JWMefton

Q: Can I make Apple iCloud locate New Brunswick better than "near Toronto"?

Recently changed my Apple user account password.

Since that, I'm dealing with trying to settle down the iCloud from constantly sending 2-factor authentication alerts every time I do anything - but that's not my main question.

Rather, it is about the disconcerting way Apple tells me that my mac mini or iPad sitting within arm's length of me in a city in New Brunswick, is a device located "near Toronto" (a "fact" which is (un)helpfully verified by a little map).

 

Now, I know Canada doesn't matter on the world stage, but it does matter to me whether someone near Toronto is trying to abuse my Apple account. And while I'm pretty sure most of these times it's me their lousy geography is referring to, the odd time when maybe a family member is using an iPad away from my view, or such, and I get the alert on the device I am using - well, how am I to know?

 

So: is this just normal Apple geo-ignorance? Anyone know of a

 

And yes, I have location services on for both iPads and the mini.

 

running Mavericks on late-2012 mac mini, and iOS 9 on iPad mini 2 and iPad mini 4

iPad Mini, iOS 9.3.1

Posted on May 14, 2016 7:03 AM

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Q: Can I make Apple iCloud locate New Brunswick better than "near Toronto"?

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  • by fromsouth,

    fromsouth fromsouth May 14, 2016 7:43 AM in response to JWMefton
    Level 5 (4,806 points)
    iCloud
    May 14, 2016 7:43 AM in response to JWMefton

    Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support

    What if I don’t recognize the location shown in my sign in notification?

    When you sign in on a new device, you’ll get a notification on your other trusted devices that includes a map showing the approximate location of the new device. This is an approximate location based on the IP address the device is currently using, rather than the exact location of the device. The location shown might reflect the network you're connected to, and not your physical location.

    If you know you’re the person trying to sign in but you don’t recognize the location shown, you can still tap Allow and continue signing in.

    However, if you ever see a notification that your Apple ID is being used to sign in on a new device and you're not the one signing in, tap Don’t Allow to ensure the sign in attempt is blocked.

  • by JWMefton,

    JWMefton JWMefton May 14, 2016 5:25 PM in response to fromsouth
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iCloud
    May 14, 2016 5:25 PM in response to fromsouth

    Good advice, this:

    "If you know you’re the person trying to sign in but you don’t recognize the location shown, you can still tap Allow and continue signing in.

    However, if you ever see a notification that your Apple ID is being used to sign in on a new device and you're not the one signing in, tap Don’t Allow to ensure the sign in attempt is blocked."

    Thanks for the reply fromsouth. I am usually pretty darn sure I am the one signing in, but as I said, I feel the level of doubt is much higher than it needs to be, given that Apple and Google Maps for instance can pinpoint my location way better than "near Toronto."

    I just wonder how many people fromsouth of the border have their location identified as being "near" a place more than 1000 km away from their actual location? That's how far my location is from Toronto. Is my network the internet? Is it possible I have something set up incorrectly, causing Apple/iCloud to think I am so far away?

  • by fromsouth,

    fromsouth fromsouth May 15, 2016 8:33 AM in response to JWMefton
    Level 5 (4,806 points)
    iCloud
    May 15, 2016 8:33 AM in response to JWMefton

    Once again, server responsible for sign outs/ins does not read a location, but detects rather IP address of request. IP addresses are assigned to Internet Service Providers and locations that service providers report are mostly up to them.

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root May 15, 2016 12:44 PM in response to JWMefton
    Level 9 (71,259 points)
    iTunes
    May 15, 2016 12:44 PM in response to JWMefton

    I read in another post today the OP had called Apple Support for a similar problem and the solution was to sign into iCloud with the Keep me signed in box checked. I have no idea why this worked for the OP of the thread I read.