Google Maps has for years offered users of both iPhone and Android mobile devices the best navigational and geo-location informational experience available--hands down. It's not even close. And when you consider that the app is free, it seems like an ever greater value. While the app may not cost users any money, it certainly isn't 'free' in a more abstract sense. That's because Google's amazing maps app constantly tracks your movements. All the time. 365 days a year; 7 days a week; 24 hours a day. And the app doesn't have to be in use or open for it to record your movements. 

If you aren't convinced, or don't find this in the least bit creepy, you will. Just click this link to find out exactly how thorough Google's collection of your data is: https://maps.google.com/locationhistory/. 

Yes. You are being tracked 24/7.

If this doesn't alarm you, it should. Think about it: when do you not have your phone with you? Essentially Google has a book on where you are all the time. Now, obviously Google isn't scrutinizing every user's individual data, but it could. And what's more, with the recent revelations regarding the United States government's annual secret requests to companies like Google or Apple for user data, the implications of this revelation are alarming, to say the least. 

But before you go throwing your phone away, there's good news. There is a way to stop your phone from reporting real-time location information to Google. 

What you wanna do is this:

For iPhone Users, open Google Maps, then:

1. Tap or drag the tab in the screen's bottom left corner to open the Settings.

2. Tap on Location History, and then Location History a second time.

3. Next, check the Do Not Store box, then tap the back button

4. Then tap on Location Reporting and then check the Do Not Report box.

And you're done!

For Android Users, open Google Maps, then:

1. Tap the tab in the bottom left and then tap on Settings.

2. Tap on Google Location Settings

3. In the Location Services section tap on Google Location Reporting

4. Tap on Location Reporting

5. Toggle the selection to Off, then tap the back button

6. Next, tap Location History and select Off

And you're done!

Free at last! No more Orwellian search giant invasion of your personal privacy. Actually, that's not true since Google still has ways of collecting all sorts of other bits of data about you if you use any of their other services. 

There is one last bit of consolation for you if you are worried about Google tracking your whereabouts. You can actually delete your location history stored on Google's servers. All you have to do is go here and click on Delete All History near the bottom-left of the page, and then you're free--sort of. Actually, not really. But you should enjoy whatever peace of mind being free from Google's tracking brings you. Before Skynet becomes self-aware, that is.