News: Apple updates iOS as a response to location tracking issue

Apple has provided its latest response to the location tracking saga by making an iOS update (4.3.3) available to its iPad (1st generation and iPad 2), iPhone (4 and 3G S), as well as its iPod touch (3rd and 4th generation) customers.

According to CNet, the free update (via Apple’s iTunes software) reduces the size of the location cache. This results in the aforementioned devices ceasing to backup the cache to iTunes and also deletes the cache if a user turns Location-based services off.

This tracking saga started when two security researchers analysts revealed that Apple users employing an iOS 4-running iPhone or 3G-enabled iPad tablet, regularly have their position recorded into a hidden, unencrypted and unprotected file, saved to their PC (iTunes) when the devices are connected.

The Cupertino-based tech firm was then sued over this issue, with a lawsuit filed against the company by two American users citing invasion of privacy as well as computer fraud.

Apple was quick to address this issue in a posting on its site, stating that isn’t tracking (and will never track) the location of iPhone users. It said that within the next major version of the iOS software (the one it has now made available) the cache will also be encrypted on the iPhone.

Apple updates iOS as a response to location tracking issue

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