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Thread ID: 150534 2022-03-15 08:03:00 What does this mean? Roscoe (6288) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1485005 2022-03-15 08:03:00 Every so often I notice, in the bottom right side of the screen, a small dot surrounded by a circle. When I hover over the dot there is a small sign which says, "Your location is currently in use," and I wonder what it means.

Thanks for your help.:thanks
Roscoe (6288)
1485006 2022-03-15 08:47:00 It means "Microsoft knows where you live" - you have location services enabled, and there is an app running in the background using your location to do what it needs to do or for the purpose of serving content "that is relevant to you" - Microsoft's words not mine :D

To disable the Location data got to----->Settings----->Privacy----->Click on Location----->Click Change----->Set location of this device to "off"

Despite Microsoft's insistance, no your computer will not stop working if you disable location awareness... this is nothing more than scare mongering from Microsoft...
chiefnz (545)
1485007 2022-03-15 23:07:00 Thank you for that, chiefnz. I had no idea.

What do you think? Is it a good idea to turn it off? I don't mind Microsoft knowing my location but I don't know if there is any down side to that.
Roscoe (6288)
1485008 2022-03-16 00:29:00 All those locations etc are doing nothing but spying and sending out content that you more than likely don't want any way.

Turning ALL those off is the 1st thing I do :D

MIND YOU having Location on does also have a good side -- Office 365 -- A Customer had their laptop stolen, looking at Office 365 it pin pointed the EXACT location (the house /address) it was turned on the following day -- Needless to say after I got a call from the Police to confirm a few things ( as in how I found the location -- Which was simple, log into Office 365 - Find my device) they went to the House concerned, 1st the police had to confirm how precise it was - The police called Microsoft who advised its VERY precise.
wainuitech (129)
1485009 2022-03-16 00:43:00 Probably an odd coincidence, but whenever I see that on my laptop, it means the WIFI network is going to temporarilly disconnect the_bogan (9949)
1485010 2022-03-16 01:22:00 MIND YOU having Location on does also have a good side -- Office 365 -- A Customer had their laptop stolen, looking at Office 365 it pin pointed the EXACT location (the house /address) it was turned on the following day -- Needless to say after I got a call from the Police to confirm a few things ( as in how I found the location -- Which was simple, log into Office 365 - Find my device) they went to the House concerned, 1st the police had to confirm how precise it was - The police called Microsoft who advised its VERY precise.

Interesting .
I just tried it out
www.lifewire.com

Its seems Im located in the water, according to Windows location .
I can see the water , but I sure Im on dry land, up the road a bit
:)
1101 (13337)
1485011 2022-03-16 02:47:00 Interesting .
I just tried it out
www.lifewire.com

Its seems Im located in the water, according to Windows location .
I can see the water , but I sure Im on dry land, up the road a bit
:) The ones I saw were not actually on any sort of map (as linked) it was more of a Location from Google maps. Dont know if its because they have gmail accounts, but I know with Gmail, if I go onto Find my Phone its accurate to within a bout 2-3 Mtrs. So can tell if phones slipped down behind a cushion on the couch or fell out in the car and hiding under the seat (again) OR as in some cases under a desk at last customers House :D
wainuitech (129)
1485012 2022-03-16 02:56:00 All those locations etc are doing nothing but spying and sending out content that you more than likely don't want any way.

Turning ALL those off is the 1st thing I do :D

MIND YOU having Location on does also have a good side -- Office 365 -- A Customer had their laptop stolen, looking at Office 365 it pin pointed the EXACT location (the house /address) it was turned on the following day -- Needless to say after I got a call from the Police to confirm a few things ( as in how I found the location -- Which was simple, log into Office 365 - Find my device) they went to the House concerned, 1st the police had to confirm how precise it was - The police called Microsoft who advised its VERY precise.

This is true, I practice the same mantra, though I do not (well refuse to) use my Microsoft login for Windows... I have also recently deployed a PiHole docker container on my unRAID server and I have noticed that the volume of annoyances across everything I use (including my TV, printer. tablets, iPhones and QNAP NAS) has dropped significantly. Though I'm sure that eventually they will return, these big companies will always find a way to get their ads and tracking through to you... like say, preventing you from accessing their services because you use PiHole or an adblocker.
chiefnz (545)
1485013 2022-03-16 05:20:00 Find my phone is different because phones have GPS which is far less common in PCs.

With PCs I believe they use a combination of IP address (not particularly useful) and detected wifi networks.
You may recall the controversy when it was discovered that the google maps vehicles that mapped the streets also mapped all the wifi networks they detected for their location services www.theguardian.com Not sure how microsoft do it but it must be similar.

Sometimes it's spookily accurate considering the PC has no gps, other times it can be wildly off. Not sure I believe the VERY precise claim unless the particular device does have gps.
dugimodo (138)
1485014 2022-03-16 06:41:00 Sometimes it's spookily accurate considering the PC has no gps, other times it can be wildly off. Not sure I believe the VERY precise claim unless the particular device does have gps. Prob putting 1 and 1 together, the laptop was stolen, and a mobile as well which was tracked at the same location on that day. Stolen both at the same time by the same people. (spoke to the person who got robbed today) When they went to look there was a piece of vacant land right beside the location pin pointed, The people that own the house said its a secluded local hangout for all the rif-raf and the hangout is an area well known for thieves. So precise can be close or not so close, considering you take the area of lower Hutt / Wellington and can narrow it down to a property -- That's precise. wainuitech (129)
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