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The Internet is a wonderful place, even if viewed from the small window of a smartphone. Unfortunately, some parts of it are available if your data meets certain criteria - a common example is location.
You may have noticed that websites and apps behave differently in different locations. Think about many applications and services that, for example, do not work if you are outside of Russia or the Pokemon GO game. But there is a way to cheat the system...
As many of you know, Android is quite versatile. For example, you can spoof your GPS location. The main thing is that this function is available on almost any modern Android smartphone, regardless of the manufacturer. There are many reasons why you might want to make a fictitious location (most of them harmless), I hope you are not doing anything illegal.
The procedure itself is very simple, you don’t even need to root your smartphone.
Here is a list of steps to take.
Mock Locations (fake GPS path)
This is a powerful Android application that allows you to change your Android location in seconds. The application has several unique functions, for example, the ability to simulate a GPS route, set control points, set variable speed, and more.
You can also hide the app icon in the status bar, which is quite rare.
How to change location on Android
You can disguise your real geolocation using the Hola Fake GPS location application.
After the first launch, you will have to spend a few minutes to make the necessary settings. But in the future you will be able to change coordinates almost instantly in a simple and convenient interface. After installing Hola Fake GPS location, you must give the program permission to change the geoposition. To do this, first click in the GO application, and then Settings - the “For Developers” section will open. Then find the option “Select apps for fake locations” and use it to select Hola Fake GPS location.
Next, go to the device settings and open the section responsible for location settings. Here, enable the mode of determining geoposition using GPS satellites only.
When you make the above settings, the application will be ready to use. To use it to change the coordinates for all other programs, just select a false location on the map and press the GO button. You can choose any locations around the world. To disable coordinate substitution, you need to click on STOP.
False location transmission works in the background. By turning on Hola Fake GPS location, you can share coordinates on social networks as usual and take new pictures in other programs. But now other users will see not your actual location and not the places where you took the photo, but the selected coordinates.
You can also control the operation of Hola Fake GPS location using a special widget that appears on the notification panel after installing the program.
If you decide to use a false geolocation to unblock services that do not work in your country, know that you will most likely not succeed. VPN services are suitable for this purpose.
After turning off Hola, other applications may still see dummy coordinates. In such cases, simply restart the GPS module.
The Hola Fake GPS location application is available with a paid subscription or completely free. But in the second case, the program will use the processing power of your device while it is idle and a little traffic.
appbox fallback https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.hola.gpslocation&hl=ru&hl=ru&gl=ru
Surveillance via radio signals: GSM, GPS, Wi-Fi
Sarah Connor was primarily concerned about the signal from the satellite positioning system - GPS. At first glance, this is logical, because it is satellites that make it possible to determine the exact location of the device. However, in reality it is not so simple.
Can you be tracked via GPS?
To determine its location, the phone itself does not transmit any information to the satellite. At all. The system works only in one direction: the phone receives a signal from several satellites, analyzes how long this signal spent in transit, and thus calculates its coordinates.
So, tracking someone using GPS alone is not possible. After all, you need to somehow send an “encrypted message to the center” with coordinates from your phone, but the GPS standard does not provide such a possibility.
Terminator 6/3: Sarah Connor and a bag of chips
Surveillance via mobile networks
But with cellular network towers, unlike GPS satellites, communication occurs in both directions. And although determining your location is not the main task of cellular communications, it can also help in this matter. Roughly speaking, knowing which tower is currently serving the phone, you can find out where it is located. However, accessing this data is very difficult.
Recently, researchers discovered a rather interesting way to find out information about the nearest phone tower - through an intricate SIM card vulnerability that can be exploited using a regular computer and a USB modem. However, this method requires specialized knowledge in the field of cellular communications, so it is used only in expensive targeted attacks.
