Global Positioning System: Safe or Unsafe

Global Positioning System (GPS) allows people to pinpoint their location. Cars, smartphones and some other devices has GPS installed in them. It allows the owner to look up to the current map and also determine any turning directions.

This function is great for navigation for anyone who needs it especially for someone like me that doesn't remember roads very well. It can calculate your driving speed, estimate arrival time and shows your current location which can actually come in handy in scheduling your time for any appointments.

Examples of application are Google Map which comes together in your smartphone and a downloadable application called Waze. Whatsapp also allows its users to share their location to their friends or family so they can know where they are or go to them directly using navigation applications. Cars that comes with GPS also allows the driver to know where they're going and it can also pinpoint their current location. It is also super helpful when it comes to your car getting stolen or finding your lost family or friends.

As for the down side, if your GPS information falls into the wrong hands, you can easily become a victim of robbery or being stalked by someone else. Not only that, it can also reveal who you're with and you no longer have your privacy rights. A simple scenario will be carrying a smartphone that comes with a GPS system and it has already placed you in a vulnerable position. For example for iPhone users, when someone got hold of your Apple ID and password, they can easily get your location through an application called Find My iPhone which comes with the iPhone together itself.

A simple cellphone with a GPS can be useful for you or putting you in a dangerous place. Everyone should be careful when using GPS especially on social media. Sharing your location or where you are on your social site is where you can share your moments and memories with your friends but also be careful that others might take this opportunity and information and up to no good.

A short conclusion I made for this topic, is that GPS can be useful, yet dangerous at the same time. It can be a great help in your time of needs when you need direction or sharing your location to someone so that they can find you, but it also puts you in risk as others might get a hold of your location and do up to no good. I guess it is up to us to be careful having a GPS around with us.

Reference:

CNN (2011) How GPS tracking threatens our pricacy. Available at: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/07/opinion/crump-gps/ (Accessed 4 January 2016).

Electro Flip (2015) GPS Tracking Devices – The Good and The Bad. Available at: http://www.electroflip.com/blog/gps-tracking-devices-the-good-and-the-bad/ (Accessed 5 January 2016).

TechTarget (2007) Global Positioning System (GPS) definition. Available at: http://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/definition/Global-Positioning-System (Accessed 4 January 2016).

Websmith Group (2015) Location services: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Available at: http://www.websmithgroup.com/blog/reviews/location-services-good-bad-ugly/ (Accessed 4 January 2016).