Is Google following you? Internet giant's latest mobile operating system tracks user's location even when Wi-Fi is switched OFF

Google's Android 4.3 operating system has a feature called 'Scanning always available'

This feature scans for networks even when Wi-Fi is turned off



Google claims this is to 'improve location accuracy and for other purposes'

Google's latest Android phone operating system has revealed a feature that will scan for networks and track user's locations even when Wi-Fi has been turned off.



The code used to build Android 4.3 claims that 'to improve location accuracy and for other purposes, Google and other apps may scan for nearby networks even when Wi-Fi is off.'

By identifying nearby Wi-Fi networks a device can determine a user's location and it can be used as an alternative to GPS.



An early release of Google's latest Android phone operating system reveals a feature that will scan for networks and track user's locations even when Wi-Fi has been turned off. The 'Scanning always available' feature is turned off by default and can be controlled in the Advanced Wi-Fi Settings menu

HOW DOES GOOGLE USE WI-FI TO TRACK LOCATIONS?

According to the official Google support pages: ' To improve your use of location-based services, Google, as a location service provider, uses publicly broadcast Wi-Fi data from wireless access points, as well as GPS and cell tower data. Location services play an important part in enabling many of today’s most popular location-aware applications. The inclusion of your WiFi access point in the Google Location Service enables applications like Google Maps to work better and more accurately. Only publicly broadcast Wi-Fi information is used to estimate the location of a device.' This can be disabled but involves changing the name, also known as the SSID, or a wireless network.

To do this add '_nomap' to the end of the SSID.

Full instructions can be found here .

The new feature of Android 4.3 means that even if a user disables Wi-Fi to save battery or conceal their location, for example, it will stay on and run in the background.

It also indicates that any location, or 'other' information obtained during this scan will be shared with Google or other apps installed onto a device.



Google is yet to comment on what these 'other purposes' could be.



According to Ron Amadeo from fan site Android Police , who discovered the code: 'Google wants you to leave your Wi-Fi on, or at least partially on, all the time.



'Now I know you might immediately scream 'MY BATTERY [LIFE!'] but this will probably save battery.



Google wants you to leave Wi-Fi on so that apps can get your location, but consider that the other option for location is firing up the GPS chip, which is a battery's worst enemy.'

The feature is turned off by default, according to users who have already downloaded the update.



Plus it can be enabled or disabled by going to Settings, Wi-Fi, Advanced Wi-Fi and checking, or unchecking, the 'Scanning always available' box.



Google rolled out its Android 4.3 Jelly Bean Over-The-Air (OTA) update for Google editions of the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4 handsets earlier this week.



Google's Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update was announced by Hugo Barra, vice president of Android, pictured, during the launch of the company's new Nexus 7 tablet in July

The update to the operating system was announced in July during the launch of Google's 2013 Nexus 7 tablet.

It was first ported to older Nexus devices including Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 4, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10.

Google has introduced other features to Android 4.3 to increase privacy and security.



Its added support for encrypted KeyChains that let people store private information that remains hidden even if hackers break into the phone.



It has also moved the Verify Apps feature that scans any downloaded apps automatically for malware to the Google Play Services menu and added a 'Find My Phone' feature, if the handset is lost or stolen.

Other features include customisable multi-user accounts, restricted profiles, an advanced camera app and a new keyboard.