In addition, geolocation using cell towers is not very accurate: it does not allow you to determine exact coordinates, but only the area where you are. And if in the city this area is relatively small (your location can be determined with an accuracy of a couple of hundred meters), then in rural areas, where there are fewer cell towers, the distance between them can be kilometers - and the error in determining the location will also be huge.
Wi-Fi surveillance
You can also track your movements using Wi-Fi - when you log in to an open network, it receives both data about the device and some information about you. In addition, smartphones broadcast information about themselves in search of available networks, and you can track them even if you have not connected to anything.
The inconvenience is that you can spy on your movements via Wi-Fi only while you are near the access points controlled by the spy. Therefore, although this method is practiced, it is not for spying on specific people, but rather for general monitoring of people’s behavior in a limited area. For example, this is done in some shopping centers in order to select individual advertising offers based on data about visits to certain stores.
Location spoofing apps
I will describe the three most practical and convenient (in my opinion) applications:
- Fake GPS Location - most optimally combines the parameters of simplicity / functionality.
- Mock Locations - more aimed at creating conditional routes.
- Fake GPS – Fake Location is an even simpler alternative to the first one.
Each application, as you can see, has its own specific functions, so the choice is yours. But at the end of the review, I will still talk about my personal choice.
Substitution of location in Fake GPS Location
Fake GPS Location is a very convenient and functional application. Among the main functions it is worth noting:
- one-click replacement
- function to turn on at system boot
- random location change
When you enter the application, you will immediately be prompted by the system to use this particular application (you will be taken to the “For Developers” section). Which is very convenient.
Substitution of location in Fake GPS Location
Now just adjust the point on the map to the indicator itself and click Play. The tray will display your current location. You can stop the simulation simply by pressing pause.
Substitution of location in Fake GPS Location
Also, if you go to settings, you will see several useful functions, such as:
- Automatically turns on when the device is rebooted.
- Application to various applications.
- Random change of location when you pass a certain path in meters.
Substitution of location in Fake GPS Location
As you can see, everything is very simple and convenient!
Substitution of GPS coordinates in Mock Locations
Mock Locations is a very functional application. It not only replaces the location on an Android device, but also simulates the entire route.
At the same time, you can set the speed and time spent at points, save the route and find the desired places on the map in the search.
Using the application also begins with making changes to the “For Developers” section.
Substitution of GPS coordinates in Mock Locations
After this, you can set the location where you want to be conditionally by long tapping on this place (or by entering the address in the search). Then click on the green checkmark for settings. Set the stay time and move on.
Substitution of GPS coordinates in Mock Locations
In addition, you can set the conditional route itself, along which you will move at a speed and stop time you determine at each point. Looks like you've been on an interesting journey.
So, hold down the starting and ending points of the route in order, click on the green checkmark and configure the parameters - the movement has begun!
Substitution of GPS coordinates in Mock Locations
The application also has a function to search for the location you need. Plus, you can download a ready-made route in GPX format.
Substitution of GPS coordinates in Mock Locations
There is also a paid version of this application, where there are no advertisements and the ability to save routes.
Changing location in Fake GPS – Fake Location
Fake Location. Among the advantages, it is worth noting the simplest interface and the ability to save points of stay as bookmarks. There is nothing complicated to use, so I don't see the point in the instructions.
In conclusion, I will say that, in my opinion, Fake GPS Location works best, and the simplicity of the interface is simply impressive. And these are not just words, I tested about 10 location spoofing applications.
There are also a large number of applications for changing location in the market. You can try them, but do not forget to pay attention to the list of permissions that this or that application requires, and if something is suspicious, do not install it. If you still decide to install, then here are two articles that will help you do it correctly and safely. In the article “Checking an APK” you will learn how to check an application for viruses before you download and install it on your device, and in the article “How to install an application” you will learn how to test new applications without putting your phone / tablet at risk.
False geolocation on iOS devices
Let's say you're at a party, but you want everyone to think you're sitting at home watching TV. To change geolocation, you need another iPhone with version no lower than 8, it must be connected to the same Apple account.
