Govt Wants Users to Disable This Phone Setting

The National Cyber Emergency Response Team (National CERT), in partnership with the National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC), has issued a warning to internet users about privacy and security concerns associated with sharing real-time locations online. The advisory, released during Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2026, underscores how location sharing can expose sensitive personal details and make users susceptible to cyber threats.

National CERT emphasizes that location data offers more than just a person's position on a map; it can reveal daily routines, personal habits, and movements, enabling malicious actors to pinpoint where individuals reside, work, and frequently visit. The advisory also cautions that location data can disclose when people are at home or away, potentially putting them at risk of stalking, unauthorized tracking, and other malicious activities.

Moreover, location data can expose social connections by showing which people an individual regularly interacts with.

To mitigate these risks, National CERT recommends that users disable location sharing when it is not necessary and routinely check privacy settings on their devices and applications. Users are also advised to be cautious when sharing personal information online and offline, especially when using applications that provide live location updates or permit location data sharing with others.

National CERT and NTC assert that simple preventive measures can safeguard personal privacy and enhance digital safety. As part of the Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2026 initiative, the two organizations stress the importance of responsible location sharing, stronger privacy practices, and increased public awareness to foster safer digital communities in Pakistan.