How to Prevent Leaking of Your Location History Over Wi-Fi on the Android Device

While the Internet has blessed us with the boom called ‘Connectivity’ but it is also true that somehow this connectivity is risking our privacy. The Internet service, apps and websites have made many things easy for us by making us connected to what earlier was impossible either because of geographical limitations or because of lack of upgraded technology. 

Keeping the old stories behind, the present day fact is through our smartphones, tablets and other computing devices we are exploring the unexplored strength of the Internet. Services offered through GPS, WI-Fi, and other applications are some wonders of science and technology that have transformed the earth into a global village. But by expanding our network of connections, aren’t we letting others to invade our privacy?

‘Location History’ Feature of your Android Device 

The apps we use, the Wi-Fi, websites, etc can be the channels through which our personal information like password, location information and other identity related information can be leaked out. If you are an Android user, then you must become aware of the fact that over Wi-Fi, location history of an Android phone can be tracked upon. Google has introduced this feature with the intention that it will allow your device to quickly connect to a Wi-Fi network. Whenever, you will try to connect to a Wi-Fi connection, this feature will quickly scan the location history and if you connected to that particular network earlier, then your current process of connection will fasten up. 

Although, Google has bonafide motives but the ability to track your ‘Location History’ over Wi-Fi can be dangerous sometimes. Because this history can be tracked even when the screen of your device is turned off but connected to a Wi-Fi network. Anybody interested in peaking, can easily learn about your whereabouts by checking out the Wi-Fi you are connected and can also learn the places you visit by checking the location history, because this history comprises of the names of wireless networks to which your device has previously got connected to.

This might sound like a trivial matter at surface but can be potentially dangerous also. You can understand the possible risk by contemplating over the thought that do you disclose your whereabouts every time to everyone, especially the strangers. The answer is NO for one and all. No one prefers disclosing their location information to strangers and not even to the known ones all the time for security reasons. But with this location history feature in your Android phone, your phone will be able to trace the Wi-Fi networks your device was connected to and thereby it will broadcast your location. Someone with strong intentions can easily track your exact location using some easy techniques.

How to prevent others from tracing your Wi-Fi Location History?

Till Google fixes out this issue soon, you have to do something if you don’t want your location information to get leaked out through the medium of your Android device over the Wi-Fi connection.

Following are the steps to keep this risk under control.

·         Open the ‘Settings’ app from your Android App.

·         Go to the ‘Network Connection’ settings

·         Scroll down to “Wi-Fi” settings and tap on it

·         Navigate ‘to Advanced Wi-Fi’ Settings

·         Look for the “Keep Wi-Fi on during sleep” option

·         It is usually marked with the “Always’ option. Change it to ‘Never’

This might slow down your device a little bit as your device will not be able to connect to the Wi-Fi in its sleep mode and hence won’t be able to update any apps. But it is worth bearing this much of discomfort because only by changing the behavior from ‘Always’ to ‘Never’ you can save your Wi-Fi location history from falling into the wrong hands.