Can my smartphone be tracked in airplane mode?

Why airplane mode is not enough for data protection

When we show our product to someone who is not familiar with TOCA and our mission, we sometimes get this reaction:

"Isn't this exactly the same as airplane mode?"

Data privacy is a complex issue that goes beyond simply tracking geolocation. While Airplane Mode disables wireless transmissions such as cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, it does not provide complete protection of your privacy. Here's why:

  1. GPS Functionality : When Airplane mode is enabled, your phone's GPS function remains active. This means that the phone can still receive signals from GPS satellites and determine its location. This information can be recorded and used later.
  2. Cell Phone Triangulation : Even if Airplane Mode is on, your phone can still be located via cell tower triangulation. This method uses multiple cell towers to determine the phone's location by measuring the time it takes for signals to travel between the phone and the towers. Although the phone is not actively transmitting data, it can still interact with nearby cell towers to obtain location information.
3. Location Data Retention : Phones are designed to store location data even when airplane mode is on. This means that services like Google Maps can access the stored location data and update their records when you turn airplane mode off. This happens because the phone continues to record location data based on the signals it receives.
4. Testing Airplane Mode : You can test this yourself by turning on Airplane Mode and then opening Google Maps. Even though Wi-Fi and mobile data are turned off, your phone can still pinpoint your location with amazing accuracy. This is because of the stored GPS and triangulation data.

Can I just use my phone in airplane mode? Why isn't just using airplane mode to back up your data enough?

How TOCA Ensures True Privacy

The difference when you use TOCA is significant. TOCA products create a physical barrier between your phone and external signals, ensuring complete privacy. Here's how we achieve this:

  1. Conductive Material: The inner layer of our protective cases is made of a certified mesh of conductive material. This mesh acts like a Faraday cage and blocks all electromagnetic signals, including cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS.
  2. Signal Blocking: By placing your phone in a TOCA case, you can prevent it from sending or receiving signals. This means no more GPS tracking, no more cell tower triangulation, and no other form of location tracking. Your phone is effectively isolated from any outside communication.
  3. Certified Protection :Our cases are tested and certified to ensure they offer maximum protection against signal intrusion. This guarantees that your phone is truly undetectable in a TOCA case.

The importance of data protection

Caring about your digital privacy is not the same as having something to hide. Edward Snowden famously said, "To say you don't care about privacy because you have nothing to hide is like saying you don't care about free speech because you have nothing to say."

We all have aspects of our lives that we prefer to keep to ourselves. True privacy allows you to control what parts of your life you share with others. It means you get to choose what and when you share, rather than being forced to do so.

At TOCA, we believe in the importance of privacy and the right to control your personal information. Our products are designed to give you peace of mind in an increasingly connected world.

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