Ask HN: News.Y Combinator.com wants to use your devices location

19 points by hanniabu 7y ago ↗ HN

I'm on here nearly every day and today, for the first time, I received a notification (on mobile) with the site requesting to use my location.

1. Has anybody else started receiving this prompt?

2. Why does this site need my location?

8 comments

[ 2.1 ms ] story [ 38.6 ms ] thread

pronouncedGod 7y ago ↗

Answer to the first question - I mostly lurk and have not received this notification from Safari at this time.

However, I would like to know why this website (and many others) need my location data.

sli 7y ago ↗

This website does not ask for your location, OP pretty clearly has malware on their phone. This site uses a measly 150 lines of JS and none of it involves location. Feel free to see for yourself:

https://news.ycombinator.com/hn.js

dmlittle 7y ago ↗

1. No, I've never gotten the prompt.

2. I don't think it needs it?

What phone do you have and what browser are you using?

hanniabu 7y ago ↗

Samsung galaxy 7, using chrome

DrScump 7y ago ↗

I'm using Chrome on a GS7 right now and have never seen this. I keep Location Services off anyway. Version 73.0...

l24ztj 7y ago ↗

You've got a virus.

acct1771 7y ago ↗

Second time I've read this question on this site today.

What are you guys installing/who builds your ROMs?

quickthrower2 7y ago ↗

1. No

2. It doesn’t

You may have malware or this is a MITM scenario, perhaps an Internet cafe? Does the site show as secure?