Enscand, Inc. - Footprintz for iPhone

Footprintz for iPhone

Help and FAQs

By now, you've probably heard about the hidden database kept on iPhones that stores information about where you've been, and when. The database is ostensibly a collection of nearby cell towers and wifi hotspot locations. Having this information on an iPhone allows the device to more quickly determine its position when used by location-enabled apps. This is a sound design choice, and works well on iPhones. However, it brings up two issues. One, do I want my phone to keep a record of where I've been? Two, isn't there some useful information I could get out of this database? Now, Footprintz for jailbroken iPhones can help with both!

Footprintz accesses this private location database and allows you to either search the database at a given date, or in a given area. So, you can find out if the device ever recorded you being in a particular city, neighborhood, or country. Or, you can find out when you were in a given location, if you've forgotten. iPhone doesn't store data on everywhere you've been (and doesn't keep it forever), but if you use your phone frequently for location-enabled apps, and have a newer phone, you may be amazed at how many places iPhone has recorded.

Footprintz also gives you the option of exporting the location database, to a comma-separated value (.csv) file, which you can email to yourself. Then, you can use your favorite spreadsheet program to chart your location history, or simply use it to keep records. Unlike the original iOS 4.0 process of backing up the database to your iTunes backup location, this method can be safer, because you pick how and where to store the CSV file(s)!

Footprintz does not actually record any location data, and does not send any data anywhere. It only uses the data iPhone has already decided to record (note: in iOS 4.3.3, Apple has decided to limit how much data is stored). Also, if you're concerned about keeping data on your phone, Footprintz allows you to manually purge location history by either deleting it, or replacing it with random location data. Jason Bourne needs this app!

Compatibility

iPhone will continue to record location data on its own. If you want to continually, automatically delete all your location data, we suggest looking at untrackerd on the Cydia app store. But, if you're interested in learning from iPhone's history, then this app is definitely for you. Find it on Cydia for only a buck!

iOS 4.0 - 4.3.3 (CDMA 4.2.8).

Note on iOS 5 . With each release of iOS, Apple attempts to foil applications like Footprintz, by at the very least, relocating their hidden location history cache. iOS 5 was no different. Unfortunately, they also added some sort of encryption, or obfuscation scheme, to the database. At present, I have not been able to deduce how they are modifying the raw location data. I will continue trying to decode their data, but fundamentally, this is an arms race that Apple will always be able to win. The initial versions of Footprintz basically exploited the fact that originally, Apple kept the location data is a freely accessible (for jailbroken devices) form, because they were under the impression that nobody knew about the data. That time has obviously passed, and Apple may be willing to spend enough effort to permanently foil 3rd-party developers looking to use the hidden data.

Screenshots

Use a finger swipe to identify an area (blue rectangle) to search.

Note on Jailbreaking

This app will only ever be available for jailbroken iOS devices, on the Cydia app store. The location database is stored in a private file, that normal iPhone apps can not read or write. This is not an attempt to stick it to Apple. This is a simple utility app for curious iPhone users that can only be built with the application permissions available on jailbroken phones.

See this page for a great reference to iOS jailbreaking. It's super-easy and very useful!

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