Skola Posted April 26, 2011 Report Share Posted April 26, 2011 Google location tracking can invade privacy, hackers say Unique IDs + router addresses = potential abuse If you've got a Wi-Fi network, chances are Google has used its top-selling Android mobile operating system to store your router's precise location and broadcast it for all the world to see. Google has been compiling the publicly accessible database of router locations in its quest to build a service, a la Skyhook, that pinpoints the exact location of internet users who use its sites. Now, hobbyist hacker Samy Kamkar has developed a site that demonstrates just how comprehensive Google's catalog is. Plug the MAC address of your router into Kamkar's website, and chances are it will pull up its precise location, courtesy of Google Maps. In October, Google pledged to stop using its world-roving Street View vehicles to collect Wi-Fi data and said it instead would rely on Android handsets to get the information. When phones running the Google OS detect any wireless network, they beam its MAC address, signal strength and GPS coordinates to Google servers, along with the unique ID of the handset. Google has long given assurances that it will use the geolocation database only when users give their explicit consent, such as when they want to be spared the hassle of typing in their current address when getting driving directions. But Kamkar has demonstrated at least two hacks that allow operators of unscrupulous websites to pilfer the information from Google's database anyway, allowing them to know the precise whereabouts of vulnerable visitors. edit: - src: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/04/22/google_android_privacy_concerns/ Try the guy's app here: http://samy.pl/androidmap/ Go to your router - look for the MAC address (12 digits made of letters and numbers) - put it in on that site. It found me, BANG ON wtf is going on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beavis Posted April 26, 2011 Report Share Posted April 26, 2011 Yea, they keep a record of all your searches as well, f*ck using google now. https://ixquick.com/ is the safest one as far as I know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skola Posted April 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2011 Cool. Is this inevitable? Some central company/organisation knowing where we are? The police and mobile phone networks can already locate you by signals etc But who has access and what they do with it is the problem NO ENCRYPTION is whats REALLY the most f*cked part - anyone can access it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marly Mar Posted April 26, 2011 Report Share Posted April 26, 2011 You shuld know this by now tbh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Necksta Posted April 26, 2011 Report Share Posted April 26, 2011 Google has not exposed anything for ********** unlucky. spoofed router mac address ftw. fack off u cunts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skola Posted April 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2011 why is no one else surprised? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 11 Bills Posted April 26, 2011 Report Share Posted April 26, 2011 tbh i aint even bothered, in London u could prob get tracked from work to wherever you go on CCTV, oyster card etc it doesnt seem like a big issue to me i set my phone to remember where it is incase i lose it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grafter Posted April 26, 2011 Report Share Posted April 26, 2011 im not surprised by this just makes me feel a bit more caged Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinalBawse Posted April 26, 2011 Report Share Posted April 26, 2011 Films have taught me they already have my deets anyway. Ain't even mad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imhim Posted April 26, 2011 Report Share Posted April 26, 2011 as soon as u are connected to the internet u are being tracked... y u stressin bout google lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skola Posted April 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2011 the part about my android phone telling google about my whereabouts without my permission was a bit of a piss take imo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easy.pee.zee Posted April 26, 2011 Report Share Posted April 26, 2011 *pulls out nineteen eighty four for a browse* its life your tracked from birth I not going to start worrying about google now they just one of many Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NiNES. Posted April 26, 2011 Report Share Posted April 26, 2011 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wavant Posted April 26, 2011 Report Share Posted April 26, 2011 Skynet soon come. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grafter Posted April 26, 2011 Report Share Posted April 26, 2011 Skynet soon come. ! i for one welcome our new machine overloads. yh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Fat Eric Posted April 26, 2011 Report Share Posted April 26, 2011 a isnt even near r freshy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dubby Posted April 26, 2011 Report Share Posted April 26, 2011 From time I can press that button on Google Maps (above the zoom) and it tells me exactly where my house is....boy. Was actually scary the first time it did it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Q Posted April 26, 2011 Report Share Posted April 26, 2011 All this technology and they still can't find Osama Bin Laden... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lieutenant Posted April 26, 2011 Report Share Posted April 26, 2011 All this technology and they still can't find Osama Bin Laden... I don't think he's had a GPS tracking system fitted yet bro Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J. Edgar Posted April 26, 2011 Report Share Posted April 26, 2011 I've infiltrated my neighbours WEP encrypted router, so No, Google does not know were I am while I am surfing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speculate Posted April 27, 2011 Report Share Posted April 27, 2011 wait, so how do i track other peoples whereabouts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seydou Posted April 27, 2011 Report Share Posted April 27, 2011 wait, so how do i track other peoples this girls whereabouts? Corrected it, fam. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 11 Bills Posted April 29, 2011 Report Share Posted April 29, 2011 http://uk.gizmodo.com/5796373/watch-how-the-police-raid-your-cellphone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goddaz Posted April 29, 2011 Report Share Posted April 29, 2011 And vertically challenged guys still don't want to accept that the white man/powers that be stay winning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Necksta Posted April 29, 2011 Report Share Posted April 29, 2011 bruv, do you want to bleach your skin or something? you're starting to tr0ll now. it wasn't funny the first time, it's not funny now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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