New Zealanders are being warned smartphones, including iPhones and Android handsets, could be secretly tracking their every move – and storing information that others could view.

Apple is coming under increasing pressure to explain its decision following research by security experts in Britain.

The experts found later versions of the iPhone, as well as other 3G-enabled Apple devices, collect location data and timings automatically, saving them in a file on both the handset and on the computer used to manage the device.

The file is also transferred to new devices after they are plugged into that computer. After installing a simple program, versions of which are available online, anyone with access to the hardware can see a detailed map of the owner’s movements.

It is unclear whether the feature can be disabled.

Yesterday the Guardian newspaper reported that smartphones running the rival Google Android system collect data in almost exactly the same way as the iPhone, although for a shorter period.

New Zealand Privacy Commissioner Marie Shroff said: “From what we understand, it’s not clear why Apple wants the information or if Apple even has access to it. Does Apple have access to it, and if so, for what purposes?” she said.

“We’d also like to know the benefits of collecting the information.”

Ms Shroff said the feature on the Apple phones was worrying.

“We are concerned that unlike other location-based features on phones and computers such as GPS and wi-fi, users aren’t aware of this new one, which also means they won’t be able to block it.

“Knowing how quickly technology develops, it won’t be long before someone develops a program to hack into the location information.”

Magnus Eriksson, a Swedish programmer, said Android devices also keep a record of the locations of the last 50 mobile masts they have communicated with, and the last 200 wi-fi networks they “see”.

It is not yet known whether the lists are sent to Google. Apple devices store the data for up to a year.

In addition, some computer skill is required to extract the data. By contrast, the Apple file is easily extracted directly from the computer or phone.

Apple’s relationship with its customers appears to be similar to the jealous husband who scans through his wife’s emails looking for proof that she is having affairs.

Since the news that Jobs’ Mob is storing up to a year’s worth of movement data on the iPhone, the fruity toymaker has kept tight lipped about what it is using the data for.

However, last year the extent of Apple’s snooping pathology was revealed in a letter in June 2010, Congressmen Edward J. Markey and Joe Barton wrote a letter to Apple CEO Steve Jobs inquiring about Apple’s privacy policy and location-based services.

Apple’s general counsel Bruce Sewall – an ex-Intel lawyer – wrote a letter explaining its practice, and shedding light on the rationale the company uses to monitor users.

He said that not only was the iPhone tracking data, but all the outfit’s gear was being watched. This includes the iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, the iPhone 4, iPad models even Mac computers running Snow Leopard.
Apparently if you are a Windows user running Safari 5 your computer is also being watched by Apple. He did not mention iTunes, or Quicktime, but it might be a good idea to remove that from your machine if you don’t want Jobs looking at your computer.

The reason for spying, according to Sewall, was to provide the high quality products and services that customers demand. To do this it must spy on them to have comprehensive location-based information.
Sewall insisted that Apple was committed to users’ privacy. However to provide location-based services, Apple, its partners and licensees, may collect, use and share customers’ precise location data, including GPS information, nearby cell towers and neighboring Wi-Fi networks.
Apple customers had the ability to turn off all location features with one “on/off” toggle switch, Apple requires applications to get explicit customer approval when it asks for location information for the first time, Sewell wrote.

One would think that if you are not dedicated to Apple’s spying on you, you should remove any software on your machine that comes from Jobs’ Mob just to be sure. After all the licence agreement gives Apple the right to do what it likes with your private information.
To be fair to Apple, it seems difficult to see how you can offer location based services without your phone sending data to someone, however the fact that Jobs’ Mob keeps the data for more than a year is a little worrying.

Any marriage guidance counsellor will tell you that relationships are always about to end when one partner decides to start spying on the other.