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Append "_nomap" to your AP's SSID to opt out of Google Location Services (2011)

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Re: Append "_nomap" to your AP's SSID to opt out of Google Location Services (2011)

#51

Post by r0h1n »

qKyuu wrote: post #40
r0h1n wrote: post #20

Once upon a time the default privacy model used to be "opt-in". Which then became "opt-out" thanks in large parts to Google. Of course it helped that very few "lay people" take active steps to opt-out. It appears "rename and opt-out" is the latest model. I'm guessing even fewer lay users will take this step. Technically this allows Google to claim it gives people an easy way to opt out, but in practice nothing much i…

Also once upon a time people knew what they were talking about before launching into a nonsensical speech filled with privacy cliches. They are mapping public WiFi APs, public data, it's well within their right and that of other to do so. Offering an opt-out is just going over and beyond to appease the stubbornly misinformed.

You do know Google has a history of having helped themselves to much more data than just public SSIDs, right? The reason I bring these up is to point out that Google's past behavior in this space hasn't exactly fostered trust.

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2010/may/15/google-adm...

http://searchengineland.com/its-official-google-settles-wisp...

Re: Append "_nomap" to your AP's SSID to opt out of Google Location Services (2011)

#52

Post by droopybuns »

qKyuu wrote: post #50
droopybuns wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why are you slandering anyone who thinks google is a shitty company and doesn't want them profiting on their data?

What does that have to do with the correctness of the statements? And since when is publicly broadcast SSIDs are anyone's private data? It's very unfortunate that zealots and hateful people are increasingly finding a home on HN.

Post under a non throw away account if you want to cut down on the hateful zealots.

Re: Append "_nomap" to your AP's SSID to opt out of Google Location Services (2011)

#53

Post by LukeB_UK »

Everyone who's saying it should be opt-in need to realise that the majority of people won't care that people can collect this publicly available data. I don't care either. It helps people navigate more accurately. If you really care, you wouldn't be broadcasting your SSID.

e: spelling

Re: Append "_nomap" to your AP's SSID to opt out of Google Location Services (2011)

#54

Post by rsanders »

qKyuu wrote: post #50
droopybuns wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why are you slandering anyone who thinks google is a shitty company and doesn't want them profiting on their data?

What does that have to do with the correctness of the statements? And since when is publicly broadcast SSIDs are anyone's private data? It's very unfortunate that zealots and hateful people are increasingly finding a home on HN.

How is a signal generated by something owned by me, located inside my private residence, intended for use inside my house by my family and guests only, considered "publicly broadcast"? Are cordless phone transmissions publicly broadcast? Baby monitors? Burglar alarms? Home automation devices? Bluetooth headsets?

Re: Append "_nomap" to your AP's SSID to opt out of Google Location Services (2011)

#55

Post by dragonwriter »

rsanders wrote: post #54
qKyuu wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What does that have to do with the correctness of the statements? And since when is publicly broadcast SSIDs are anyone's private data? It's very unfortunate that zealots and hateful people are increasingly finding a home on HN.

How is a signal generated by something owned by me, located inside my private residence, intended for use inside my house by my family and guests only, considered "publicly broadcast"? Are cordless phone transmissions publicly broadcast? Baby monitors? Burglar alarms? Home automation devices? Bluetooth headsets?

> intended for use inside my house by my family and guests only

"Intended" is a description of your subjective mental state, not an objective quality of the broadcast.

> Are cordless phone transmissions publicly broadcast? Baby monitors? Burglar alarms? Home automation devices? Bluetooth headsets?

If they aren't encrypted, yes.

Re: Append "_nomap" to your AP's SSID to opt out of Google Location Services (2011)

#56

Post by bananas »

billpg wrote: post #44
bananas wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The only time I use GPS is with my Garmin and a landranger in hand.

Did you ask the satellite owner's permission before you read the signals that were being openly broadcast?

No I paid for those satellites with my tax contribution and they are for public use.

Re: Append "_nomap" to your AP's SSID to opt out of Google Location Services (2011)

#57

Post by scott_karana »

eli wrote: post #42
_wmd wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Except for that one small time in Europe when they "accidentally" captured live traffic en masse.. http://www.bit-tech.net/news/bits/2010/05/17/google-admits-s...

I don't think "en masse" is a fair way to describe a handful of stray packets per AP as the car drove by.

200 GB is a "handful"?

http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-05/03/googles-wi-fi...

Re: Append "_nomap" to your AP's SSID to opt out of Google Location Services (2011)

#59

Post by eli »

scott_karana wrote: post #57
eli wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think "en masse" is a fair way to describe a handful of stray packets per AP as the car drove by.

200 GB is a "handful"? http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-05/03/googles-wi-fi...

shrug

That doesn't sound like very much data for a fleet of vehicles to collect over the course of a few years. Pretty sure it was just a handful of packets per (unencrypted) access point, but please correct me if I'm wrong.

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