Location-based technology services:
This is a very popular service based on different navigation technologies. LBS is a wireless service that determines the location information of the information device user by using Geographical Information System (GIS) and other satellite navigation platform.
Location Based Services (LBS) is now used in all kinds of activities to offer positioning service for different applications.
For example, if you are in an unknown place and want to know anything about the nearest specific service when you inform your application by your mobile then the app compares your location and the desired place stored in the database and guide you to the nearest one by just pinning it on the map. The increase in the number of applications which use LBS is generating healthy competition that is later modified as profit for consumer, operator and corporate sector. LBS is just making life simpler and its use smoother for mobile phone users.
The basic components of LBS are Mobile Device, Communication Network, Positioning Components (GPS, tracking software) and a Mobile Service Provider. LBS is designed to provide valuable information to users based on location or position.
Whether it’s used as a commercial or personal purpose it provides security to individuals as a whole. But the most important issue is privacy and individual autonomy. Though to a large extent, it ensures control over one’s own activities but any technological failure may bring the issue of safety risk. In a large perspective, location-based services have really created a revolution in the communication field and making our day-to-day lives simpler and smoother.
various privacy issues associated with LBS.
as LBS system deals with confidential personal information like location, personal mobile number, and address, it becomes vital to offer security for maintaining user’s privacy.
LBS with the innovation of positioning services having excellent ability to locate the position of users have both pros and cons. It has a large implication on society and economy as tracking device but the information of users can be misused raising issues of personal privacy and national security. As LBS is present and used all around the world with interoperability it becomes necessary to deal with all privacy and security issues.
- Control (Legal) –GPS and LBS devices are used to control and offer various types of services to the user. it controls one’s own direction of moving in guiding the right way.
- Trust (Social) – In social life trust is an essential part of relationships. However, the use of LBS is being practiced in low trust conditions. Monitoring someone with tracking system affects personal relationships.
- Privacy (Ethical) – everyone has the right to privacy or being free disturbances in one’s personal life. But in case of LBS technologies, it becomes essential to provide adequate security to these kinds of data for not being misused by any unauthorized person. Tracking and monitoring someone without his/her consent is purely unethical so needs a high level of security.
- Security (Technological) – to maintain privacy, security systems should be strong. LBS has cons by locating accurate personal information data. but another problem is raised to individuals by providing a bad weak security system to that highly sensitive information stored in its database.
Reference:
http://roseindia.net/technology/LBS/security-and-privacy-issues-lbs.shtml