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== Privacy considerations ==
== Privacy considerations ==
The app raises potential privacy issues arising from the tracking of a user's exact location, without them being notified that they are being tracked. Several safety features allow a user to share their location only with people they choose and turn off the permission at any time. “Friends” can only track users who have accepted their access request. The user can remove them from access at any time or only make the tracking temporary.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cultofmac.com/127030/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-evil-useful-find-my-friends-faq/ |title=Everything You Need to Know About the Evil, Useful Find My Friends App [FAQ] |last=|first=|date=2011-10-31|work=Cult of Mac|access-date=2018-10-31|language=en-US}}</ref>
The app raises potential privacy issues arising from the tracking of a user's exact location, without them being notified that they are being tracked. Several safety features allow a user to share their location only with people they choose and turn off the permission at any time. “Friends” can only track users who have accepted their access request. The user can remove them from access at any time or only make the tracking temporary.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cultofmac.com/127030/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-evil-useful-find-my-friends-faq/ |title=Everything You Need to Know About the Evil, Useful Find My Friends App [FAQ] |last=|first=|date=2011-10-31|work=Cult of Mac|access-date=2018-10-31|language=en-US}}</ref>

Another way to turn the tracking off is to turn Location Services off. This is done by going to Settings > Privacy > Location Services, selecting the app in the list and selecting “Never” option. Tracking can be turned back on by selecting the “While Using the App“ option.


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 23:22, 30 April 2019

Find My Friends
Developer(s)Apple Inc.
Initial releaseOctober 12, 2011 (2011-10-12)
Stable release
4.0.1[1] / October 17, 2014; 9 years ago (2014-10-17)[1]
Operating systemiOS 8 and later
Size6.1 MB
TypeLocation aware mobile application
LicenseFreeware
Websitesupport.apple.com/en-us/HT201493

Find My Friends (called "Find Friends" on the SpringBoard) is a mobile phone tracking app and service for iOS devices developed by Apple Inc. The app allows a person approved by the user, who must also have an Apple device, to access the GPS location of the user’s Apple mobile device. The app can be used to track children, family, and friends, besides others such as employees, without them being notified that they are being tracked.

Since the release of iOS 9 (in September 2015), the app has been bundled with the operating system. Users running on iOS 8 can download the app from the App Store free of charge.

History

Find My Friends was announced on October 4, 2011,[2] and released on October 12, 2011, several hours before the actual release of iOS 5.[3]

Version history

Version Number Date released Changes
1.0

October 11, 2011 (2011-10-11)

  • Initial release
1.1

March 7, 2012 (2012-03-07)

  • Support for Retina display devices
  • Bug fixes and enhancements
2.0

September 19, 2012 (2012-09-19)

  • Location-based alerts (requires iOS 6 or later)
  • Friend Suggestions and Favourites
2.0.1

October 29, 2012 (2012-10-29)

  • Temporary friends are listed as Followers
2.1

March 28, 2013 (2013-03-28)

  • New design and layout
  • Location-based notifications (iOS 6.1 or later)
2.1.1

August 22, 2013 (2013-08-22)

  • Bug fixes and stability improvements
3.0

November 19, 2013 (2013-11-19)

  • New design for iOS 7 devices
4.0

September 17, 2014 (2014-09-17)

  • Support for iOS 8
  • Allows users to move their friends list to their iCloud if needed.
4.0.1

October 16, 2014 (2014-10-16)

  • Bug fixes and stability improvements

Features

The Find My Friends app enables a person approved by a user to follow and track them with their iOS device(s).[4] Users can also share their location with the people they choose. According to Apple, there is a maximum of 100 trackers (“friends”).

The tracker can also receive notifications when the user leaves or arrives at a new place.[5] Location is determined using GPS in the iOS device when Location Services are turned on. The apps requires that the device’s Location Services be turned on for the app. Modified software can allow notifications to appear when a user requests tracker to see where they are[6] or is turned on through the message application. It can also be accepted through Facebook sharing options. The feature can be turned on and off at any time.[7]

Like many iOS applications that use Location Services, parental controls are available. Find My Friends synchronizes with other applications such as Maps and Contacts. The app is supported on the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.[1] A friend's location can be viewed in OS X 10.10 as well, by clicking "Details" in the top right corner of the Messages App.

Privacy considerations

The app raises potential privacy issues arising from the tracking of a user's exact location, without them being notified that they are being tracked. Several safety features allow a user to share their location only with people they choose and turn off the permission at any time. “Friends” can only track users who have accepted their access request. The user can remove them from access at any time or only make the tracking temporary.[8]

Another way to turn the tracking off is to turn Location Services off. This is done by going to Settings > Privacy > Location Services, selecting the app in the list and selecting “Never” option. Tracking can be turned back on by selecting the “While Using the App“ option.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "App Store - Find My Friends". Application Store. Apple Inc.
  2. ^ ZL Studios (October 4, 2011). "Apple Announces Find My Friends iOS 5 App « ZL Studios". Zlstudios.net. Archived from the original on April 25, 2012. Retrieved October 13, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ Christian Zibreg. "Find My Friends app goes live ahead of iOS 5 release | 9to5Mac | Apple Intelligence". 9to5Mac. Retrieved October 13, 2011.
  4. ^ "iCloud - Find your friends and your missing Apple device". Apple. Retrieved October 13, 2011.
  5. ^ "Set up and use Find My Friends". Apple Support. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  6. ^ "How to Know if Your iPhone Is Being Tracked via Find My Friends". Cydia Geeks. January 20, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
  7. ^ Previous post Next post (January 4, 2009). "Apple Stealth Launches 'Find My Friends' and 'Airport Utility' Apps". Gadget Lab. Wired. Retrieved October 13, 2011.
  8. ^ "Everything You Need to Know About the Evil, Useful Find My Friends App [FAQ]". Cult of Mac. October 31, 2011. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
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