The National Cyber Emergency Response Team (National CERT), together with the National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC), has warned internet users about privacy and security dangers of sharing real-time locations online.
The advisory, released during Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2026, points out that location sharing can expose sensitive personal information and make users vulnerable to cyber threats.
National CERT says location data shows more than a point on a map; it can reveal daily routines, personal habits and movements, enabling malicious actors to pinpoint where people live, work and often visit.
The notice also highlights that location data can indicate when someone is at home or away, opening the door to stalking, unauthorized tracking and other harmful activities. It may also disclose social connections by displaying who a person regularly meets.
To lower these risks, National CERT recommends disabling location sharing when it is unnecessary and regularly checking privacy settings on devices and apps.
Users are also urged to be careful about sharing personal information both online and offline, especially when using apps that provide live location updates or allow location data to be shared with others.
National CERT and NTC said simple preventive steps could safeguard personal privacy and boost digital safety. In the Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2026 campaign, the two bodies stressed responsible location sharing, stronger privacy habits and greater public awareness to build safer digital communities in Pakistan.
