Re:Retail stores use Bluetooth beacons to track customers
by kevin_b_er on Friday June 14, 2019 @01:19PM
(#20184707)
Android has a feature called "nearby device scanning" so even if you turn off bluetooth, apps can still do BLE. I suspect stuff like this, where many many apps can spy on you on behalf of others, is why Google made BT access a Location category. But it means your weather app that uses location to tell you where you are? It is selling your location via BT beacons to 3rd parties.
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Re:Retail stores use Bluetooth beacons to track customers
by OrwellianChild on Friday June 14, 2019 @04:28PM
(#20186408)
For those who are interested, this feature can be deactivated. The location in settings has moved around a bit, but you can just search for "nearby device scanning" and shut it off for both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Re:Retail stores use Bluetooth beacons to track customers
by xur17 on Friday June 14, 2019 @02:14PM
(#20185265)
I really wish android differentiated between foreground and background location permissions.
Re:Retail stores use Bluetooth beacons to track customers
by imperialdrive on Friday June 14, 2019 @09:21PM
(#20187903)
Meet the newest Android Q (10) which is available as a beta. The permission levels are there for what you wish. It's impressive to see just how many apps were previously getting background location (and many other) permissions by default. Eye opening experience for someone that figured it wasn't that bad.
Re:Retail stores use Bluetooth beacons to track customers
by cherrypepsi on Monday June 17, 2019 @08:08AM
(#20202069)
> Meet the newest Android Q (10) which is available as a beta. The permission levels are there for what you wish.
I would like to congratulate Google for such hard work. I mean, CyanogenMod 7 in 2010 could revoke any app permission at the user's will, but you know, computers are difficult