Insurance Apps tracking us!

[First Sergeant]

It appears Allstate is being sued for implanting tracking software into our cell phones and using said data to determine our rates. They are also selling that data to others and are in cahoots with several other apps also, such as "Gas Buddy", which I use frequently while travelling. My question is, do these apps actively "track" and send data even if the app is not being used? I don't have AllState but use "Gas Buddy", but am not sure if these two apps are related (I don't think they are) but I'll be checking some things out. I just deleted Gas Buddy, GONE! This topic has been here before, but I think this may be the first time a company is being sued?

https://www.usatoday.com/story/mone...ver-unauthorized-driver-tracking/77694348007/

Today: "Upright and breathing". Better than the alternative!

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[SP1966]

On android you can revoke permissions which should put an end to any tracking. I looked and the Gas Buddy app has "Activity" permission which I assume would include GPS tracking, I revoked it.

 

[HeyBales]

On android you can revoke permissions which should put an end to any tracking. I looked and the Gas Buddy app has "Activity" permission which I assume would include GPS tracking, I revoked it.

On android they spell out specifically what functions they want to use, and you can revoke/permit any of them. App may not work, but you can.
Like WhatsApp wants access to storage, camera, phone, phone book, GPS, ect - each is their own permission. And when denied some app ability won't happen, which I don't care about.
But some, like the bluetooth OBD2 scanner, android requires Location to be enabled so BT works, annoying but required.

 

[HeyBales]

It appears Allstate is being sued for implanting tracking software into our cell phones and using said data to determine our rates. They are also selling that data to others and are in cahoots with several other apps also, such as "Gas Buddy", which I use frequently while travelling. My question is, do these apps actively "track" and send data even if the app is not being used? I don't have AllState but use "Gas Buddy", but am not sure if these two apps are related (I don't think they are) but I'll be checking some things out. I just deleted Gas Buddy, GONE! This topic has been here before, but I think this may be the first time a company is being sued?

https://www.usatoday.com/story/mone...ver-unauthorized-driver-tracking/77694348007/

Today: "Upright and breathing". Better than the alternative!

Well - Allstate got other app's to include something for their use - then you the consumer willing installed it.
Then you agreed to the permissions that allowed it to work.
They did NOT implant software into our cell phones.

You could keep Gas Buddy if you like the functions on it - but disable all permissions and see what actually still works.

I think that's the one that will give locations of gas stations when on a road trip, was thinking of using it - not now.
But for strictly logging fuel info, may be just fine.

Also the app store has a section that lists what kind of info is being gathered and sent back if any, and what functions are required or optional. (like you get your own camera app, giving permission to use the camera and storage is kinda required to use it, but not access to the text messaging app for sharing, or the address book, or GPS for location in the picture, ect).

See Details section link spells it all out pretty clear in more detail. There should be no surprises here except just what may be done with the data gathered.
This is for Gas Buddy.

 

[Ozarkbeard]

The only apps I allow location permissions on are Google maps and Waze, also owned by Google. You can show nearby gas stations and prices on the maps apps, so I find gas buddy to be a waste of space on my phone and an additional intrusion if location is allowed.

Of course your mobile phone carrier also has access to your location and there's not much you can do about that if you want to use a mobile phone.

 

[First Sergeant]

Well - Allstate got other app's to include something for their use - then you the consumer willing installed it.
Then you agreed to the permissions that allowed it to work.
They did NOT implant software into our cell phones.

You could keep Gas Buddy if you like the functions on it - but disable all permissions and see what actually still works.

I think that's the one that will give locations of gas stations when on a road trip, was thinking of using it - not now.
But for strictly logging fuel info, may be just fine.

Also the app store has a section that lists what kind of info is being gathered and sent back if any, and what functions are required or optional. (like you get your own camera app, giving permission to use the camera and storage is kinda required to use it, but not access to the text messaging app for sharing, or the address book, or GPS for location in the picture, ect).

See Details section link spells it all out pretty clear in more detail. There should be no surprises here except just what may be done with the data gathered.
This is for Gas Buddy.

Yeah, we all give those permissions, but no one I know has ever read them the entire document. That might take a week! But I did delete the app knowing what I now Know. What they do with that data is what concerns me, and I doubt they will ever tell, other than the typical "we reserve the right to divulge, sell, transfer, portions or parts of your information to any third parties we choose or may in the future choose" blah blah. I still have another app I have had for a long time, "Gas Guru" which is very similar to the other one. Haven't finished researching it yet, but so far so good. It operates and is very good at fetching gas prices. On occasion wife and I will run Garmin (RV model) in addition to Apple Maps from phone. Garmin does have a section in there somewhere (if I remember correctly) where you can access fuel information and stations. We use both when close to bigger cities we are trying to navigate around and several times the navigation units do not agree with each other. Some of that (not all) is because the Garmin has been programmed with my motor home's weight, height, width. Does a good job at not sending you down a road that has a 12 foot overpass, when my motor home is 12 and a half feet tall! I did "ease" over a 16 ton bridge once with my 34,000 lb. rig. It was in the neighborhood I lived in and they changed the sign a year earlier, because the POA had just done the maintenance on it and did not want to do it as often. Bridge was at 20 tons for years. That Garmin system got updated, and pretty fast after they lowered that limit!

