Android Phone : Wi-fi Scanning

[3930dave]

I am probably just late to the dance, but wanted to pass along what I accidentally stumbled across in my phone yesterday.

In your Settings screen, search for Wi-Fi Scanning.

Depending on your phone/version of Android, it may be faster to just type wi in the Search Box, and scroll down the list to find Wi-Fi Scanning.

Wi-Fi Scanning screen has two buttons:

Wi-Fi Scanning switch allows Apps to detect wifi networks AT ANY TIME.

Bluetooth Scanning switch allows Apps to detect bluetooth devices AT ANY TIME.

N.B. - these settings are in a buried sub-menu, and they appear to function totally independent from the top-level (prominent) Wifi On/Off and Bluetooth On/Off switches.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Why Google wants this on.....

How Google Uses Wi-Fi Networks to Figure Out Your Exact Location

G knows, within 30', even w/o GPS.

Rgds, D.

 

[ponytug]

Yes, and if you care about security, or battery life, you probably want both off. No sense in alerting anyone that your phone is around.

All the best,

Peter

 

[3930dave]

Yes, and if you care about security, or battery life, you probably want both off. No sense in alerting anyone that your phone is around.

All the best,

Peter

The funny thing..... I know better.....

I fell into the trap of thinking that the prominent (aka window-dressing) higher level Wifi On/Off switch worked as labelled.

Many people don't care, but for those who do, that buried sub-menu is doubly irritating as Bluetooth Scanning is also sitting there, under an obscure sub-menu titled Wifi Scanning.

Red Pill or Blue Pill......

Rgds, D.

 

[k0ua]

Hm... thanks. turned them both off.

 

[mikester]

The funny thing..... I know better.....

I fell into the trap of thinking that the prominent (aka window-dressing) higher level Wifi On/Off switch worked as labelled.

Many people don't care, but for those who do, that buried sub-menu is doubly irritating as Bluetooth Scanning is also sitting there, under an obscure sub-menu titled Wifi Scanning.

Red Pill or Blue Pill......

Rgds, D.

Don't worry, for your convenience, the software companies will rename the button/switch and move it to a new location at the next software update.

 

[3930dave]

Hm... thanks. turned them both off.

NP, anytime.....

Called a buddy in BC yesterday, as we chat often. He has multiple cell phones on different carriers, all Android. (No, he doesn't deal that stufff.... he needs good coverage for (legit legal) work, and cell phone coverage in BC is ridiculously bad).

He checked all but one phone while we were chatting; all were set to On in that sub-menu.

Gotta run, I need to make new tinfoil-hats

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Don't worry, for your convenience, the software companies will rename the button/switch and move it to a new location at the next software update.

Sigh....

Yeah, I know, all too well...... my better solutions are to leave the battery out of the phone, or just ditch it altogether.....

Rgds, D.

 

[mikester]

Sigh....

Yeah, I know, all too well...... my better solutions are to leave the battery out of the phone, or just ditch it altogether.....

Rgds, D.

I don't understand the hoopla over paranoia regarding government surveillance. At least government agencies have to follow rules and laws to track you. When big business tracks you, you are a profit centre data set and the more info they collect the more money they get for your data. They get to operate above the law with impunity.

What's the number 1 source for malware on the internet? Google. Who steals intellectual property and makes money publishing it without any regards to royalties or laws? Google.

Bring back the dumb phone with a 1 week battery life and add a good camera. I don't need facebook embedded in my phone's OS when I don't have or want a FB account.

 

[3930dave]

Bring back the dumb phone with a 1 week battery life and add a good camera. I don't need facebook embedded in my phone's OS when I don't have or want a FB account.

I bought the optional Li pack for my old Nokia CDMA flip back when. That went at least 2 weeks for me, as I'm not a yapmyster..... probably closer to 3 wks many times.....

Preaching to Choir ..... as I trust MegaCorp less that I trust Govt..... and that's already a pretty low bar....

Rgds, D.

 

[Roadworthy]

Thank you for sharing the information and a very interesting thread. Knowing about these background programs leaves me wondering how much other stuff is buried in my phone. I know, it's not REALLY my phone. I pay money and Google lets me use it. By the way, newer phones do not allow easy battery removal.

 

[3930dave]

You're welcome RW.

Old bikes, Old tractors, Old phones..... there is a pattern to what I appreciate more as time goes on....

It took me a while to see it, but it was right in front of me all the time.... I am the product; the phone is just the gateway drug.....

Rgds, D.

 

[TractorGuy]

Yeah and after you turn it all off and get it good and secure you will find none of your favorite conveniences work. Just saying.

 

[3930dave]

Yeah and after you turn it all off and get it good and secure you will find none of your favorite conveniences work. Just saying.

Important caveat, and that matters to many today.....

In my case not only is that OK, it's what I want to happen.....

Instead of just being irritated on my own (when it turned out, Google had other plans for my phone, after I thought I had ALREADY turned this off.....) , I clicked away this PSA while having coffee.... for the other % or 3 of deviants that are like me......

Rgds, D.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

There's no cell service at my house, and I'm an old codger who often forgets to take a phone along when I go somewhere. I lived for decades without a cell phone. It's not a necessity. My voice mail prompt gives the land line number and directs people to call there. If I'm outside, they can leave a message on the answering machine. I suppose someday I will end up with one of the new online cars.

 

[3930dave]

Retirement does look good.

I've used cell phones much more for work than personal over the years. I've had a personal one since the 90s, but I've never been glued to it the way some/many people are today......

Convenience of getting a picture to a supplier rep quickly is probably my top biz function today.

But other than that, if I lived in the USA I'd have probably just been getting by with Google Voice and a tablet for personal comms for a few years now.....

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

You're Not The Boss of Me !

I didn't really need the reminder (of who is actually running the show/illusion/Matrix), but I got it anyway.....

The evil sub-menu settings are staying Off, but now both our phones do the same thing - Wifi comes up On, when you power the phone Up. (Unlike many today, we actually power our phones down). This is with the top Level (obvious) Wifi "switch" untouched, still "Off".

This Vampire Wifi is obvious right away, if you power up the phone near a wifi network you already have a password for, so I notice powering up at home. Having recently changed jobs, I don't have any wifi passwords loaded yet for my new workplace - if I powered up my phone at work, I may not have seen this immediately.

Sneaky, really __________ sneaky.......

I often leave my phone in Airplane Mode to conserve battery, but it's been in the back of my mind from the GetGo..... Is it always Off, till I say otherwise.......

If I didn't occasionally use my personal phone for work, I'd probably pull the battery, for the few times I need my phone active.....

Rgds, D.

 

[rjpotts]

I know it's not the case for everyone but for me the conveniences afforded by my smart phone outweigh the risk. By using tractors etc. most of us face risk by taking certain measures that make the risk tolerable. It's the same with the phone, I keep financial / password info off the phone along with a few other basic precautions. As for being tracked or spied on, my life is pretty boring, if someone (or something) wants to follow along I don't care.

 

[Bird]

rjpotts said, "As for being tracked or spied on, my life is pretty boring, if someone (or something) wants to follow along I don't care."

Same here!

 

[jerrybob]

I got myself a senior phone with built in GPS......Not only does it tell me how to get to my destination, it tells me why I wanted to go there in the first place.​