To do this, go to the “Privacy” section, and from there to “Location Services”. Select Share Location. You will see all devices that are connected to your account. In “Map Link” add a second device, it can even be an iPad.
As you can see, nothing complicated. Now just leave your tablet at home and send information from it remotely. Now let's look at how to fake geolocation using third-party applications.
How to setup
Google services use user location data. The most common:
- location determination;
- transfer of geodata to other users;
- geolocation history.
For options to work correctly, they must be configured.
To determine your location, you must activate the “Geolocation” icon in the quick settings drop-down menu or in your smartphone settings. For a more accurate determination, you need to activate the “Use all sources” item in the “Mode” section or, in newer versions of Android, select the “More accurate determination” function.
Location history allows you to use additional services: device search, traffic data, recommendations for places visited, individually built routes.
Location history is linked to your Google account. To use the service, you must make the following settings:
- sign in to your Google account;
- activate location history;
- Allow location sharing.
Why hide location on smartphone
The smartphone accompanies us all day long on all our trips and movements. Feeling the need to be constantly in touch, we do not part with our favorite gadget even for a minute.
At the same time, few people think that a smartphone is a spy in your pocket, which, based on geolocation data, can create a detailed report about your life.
The daily work route, places of rest and meetings, favorite cafes and frequently visited establishments can be identified by anyone and used for the most unpredictable purposes. Social networks, including many popular instant messengers, are also guilty of collecting such data. And if you take into account the fact that they store addresses, photos, phone numbers and other information of their users in the public domain, it turns out that anyone can look at your life “under a magnifying glass”.
Hiding your location on your smartphone is not only a great opportunity to limit third-party applications’ access to your personal data, but also a good way to save battery power. Also, this way you can prank your friends by sending them greetings from some supposed Zanzibar.
How to disable surveillance of your Megafon phone
Similar to the previous operator, there is also a list of commands with which you can determine who is watching you and about:
- An SMS with the text -792ХХХХХХХХ to number 000888 will remove your number from the tracker’s access list;
- An SMS with the text LIST to number 000888 will show a list of numbers that have access to your location;
- An SMS with the text CLEAR to the number 000888 will remove all numbers of people following you from the access list.
*ХХХХХХХХ—subscriber number to whom access is granted or revoked.
#2 How to enable developer mode
To enable “Developer Mode”, you need to go to the “About phone” section and find the item with information about the software. Find the “Build number” item, on Xiaomi phones this is the MUIU number and click on it 7 times.
Once you do this, a new “For Developers” item should appear in the main settings menu. Its location will vary depending on the manufacturer, but it should be somewhere at the bottom of the menu.
Negative aspects of applications for changing GPS coordinates
These programs have several disadvantages that force many users to refuse to use them:
- Authorization required. When performing this procedure, the user indicates his real data;
- high traffic consumption. Relevant if applications run on the mobile Internet;
- display of built-in advertising;
- inefficiency. Not all programs can boast of operating stability;
- crashes and freezes during use.
Android location substitution is carried out through the use of third-party software, the quality of which is not always clear. However, this feature is useful for a number of users who want to use their smartphone incognito.
Verdict
As you can see, there are a ton of great ways to spoof your GPS location, whether you actually want to spoof the locale of your GPS, or if you're just trying to "spoof" the location of your IP address to watch geo-restricted movies and TV shows.
have a favorite way to spoof your location without rooting your android phone? Let us know how or what your favorite app to use in the comments section below - we'd love to hear from you!
How to update geolocation
Sometimes, with a change of location, the geolocation on Android does not change. To display geodata correctly, you should update the location function:
- go to the settings of your device;
- select the “Date and Time” section;
- deactivate the time zone over the network and select it manually;
- turn on the network time zone display again;
- go to the “Location” item in the smartphone settings;
- make sure the function is active;
- select the “Mode” section;
- select "Across all sources".
