Apple is a giant corporation that produces mobile devices used worldwide. However, ordinary users do not know about the many pitfalls that the device, and especially its operating system, has. We cannot say that the company hides them somehow; all the information is available in public access, but an average iPhone user only cares about security breaches once something happens to them.
Let’s talk more about iMessage, its security, and Apple’s attitude to such issues. A quick note – we are not criticizing the tech giant, we are just giving some friendly suggestions and sharing our thoughts.
What Is iMessage
iMessage is a unique Apple messaging system that prioritizes internet connection over a cellular network. In short, when you open “messages” on your iPhone and send a text, the system first checks if your device is connected to the internet and, next, if the recipient also uses an iPhone and if it is connected to the internet. If the system gets 3 “yes” – it sends the text for free over the internet.
If there is at least one “no” – the text is sent as an SMS, and you pay the standard network provider fare. You can send texts, pictures, and videos and share location on iMessage, which makes it similar to the standard SMS service offered by all other devices.
Apple and Privacy
Many users value Apple for the privacy it guarantees, while many criticize the company for their decisions and suspect they have a portfolio for every Apple user. So, what are those controversial points?
- Apple cooperates with law enforcement organizations and shares information about their clients upon request.
- iCloud is not as safe as the company may want to claim, and breaches occasionally happen.
- Experts claim that Apple’s hardware is the most secure in the industry, but they must work on the software, which could have been much better.
iMessage, which is not mentioned on the list above, is considered extremely safe, as it uses end-to-end encryption, making it difficult for hackers to decipher the messages if they do not have access to the source or hacker device. People have tried to convince Apple to use the same technology for iCloud, but there has been no luck so far.
How to Share Location via iMessage
If you are wondering how to send location on iMessage, you must ensure that Location Services are active on your device. To check this, open settings, proceed to the privacy tab, and turn Location Services on if needed. After this, follow the next steps.
- Open the messages app on your iPhone.
- Choose to whom you want to send your message in the field “To”.
- In the bottom left corner, tap “+”.
- Allow location sharing if you get a corresponding message on the screen.
- Send the pin to your chosen contact.
In such a way, you share only a single-time pin on the map. If you want to share your live location, you must use Apple Maps or Google Maps.
- Open the maps app on your iPhone.
- Find your location on the map.
- Tap share.
- Choose for how long you want to share the location.
- Choose the contact from the list and send them your live location.
Safety Issues
People who wonder “how I can share location on iMessage” are often worried that a third party can access it. Here are the main aspects you must be aware of.
- Hackers. Everything sent via iMessage is protected by end-to-end encryption, meaning only the recipient’s device has the key to decipher your message. Of course, there is a possibility that some hackers may get access to it, but hey, some hackers can even hack the Pentagon!
- Law Enforcers. Apple can share your location information with law enforcement agencies, and they do not need you to send it via iMessage to do so. Thus, you better not go against the law, and lawyers will not need your location.
- Cell Phone Number Trackers. There are some phone trackers that may track a phone number (e.g., GEOfinder.mobi, LocationTracker.mobi, or uMobix). Some of them even do not require installation for this. They work by sending an anonymous SMS with a tracking link that should be tapped.
Final Word
You do not need to read a dozen guides on how to share location on iMessage to do so, as the process is quite simple. It is a safe method. To exchange information, it uses an end-to-end encryption method, which can be compared to the “key-keyhole system”: when you send a message, you protect it with a cipher, and only the recipient’s device has a code for it.
Government agencies and the police may request Apple to share your location if needed (for instance, if you are a suspect in a criminal case), and the company would be obliged to do so. Hackers may also break the cipher if needed; it depends on the person’s qualifications and the time they are ready to spend on this, but they are not usually interested in the location of ordinary people.
Thus, we can responsibly conclude that sharing your location via iMessage is safe!