you don't allow - you can't route anymore.
REFERENCES:
Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation [April 4, 2023]
https://www.deceptive.design/articles/google-maps-now-requires-wifi-scanning-to-use-navigation
https://www.reddit.com/r/hackernews/comments/si6wx2
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1488641697227624448
https://gigazine.net/gsc_news/en/20220204-google-map-wi-fi-gps/
https://gigazine.net/gsc_news/en/20220204-google-map-wi-fi-gps/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even the official Google Play Store Google Maps app description says it can't use only GPS anymore also.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.maps
There are only two choices now, none of them are GPS only anymore.
Location Permission
"precise location (GPS and network-based)"
"approximate location (network-based)."
There no longer seems to be an option in Google Maps for GPS only location.
Am I right or wrong? (Remember, I tested this without a Google Account set up on the phone.)[/CODE]