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Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

news.ycombinator.com

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Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#91

Post by beeboop »

daviddisco wrote: post #76

What is the value of sniffing the local ssids? As far as I know it is just to get a better and faster lock on location (sometimes GPS signals are weak) and therefore give better navigation. Does anyone know of some other purpose?

GPS is only so accurate on phones by itself. I assume harvesting SSIDs helps a lot for knowing specifically which stores you're shopping at in a dense area with weak GPS signal. It's very accurate with it's "How did you like visiting _____?" notifications and if you look at your location history I think it also accurately labels stores well.

Obviously knowing every store you visit is very useful advertising data.

Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#92

Post by DebtDeflation »

daviddisco wrote: post #76

What is the value of sniffing the local ssids? As far as I know it is just to get a better and faster lock on location (sometimes GPS signals are weak) and therefore give better navigation. Does anyone know of some other purpose?

I'm curious as well. Who out there is even using open wifi without at least a captive portal? What benefit to Google is there to just collect SSIDs?

Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#93

Post by luckydata »

voakbasda wrote: post #83
dzhiurgis wrote: post #67

I don't like this being forced on you, but who the hell cares about wifi/bt SSID sniffing? What's so bad about collecting it? You are literally broadcasting it yourself and on most devices you can't even turn broadcasting off anymore.

My access points are inaccessible to the public. You would have to trespass deep into my property. No one has any business knowing anything about my network or devices here.

so nobody will ever sniff them then. This is not an answer to the question.

Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#94

Post by luckydata »

osrec wrote: post #74
dzhiurgis wrote: post #67

I don't like this being forced on you, but who the hell cares about wifi/bt SSID sniffing? What's so bad about collecting it? You are literally broadcasting it yourself and on most devices you can't even turn broadcasting off anymore.

On a localised basis, it is perhaps not so bad, however at a higher level, it allows you to piece together a huge amount of info, including grouping members of households etc. Honestly, it's not a great piece of info to be leaking, if you value your privacy.

That requires processing the data in ways that would have to be disclosed as per law.

Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#95

Post by Croftengea »

daviddisco wrote: post #76

What is the value of sniffing the local ssids? As far as I know it is just to get a better and faster lock on location (sometimes GPS signals are weak) and therefore give better navigation. Does anyone know of some other purpose?

To know where you are even with GPS off.

Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#96

Post by beeboop »

jjulius wrote: post #28
google234123 wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Users aren't aware they are using Google Maps?

No, most users are not aware of how much data they give up about themselves in order to get the whole functionality of the app.

For me at least, Google sends me monthly (quarterly?) updates on my location history and prompts me to review it. I assume people get this by default, and so anyone checking their google account email would see these emails and open them to see literally every single destination of theirs is permanently saved. They don't exactly hide it.

Not defending Google, they suck. But in this one instance I don't think it's that much of a dirty secret or anything. Just an open dirty behavior.

Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#97

Post by ProAm »

daviddisco wrote: post #76

What is the value of sniffing the local ssids? As far as I know it is just to get a better and faster lock on location (sometimes GPS signals are weak) and therefore give better navigation. Does anyone know of some other purpose?

To serve ads. They can tell a business a consumer was withing X distance if your establishment. We can show them an advertisement in google maps the next time they are near by if you gladly pay us

Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#98

Post by tqwhite »

SllX wrote: post #41
notacoward wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Bonus points for bogus names like "Starbucks Wifi" or "McDonalds Free Wifi" in the middle of the highway. I find no joy in saying it, but I bet that would get you some unwelcome attention - trademark infringement, defamation, tortious interference - from one of those companies. :(

Out of curiosity, has anyone ever been sued over their SSID?

I have a neighbor whose SSID is itHurtsWhenIP. I've always liked that.

Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#99

Post by beeboop »

adamrezich wrote: post #16
peakaboo wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All information, and people are giving it to them for free. There is billions in dollar of profit from selling peoples data and the user gets nothing of that.

I still remember filling out my Facebook profile back when it was very new (after it was open to everyone but before it even had the timeline) and I'm just flabbergasted at how much information I was willing to fork over as a naïve child presented with a grid of form fields to fill out. crazy to see how it's only got more ridiculous over time. now Snapchat (which I'm about to convince my fiancée to uninstall so neith…

I remember being a teen when Google Health rolled out (checking online now they gave up on it in 2012, no surprise) and writing down the entirety of my medical history in it.

Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#100

Post by legitster »

daviddisco wrote: post #76

What is the value of sniffing the local ssids? As far as I know it is just to get a better and faster lock on location (sometimes GPS signals are weak) and therefore give better navigation. Does anyone know of some other purpose?

GPS is pretty battery intensive.

Your phone is already gathering a list of every SSID it touches every second. If Google can eliminate the need to use GPS to confirm that you are sitting at your desk, it can eliminate a bunch of needless GPS calculations.

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