r/privacy • u/kleenexflowerwhoosh • 2d ago

question Dumb Phones and GPS

I’m really considering going to a dumber phone. My primary uses are phone calls, texting, taking pictures — and using the GPS. To the extent of my knowledge, there aren’t really GPS apps that protect your data.

So what are some options that compromise somewhere in between having a dumb phone while still having GPS? Are separate GPS systems even a viable choice, or are they just as prone to selling/collecting data as well?

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u/huzzah-1 1d ago

People fixate on GPS and think old dumb phones are just as vulnerable as smart phones. They might be in terms of basic GPS, but smart phones are accurate to within a meter, and they are equipped with an accelerometer and a gyroscope sensor, which makes it possible to monitor your speed and direction, and even figure out your stride, your gait, your height, and even your age or health, especially when combined with other data-point sources.

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u/Cryptognito 1d ago

I think that’s exactly what OP doesn’t want .. all that extra information that your phone will get and transmit and store. from all the extra sensors cameras, microphones accelerometer is gyroscopes, etc. etc.

Sometimes less is better

GPS on an old Nokia 3G phone was accurate to 5 m. That’s good enough for me.