Who’s Around You? Your Smartphone May Know Which Room You’re In—And Could Be Spying on You

New Delhi: Researchers at IIT Delhi have shared such shocking information, which has raised serious questions about people's privacy. According to their study, your mobile phone can monitor your every activity without your knowledge. It not only detects your location but can also know which room or floor of the house you are in and who is present around you. Research has also warned that such data can get leaked and reach the wrong hands. This study has been published in the prestigious journal ‘ACM Transactions on Sensor Networks.’

Which technology made this discovery?

In this study, researchers at IIT Delhi used a technology called the AndroCon System. This system investigates whether fine-grained GPS data received by Android apps can act as a secret sensor. This means that it can detect not only the location but also the user's activities. Research has found that this technology can be used to determine whether a person is sitting, walking, lying down, taking the subway, flying, in a park, or in a crowded area. This information can be extracted from the data we provide to various mobile apps daily as location access.

Complete information can be obtained even without a camera or microphone

According to this research from IIT Delhi, the AndroCon system can identify a person's activity, location, and surrounding environment using GPS data alone, even without a camera, microphone, or motion sensor. Smriti R. Sarangi, Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Delhi, explained that the study lasted nearly a year and covered an area of ​​40,000 square kilometers. Several smartphones from different companies were tested. During the research, the AndroCon system detected the surrounding environment with 99% accuracy and tracked a person's movements with 87% accuracy. Not only this, but even if a person was simply waving their hand, they could be captured by this system.

Is your privacy at risk?

Researchers say that while this technology is highly accurate, it can pose a serious threat to user privacy and security. By analyzing a person's walking patterns and GPS signals, the AndroCon system can determine which floor they are on, which direction they are going, and what the map around them looks like. This means that an app you use solely for navigation or delivery tracking could be collecting far more data than you realize.

Researchers' Warning: Be Cautious, Limit Permissions

Based on this research, the IIT Delhi team has warned people to be cautious when granting location access to any app. Always check how much the app needs your location and whether the app is truly trustworthy. The research suggests that people should only grant apps "limited or precise location permissions." Also, be sure to read the privacy policy of the app you install and turn off location services when not needed.

Can Modern technology be dangerous?

This research from IIT Delhi shows that modern technology can be as convenient as it is dangerous if misused. The GPS system in our smartphones is no longer just a tool for navigation but has now become a sensor that tracks our every move. Therefore, users must be more vigilant than ever about their digital security.