iTrack Registry

Home Feedback

iPhone and iPod touch Device Tracking

+ What does Device Tracking do?

For registered iPhone and iPod touch devices, when certain web applications are being launched from the Home Screen or Safari Bookmark, activity information is send to the Members iTrack device profile, enabling expert research to possibly identify the location from where the device was being used.

This might be helpful in the recovery of a lost or stolen unit.

The Member can configure tracking parameters on the iTrack website to affect the behavior of the tracking application that runs on the device, such as displaying messages to the user or quietly collecting information in 'stealth' mode.

NOTE: Tracking can only be performed on iPhone or iPod touch devices which have been properly configured before any loss occurs.

+ Which types of Devices can be tracked?

Device Tracking is only implemented for iPhone and iPod touch units.

+ Does this feature cost anything?

No.

+ Can I have my iPod tracked with a USB connection to a PC or Mac?

No. USB-connected iPods with special start-up coding cannot be effectively monitored because of the latest security updates to Mac and PC operating systems which prevent programs or procedures from being 'auto run'.

For this reason, Device Tracking is not implemented for non-iPod touch units.

+ How do I activate Device Tracking for my iPhone or iPod touch?

Detailed instructions are contained in the Help pages which can be accessed by the iTrack Member after login.
In short, for a device to be configured for tracking, the iTrack website must be accessed by the iPhone or iPod touch to be activated.

Once a device has been activated, configuration options and monitoring of device activity is managed by the Member using the iTrack website.

Also, Device Tracking requires the Member to use a Security Pass Phrase and Code which can be defined in the Members Profile section of the website.

Here are the steps to activate Device Tracking:

1. Log into the iTrack website from your iPhone/iPod touch, either in 'Full Web' or 'Mobile' mode.

2. Make sure that a Security Question/Answer pair is provided in your Member Profile.

3. Select the 'View Device Info' button for the device that you want to enable for tracking.

4. On the Device Page, touch the top button 'Activate Device Tracking'.

5. On the Device Tracking Signup page, launch one or more of the listed web applications and add each application to the Home Screen and/or Safari Bookmark.

6. At the bottom of the Tracking Signup page, touch the button 'Activate Tracking by IP Address'.

Whenever one of the selected web applications is run from the iPhone/iPod touch, tracking information is transmitted to the iTrack website.

The information can be viewed and setup information modified by logging into the iTrack Registry website from any PC, Mac, iPhone, or iPod touch. From your Member Profile, select the device for which tracking has been enabled. At the top of the Device Info page, select the button 'Show Device Tracking for 'xxxxx' (where xxxxx is the assigned iTrack ID of the device).

+ What are the Device Tracking configuration options?

Device tracking options are configured by the Member on the iTrack website in the Device Info section for iPhone or iPod touch units.

Here is a list of typical setup options:
1. Enable/Disable Device Tracking
2. Select one or more tracking web applications
3. Exporting the tracking history as a CSV file
4. Deleting the tracking history
5. Tracking device activity either on-going or only if the unit is declared as 'lost'
6. Tracking in stealth mode or with notification messages to device user
7. Sending alert messages to the Member contact email address each time the device is being used.

+ Does the Device Tracking feature drain my iPhone or iPod touch battery?

The tracking functions are similar in battery consumption to any other web application being used by an iPhone or iPod touch.

+ What can the Device Tracking information be used for?

Device tracking information contains the IP Address and the time when activity was encountered.

Using a commercial IP Address/Geolocation database, the iTrack website records the Internet Service Provider (ISP) who is managing the assignment of IP addresses to its customers. Also, the organization (customer) to which the IP address was assigned for the iPhone or iPod touch to connect to the Internet is listed.
Additionally, a geographical location of the IP Address is approximated to show the general area on a map indicating where the activity of the iPhone or iPod touch occurred.
This is usually the location of the ISP and not the physical location of the user.

More information about the ISP is being provided through a link to the WHOIS system.

With this information, Law Enforcement Agencies and/or technically knowledgeable individuals could be able to identify the actual location or company from which the device was used.

+ How much tracking data history is being kept?

The maximum number of tracking points available for a registered device is 15.
Tracking points are recorded in chronological order.

If more than 15 activities need to be tracked, then the oldest points are deleted to make room for the most recent ones.

A Member can download tracking points for off-line use and retention.

+ Is Location information being captured from my iPhone?

No. iPhone location information is not available to web applications.

We are working on an iPhone program which can be run from the Home Screen for tracking purposes under the new Apple iPhone OS to be released in the near future.
Our Members will be notified once the program is available for release through distribution channels managed by Apple.

Please note that background tracking applications for the iPhone cannot be developed by third parties due to policy restrictions by Apple.

+ I lost my iPhone/iPod touch. Can I still activate the tracking feature?

No. Initial Device Tracking activation has to be accomplished by using the device and connecting to the Member Profile on the iTrack website.

+ How many devices can be tracked per iTrack Member?

Device tracking can be configured for as many iPhone and iPod touch devices as have been registered by a given iTrack Member.
Configuration requires the physical availability of the device and an active Internet connection.

There is no practical limit to the number of devices an iTrack Member can register.

+ How do I access Device Tracking information?

Accessing tracking information for a given iPhone or iPod touch requires iTrack Member login from either a PC, Mac, iPhone, or iPod touch using an Internet connection.

+ Will device tracking still work after I restored my Device?

No. After an iPhone or iPod touch has been restored using iTunes, tracking needs to be re-configured using the device by connecting to the iTrack website and logging into your Member Account.

Restoring a device to factory settings does not remove any tracking or configuration data stored in your iTrack Member Profile of the Lost and Found Registry.

Just follow the setup procedures described in the Help page and device tracking will be re-established.

+ Does Device Tracking give me the exact location of whoever is using the device?

No. Although the iTrack website is programmed to capture and display location information from various sources (e.g. GPS, Cell, any latitude/longitude pair), device tracking for iPhones and iPod touch devices is limited to the location capabilities of the device and software implementations permitted by Apple to third-party developers.

Under these conditions, the best alternative for enhancing the recovery of a lost/stolen iPhone or iPod touch is the implementation of tracking the use of devices by IP address.
This method focuses on the Internet Service Provider (ISP) and Organization of the IP Address from which the iPhone or iPod touch was being used.

With this information, Law Enforcement and technical personnel are sometimes able to identify the WiFi location from which the device was used.

In addition, a general geographical location can be determined from the IP Address, at best to the level of a City. This location is generally related to the ISP or organization rather than from where the iPhone or iPod touch was used.

In the near future, we are hopeful to offer our Members a more precise tracking option specifically tailored to use the location capabilities of the iPhone based on cell tower and nearest WiFi triangulation methods, as well as the GPS capabilities of the iPhone 3G.