 

[Whitty1]

It appears Allstate is being sued for implanting tracking software into our cell phones and using said data to determine our rates. They are also selling that data to others and are in cahoots with several other apps also, such as "Gas Buddy", which I use frequently while travelling. My question is, do these apps actively "track" and send data even if the app is not being used? I don't have AllState but use "Gas Buddy", but am not sure if these two apps are related (I don't think they are) but I'll be checking some things out. I just deleted Gas Buddy, GONE! This topic has been here before, but I think this may be the first time a company is being sued?

https://www.usatoday.com/story/mone...ver-unauthorized-driver-tracking/77694348007/

Today: "Upright and breathing". Better than the alternative!

Your phone can be tracked even with off, so the only way to be sure not to be tracked is to leave your phone at home or put it inside a Faraday case. I did notice a setting in my Maverick that would allow data to be sent to the insurance cartel. Of course, I left that off.

 

[HeyBales]

Yeah, we all give those permissions, but no one I know has ever read them the entire document. That might take a week! But I did delete the app knowing what I now Know. What they do with that data is what concerns me, and I doubt they will ever tell, other than the typical "we reserve the right to divulge, sell, transfer, portions or parts of your information to any third parties we choose or may in the future choose" blah blah. I still have another app I have had for a long time, "Gas Guru" which is very similar to the other one. Haven't finished researching it yet, but so far so good. It operates and is very good at fetching gas prices. On occasion wife and I will run Garmin (RV model) in addition to Apple Maps from phone. Garmin does have a section in there somewhere (if I remember correctly) where you can access fuel information and stations. We use both when close to bigger cities we are trying to navigate around and several times the navigation units do not agree with each other. Some of that (not all) is because the Garmin has been programmed with my motor home's weight, height, width. Does a good job at not sending you down a road that has a 12 foot overpass, when my motor home is 12 and a half feet tall! I did "ease" over a 16 ton bridge once with my 34,000 lb. rig. It was in the neighborhood I lived in and they changed the sign a year earlier, because the POA had just done the maintenance on it and did not want to do it as often. Bridge was at 20 tons for years. That Garmin system got updated, and pretty fast after they lowered that limit!

Look at my shot from the Play store, this info is available before installing and needing to read through the muilti-page agreement to use it from the app creator. That may give more info, but the Play store gives enough. If it says this info may be shared - you can bet it is shared to make some money.

Thank's for the other app name.
Google maps give fuel location and prices too.
But they don't have what I just wanted something like you said for Garmin - let me tell the app my avg MPG, it will tell me fuel spots before I run out on my trip route. Had some breath holding moments from KC to SD during the summer I'd have not preferred.

 

[First Sergeant]

Look at my shot from the Play store, this info is available before installing and needing to read through the muilti-page agreement to use it from the app creator. That may give more info, but the Play store gives enough. If it says this info may be shared - you can bet it is shared to make some money.

Thank's for the other app name.
Google maps give fuel location and prices too.
But they don't have what I just wanted something like you said for Garmin - let me tell the app my avg MPG, it will tell me fuel spots before I run out on my trip route. Had some breath holding moments from KC to SD during the summer I'd have not preferred.

Thanks for the extra information! I have iPhone, but will be watching very closely from here on out for any bogus crap about my information being used or sold.

 

[Oscarcat]

I have Allstate auto insurance. Their tracking app is called "Drivewise". You must give permission. The carrot is a discount on your rates based on the app. Here is what they promise:

*How can I use Drivewise?

1. Download the Allstate app
2. Log in to your account
3. Go to the Drivewise dashboard and turn on crash detection
4. Accept the tracking and leave your location services on
5. Choose which drivers to track

**What are the benefits of Drivewise?

• You can potentially save money on your auto insurance
• You can earn cashback for safe driving habits
• The app includes a crash detection feature
• The app includes extras like a parking reminder, gas finder, and roadside assistance

 

[zen_]

I used the State Farm app and device for years to get a discount, and am also trying the Progressive app on my first term with them. It was a pretty significant discount for driving reasonably with State Farm, but at the same time, I am a person who prefers a balanced posture on privacy, and this level of tracking has always conflicted me (and when does the insurance industry make it mandatory, and totally normalized).

I also hear people paying $300+ / month for insurance though, while I am currently paying $60 / month with $1k deductibles and fairly high coverage limits to insure a Maverick.

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