Surfshark launches HeyPolo, a privacy-first location sharing app to kill "always-on" tracking

Date:
Tue, 24 Mar 2026 17:10:23 +0000

Description:
Surfshark has launched HeyPolo, a new location-sharing app that refuses to sell your data or track you 24/7. Heres why it might be the ultimate privacy-friendly alternative to standard tracking apps.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Tech Radar Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from
us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was
successful An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter Surfshark has launched HeyPolo, a privacy-first location-sharing application The app abandons continuous "always-on" tracking in favor of user-controlled, timed visibility A single subscription allows users to invite unlimited friends and family. Location tracking apps are a double-edged sword for modern families, incredibly useful for physical
safety, but often a complete nightmare for digital privacy.

Now, the cybersecurity team behind Surfshark, one of the best VPN services on the market, is looking to fix that balance with the launch of a brand-new app called HeyPolo. Announced today, HeyPolo is billed as a privacy-first alternative to conventional location-tracking software. Article continues below You may like How to change your GPS location on Android devices with Surfshark New report identifies the most data-hungry fitness apps Polarsteps is the free app that tracks your travels and it just made my New Years resolutions list

Rather than relying on the continuous, invasive monitoring that powers many existing tracker apps, HeyPolo is built entirely around user consent. Users get to decide exactly who sees their location, how accurate that location is, and exactly when the sharing stops.

The launch marks another major expansion for the cybersecurity company, which already boasts a certified antivirus, a private search engine, and the data-removal tool Incogni.

Announcing the launch, Edvinas Sersniovas, CEO at HeyPolo, explained the personal motivation behind the project: As a father myself, I wanted to
create an app that could help me ensure my familys safety while respecting
and protecting their data at the same time. (Image credit: HeyPolo) How HeyPolo tackles "ghost" tracking The core differentiator for HeyPolo is its refusal to rely on default, always-on tracking.

In many conventional apps, users often forget they are broadcasting their coordinates, leading to accidental, round-the-clock surveillance.

To combat this "ghost" tracking, HeyPolo allows users to set specific start and end times for broadcasting their whereabouts. Once the timer expires, the tracking immediately and completely stops.

The app also offers tiered visibility options. Users aren't forced to share their exact pinpoint on a map; they can opt to show a general area or switch to a private mode entirely. Transparency is baked directly into the
interface, ensuring you always know exactly who is viewing your location in real-time. What to read next PrivadoVPNs PhantomMode lands on iOS to stop
apps spying on you here's everything you need to know and how to set it up Surfshark VPN review a fully-featured, low cost privacy solution Using Surfshark Search can supercharge your internet browsing here's how

People want safety, but they dont want to sacrifice their autonomy or feel controlled by those they trust, Sersniovas noted. We are changing the perception that location sharing must equal surveillance. A strict stance on data sales Free location-sharing apps often monetize by selling incredibly sensitive movement data to advertisers and third-party data brokers. HeyPolo, leveraging the privacy pedigree of the Surfshark and Incogni teams, promises
a totally different business model that puts user safety first.

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 as your location data travels from your phone to the app's servers, it is scrambled and unreadable to potential hackers or snoops.

Instead of secretly selling your data to keep the lights on, the service operates on a premium subscription model. Fortunately, a single subscription goes a long way: it allows a user to create unlimited groups and invite friends, partners, and older relatives at no extra cost.

For those wanting to give it a try, HeyPolo is currently available to
download on both the Google Play Store and the iOS App Store. HeyPolo: Get
40% off 12-month plans Share your location securely with HeyPolo, a new, secure, location-sharing service from the team behind Surfshark VPN. One plan is all you need, starting from $3.59 per month on a 12-month plan (billed $43.08 upfront). This allows you to invite an unlimited number of people, and create as many groups as you want, all without excessive tracking and data collection. View Deal



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-services/surfshark-launches-heypolo-a-privac y-first-location-sharing-app-to-kill-always-on-tracking


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)