Update the AccuWeather App to Stop Sharing Your Location
AccuWeather was recently discovered to collect location data belonging to users of its iOS app, whether they choose to share it or not. The weather app has since removed the malware, but you’ll need to update the app if you don’t want it to collect more data.
Security researcher Will Strafach discovered that the app collects data about users’ Wi-Fi network and Bluetooth status, even when users opted out of sharing location data. AccuWeather released a statement yesterday denying intentional user data collection and arguing that code from Reveal Mobile, a company that uses location data in marketing campaigns, is responsible for inadvertent data collection.
While you are updating your iOS apps, you should take the time to review your location settings on your phone to make sure you are not sharing your location with apps that you think do not have access to that information.
On your iOS device, go to Settings> Privacy> Location Services. From there, you can choose which apps have access to your location data, as well as view explanations from each app about why they might need to access your location data, and either block them permanently or only allow them to access them then. when you use the app or always allow them to access your location data (ideal for your favorite maps app, for example).