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Expert Warns Pokemon Go Users: Turn Off GPS

(WWJ) The new Pokemon GO smartphone app might be fun, especially for kids in middle and high school looking for a summer activity. But the app could also be ripe for mischief among hackers.

Bill Kowalski heads the corporate investigative services division at the Rehmann Group and he has a word of advice for anyone using the app: Keep prying eyes away as much as possible by turning off location services on their phones.

"Bad elements will learn your location and possibly direct you to go to certain places, where, as we've seen already, there could be malicious activity or something like that. And when we look at the demographic playing this game, young adults and teenagers, they are at great risk," Kowalski said.

In addition to the fear of being lured to unsafe locations, he says users should turn off location services because hackers could also figure out a way to remotely take over your entire smartphone.

That means they could access payment accounts, and lots more personal information.

"Anytime you're giving your location over on a GPS device like this, my biggest concern is that bad guys, bad elements, are going to know where you are, have greater access to your movements, your contact list, your personally identifying information, and that's concerning,"Kowalski said.

 

 

 

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