U.S. Military Disables Ad Tracking on Troops' Devices to Enhance Security
The U.S. Department of Defense has disabled advertising tracking across government-issued devices used by troops, including iPhones, Androids, and Windows computers managed through the federal military network. This action aims to prevent adversaries from using location data collected via apps for targeted attacks on service members or bases. The move follows reports that foreign actors had previously exploited commercially available location data in the Middle East. Senator Ron Wyden raised concerns about this vulnerability earlier this year and noted while disabling ad tracking is a positive step, personal devices brought onto military installations could still pose risks. Additionally, U.S. intelligence agencies have been confirmed to purchase such commercial data for surveillance without warrants.
