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Mozilla Stumbler 1.0

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Re: Mozilla Stumbler 1.0

#11

Post by cpeterso »

chdir wrote: post #8
hackuser wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

See my post below for some answers; I was writing as you posted yours ...

Thanks. As a follow-up, there are existing services that already have this database. So why build another one? Is it because the existing ones aren't open source?

There are a number of other location databases, such as OpenCellID and WiGLE. There are issues around incompatible data licenses for some location databases. Mozilla and OpenCellID have worked together to exchange data going forward. WiGLE's Wi-Fi and cell tower databases is only available for purchase with a commercial license, even though much of the data is collected by volunteer contributors.

The combined Mozilla + OpenCellID cell tower location database is public domain and published hourly here:

https://location.services.mozilla.com/downloads

Mozilla's Wi-Fi location database is not currently published until we can solve the privacy concerns.

Re: Mozilla Stumbler 1.0

#12

Post by cpeterso »

crankycoder1975 wrote: post #2

Hi all! We cut a 1.0 release of the Mozilla Stumbler finally. Have at it. File the bugs. Complain about battery life. Help us make this thing not suck and build out a proper open location service.

btw, the Mozilla location database is currently used to power geolocation on the well-publicized Firefox OS "$25 smartphone"! That device does not have GPS hardware so all geolocation requires rely on Mozilla's location service and GeoIP.

Re: Mozilla Stumbler 1.0

#13

Post by cpeterso »

hackuser wrote: post #6
crankycoder1975 wrote: post #2

Hi all! We cut a 1.0 release of the Mozilla Stumbler finally. Have at it. File the bugs. Complain about battery life. Help us make this thing not suck and build out a proper open location service.

Congratulations; I hope this gives us a safe, effective, open location service. The privacy policy[1] could be clarified for less technical readers, and even for others. I infer that collected data is anonymous because you write, 1) We receive publicly observable data about WiFi access points and cell towers around you, your estimated latitude and longitude, and the date -- Not associated with anything else, that may…

Good questions! The stumbler reports Wi-Fi and cell tower locations and an optional nickname. The location data is stored anonymously. The nickname and just the number of reported networks is stored separately, solely for display on the leaderboard [1] or other gamification in the future.

The IP addresses are just a fact of life of web server logging. They are not stored in the location or leaderboard databases.

[1] https://location.services.mozilla.com/leaders

Re: Mozilla Stumbler 1.0

#15

Post by hippiehippo »

cpeterso wrote: post #10
chdir wrote: post #4

Could someone explain the privacy implications of mapping Wifi networks to GPS co-ordinates. Is it an opt-out thing?

A stumbler user's identity or location could be revealed by tracing routes from published GPS data or maps. In areas without much stumbler data coverage, you can see clear routes along highways and some residential streets. Owners of Wi-Fi access points, including mobile phones with sharing Wi-Fi, may not want their unique BSSID/MAC address and location published. This is not exactly comparable to the Google Wi-Fi ca…

About that map, a feature I would like is to fade spots which were scanned long time ago because WiFi access points might not last as long as cell towers. This way, as a contributor, I know in which areas to scan and, as a regular user, I know that the data for a specific area might be too old.

Re: Mozilla Stumbler 1.0

#16

Post by therealunreal »

crankycoder1975 wrote: post #2

Hi all! We cut a 1.0 release of the Mozilla Stumbler finally. Have at it. File the bugs. Complain about battery life. Help us make this thing not suck and build out a proper open location service.

I used to use it a lot a few months back "mapping" my town and I had noticed that it would go at full strength even when I was staying in the same place for hours. Would it be possible to gradually slow down the collections when it detects that the user isn't moving?
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