- Surfshark launched HeyPolo, a privacy-focused location sharing app
- The app abandons “always on” continuous tracking in favor of timed, user-controlled visibility.
- A single subscription allows users to invite unlimited friends and family.
Location apps are a double-edged sword for modern families, incredibly useful for physical security, but often a nightmare for digital privacy.
Now, the cybersecurity team behind Surfshark, one of the best VPN services on the market, is looking to redress that balance with the launch of a brand new app called HeyPolo.
Announced today, HeyPolo is billed as a privacy-focused alternative to conventional location software.
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Rather than relying on the continuous, invasive monitoring that powers many existing tracking apps, HeyPolo relies entirely on user consent. Users can decide exactly who sees their location, how accurate that location is, and when exactly sharing stops.
The launch marks a major new expansion for the cybersecurity company, which already has a certified antivirus, a private search engine and the Incogni data removal tool.
Announcing the launch, Edvinas Sersniovas, CEO of HeyPolo, explained the personal motivation behind the project: “As a father myself, I wanted to create an app that could help me keep my family safe while respecting and protecting their data. »
How HeyPolo Tackles “Ghost” Tracking
HeyPolo’s key differentiator is its refusal to rely on default, always-on tracking.
In many conventional applications, users often forget that they are broadcasting their contact details, leading to accidental surveillance around the clock.
To combat this “ghost” tracking, HeyPolo allows users to set specific start and end times to broadcast their movements. Once the timer expires, tracking stops immediately and completely.
The app also offers multi-level visibility options. Users are not required to share their exact location on a map; they can choose to view a general area or switch entirely to a private mode. Transparency is built right into the interface, ensuring you always know exactly who is viewing your location in real time.
“People want security, but they don’t want to sacrifice their autonomy or feel controlled by those they trust,” Sersniovas noted. “We are changing the perception that location sharing must be synonymous with surveillance. »
A strict stance on the sale of data
Free location-sharing apps often monetize by selling incredibly sensitive movement data to advertisers and third-party data brokers. HeyPolo, building on the privacy pedigree of the Surfshark and Incogni teams, promises an entirely different business model that prioritizes user security.
The company explicitly guarantees in its launch announcement that it will “never sell, monetize, or exploit user location data” and notes that all location data is encrypted while in transit.
This means that when your location data travels from your phone to the app’s servers, it is scrambled and unreadable to potential hackers or spies.
Instead of secretly selling your data to keep the lights on, the service operates on a premium subscription model. Fortunately, only one subscription is enough: it allows a user to create an unlimited number of groups and invite friends, partners and older relatives at no additional cost.
For those interested in trying it out, HeyPolo is currently available for download on the Google Play Store and iOS App Store.
