# Unfamiliar locations listed as Recently used devices **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 13, 2021, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfamiliar-locations-listed-as-recently-used-devices/932841 "2021-02-13T15:37:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2021, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfamiliar-locations-listed-as-recently-used-devices/932841/1 "2021-02-13T15:37:20Z")
I am not tech savvy at all. I’m looking at my sdmb profile preferences for my account and I noticed that under the header Recently used Devices were a couple of unfamiliar locations listed that apparently accessed my phone. Akron Oh and Linden Mi? Has my IPhone phone been hacked? Or just my sdmb account hacked? I removed the suspicious ones from the list Who what where why did this happen? Should I use two factor authentication to sign in here? Anybody using it? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2021, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfamiliar-locations-listed-as-recently-used-devices/932841/2 "2021-02-13T15:41:36Z")
Just ignore it. The location data is completely inaccurate. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2021, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfamiliar-locations-listed-as-recently-used-devices/932841/3 "2021-02-13T16:38:32Z")
Thanks I thought so. But when I started getting spammy red box warnings when visiting the Daily Mail, ( i get a kick from the sensationalism and celebrity gossip) it kind of worried me that indeed my phone was targeted. Been hacked before on my laptop, so a bit wary. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2021, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfamiliar-locations-listed-as-recently-used-devices/932841/4 "2021-02-13T16:46:27Z")
Seems very unlikely. What phone are you using? ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2021, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfamiliar-locations-listed-as-recently-used-devices/932841/5 "2021-02-13T16:48:39Z")
Iphone 12. My Apple ID remains linked to my old iPhone 6 which I only use as a backup around the house when the 12 is charging. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2021, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfamiliar-locations-listed-as-recently-used-devices/932841/6 "2021-02-13T16:49:40Z")
The likelihood of an iPhone 12 being “hacked” is basically zero. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2021, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfamiliar-locations-listed-as-recently-used-devices/932841/7 "2021-02-13T16:51:17Z")
I’d think using a VPN would also create a variety of location data. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2021, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfamiliar-locations-listed-as-recently-used-devices/932841/8 "2021-02-13T16:53:36Z")
I am guessing that some who is “not tech savvy at all” would not be using a VPN from an iPhone. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2021, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfamiliar-locations-listed-as-recently-used-devices/932841/9 "2021-02-13T16:59:25Z")
I haven’t downloaded a vpn app, I do use private browsing on occasion is that similar? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2021, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfamiliar-locations-listed-as-recently-used-devices/932841/10 "2021-02-13T18:07:43Z")
No. That just clears your history and cookies after you are finished your session. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2021, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfamiliar-locations-listed-as-recently-used-devices/932841/11 "2021-02-13T18:29:06Z")
Good to know, why use a VPN? I never use free wifi, and I don’t live abroad. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2021, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfamiliar-locations-listed-as-recently-used-devices/932841/12 "2021-02-13T18:47:01Z")
Mostly, paranoia. Or, to obscure your browsing activities if you are visiting sites that you shouldn’t be. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2021, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfamiliar-locations-listed-as-recently-used-devices/932841/13 "2021-02-14T10:47:13Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > The location data is completely inaccurate. Are you talking about SDMB profiles? Because mine are totally accurate. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2021, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfamiliar-locations-listed-as-recently-used-devices/932841/14 "2021-02-14T11:22:59Z")
Eh, I’m not tech savvy, and my employer required VPN. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2021, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfamiliar-locations-listed-as-recently-used-devices/932841/15 "2021-02-14T13:56:49Z")
Rn mine says Akron OH ( again) I’m in Grand Rapids mi ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2021, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfamiliar-locations-listed-as-recently-used-devices/932841/16 "2021-02-14T17:38:55Z")
In general there is nothing about the internet that tells anyone where an IP address physically is. But there are services available that guess. Which can end up with comical things like you sign on to wi-fi at a Starbucks in Texas that uses an ISP whose HQ is in Chicago and now your history shows you were in Chicago. For awhile in the early days of this location awareness silliness there was a prominent service in this space that defaulted to the geographical center of the USA whenever it had no better idea where the IP address might be. Which was in Kansas near a farm belonging to a little old lady. Who kept getting served warrants and such, and being harassed in general by agencies and companies and people who believed the location data was 100% reliable and so her farm must have been the source of the spam, or DOS attack, or whatever. IIRC the industry finally figured out what was going on. That supplier moved their “I have no clue” default position a few miles to the center of a large lake. It probably didn’t stop clueless agencies & people from trying to blame the lake, but it did make the old lady _much_ happier. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2021, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfamiliar-locations-listed-as-recently-used-devices/932841/17 "2021-02-14T17:43:27Z")
When I use Panera’s on-line ordering, it always picks my last-used restaurant to start my order, shows it on a map, and then says: **Phoenix - E Cactus Rd** **Cafe# 601913** **[Info](https://www.panerabread.com/en-us/home.html#) · 906.5mi · 4512 E Cactus Rd, Phoenix AZ** **In-Cafe Pick-Up Only** Right, I’ll pick up my sandwich in two days. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2021, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfamiliar-locations-listed-as-recently-used-devices/932841/18 "2021-02-14T19:29:09Z")
> [@"Your IP address has been recorded to prevent fraud"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-ip-address-has-been-recorded-to-prevent-fraud/781817): > > Just got this message when ordering a delivery from a small business. What does it mean? Should I avoid online ordering when I see this message? Is it happening all the time and I’m just not being alerted? ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2021, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfamiliar-locations-listed-as-recently-used-devices/932841/19 "2021-02-14T21:04:10Z")
Do you access the Dope from outside your home? That could be a difference because no matter what device I use it’s used from home. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2021, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfamiliar-locations-listed-as-recently-used-devices/932841/20 "2021-02-14T21:27:49Z")
> [@chela](#): > > Good to know, why use a VPN? I never use free wifi, and I don’t live abroad. > [@susan](#): > > Eh, I’m not tech savvy, and my employer required VPN. Well, this is why i usually use a VPN, because my employer requires it. When i get notified that some account has been accessed from “the USA” i ignore it, because that happens a lot, and it just means i was someplace where Google couldn’t guess the location. I take more notice if the ip address puts me in a specific place i wasn’t.