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AccuWeather still shares precise location data with ad firms


straycat19

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AccuWeather is still sending precise geolocation data to a third-party advertiser, ZDNet can confirm, despite updating its app earlier this week to remove a feature that collected user's location data without their permission.

 

In case you missed it, AccuWeather was until this week sending the near-precise location of its iPhone app users to Reveal Mobile, a data monetization firm -- even when location sharing was switched off. Security researcher Will Strafach, who first reported the issue, also accused the company of sharing a user's precise GPS coordinates under the guise of providing local weather alerts. 

 

The news sparked outrage and anger. AccuWeather responded with a forced apology, which one leading Apple critic John Gruber called a "bulls**t response." 

 

However, tests conducted by Strafach show that the updated app, released Thursday, still shares precise geolocation data with a data monetization and advertising firm.

 

ZDNet independently verified the findings. We found that AccuWeather was still, with location sharing enabled, sending precise GPS coordinates and altitude albeit to a different advertiser, without the user's explicit consent.

 

That data can be used to pinpoint down to a few meters a person's location -- even which floor of a building they are on.

 

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