3 ms·

Doesn't really matter if he connected to the WiFi: even just having WiFi enabled/turned on means that you should assume every store that you enter knows that yo

by cryptoz 11y ago

Doesn't really matter if he connected to the WiFi: even just having WiFi enabled/turned on means that you should assume every store that you enter knows that you're there, and every other retail store also knows (that you're inside a competitor's store). There are a number of startups providing these services (some of them have gone through YC I think?). It's now so common that you just have to assume that if your phone is broadcasting anything at all, including looking for a WiFi network to join, that your location is being tracked and sold for competitive analysis by corporations.

bogus- 11y ago
Yes, this is made possible by WiFi probe requests, which broadcast your MAC address and previously associated access points.
graeme 11y ago
How much does airplane mode affect this? I have it turned on constantly when I'm out. Mostly to avoid distractions.
johnchristopher 11y ago
Do we know for sure it's working: does that information lead to more sales ?
- datagram 11y ago
  It's generally understood that it's quite effective to advertise to prior customers compared to say, targeting a geographic area. Apparently it's about as effective as search ads: http://venturebeat.com/2014/12/16/90-of-marketers-say-retargeting-now-as-good-as-search-ads-email-marketing/ http://venturebeat.com/2014/12/16/90-of-marketers-say-retarg...
datagram 11y ago
Unless there's techniques I'm unaware of, I assume you're talking about MAC address-based tracking? Apple has been working to eliminate that; they've been using randomized addresses during scanning since iOS 8. The other possibility here is tracking via geolocation or iBeacon, which require an app with location services/bluetooth enabled. And in those cases the tracking is most likely based on Apple IDFA/Google Advertising Id, so you at least have the option to opt out: https://dev.twitter.com/mopub/ui/opting-out-interest-based-advertising https://dev.twitter.com/mopub/ui/opting-out-interest-based-a... (assuming the app properly respects the setting).

by cryptoz 11y ago

bogus- 11y ago

Yes, this is made possible by WiFi probe requests, which broadcast your MAC address and previously associated access points.

graeme 11y ago

How much does airplane mode affect this? I have it turned on constantly when I'm out. Mostly to avoid distractions.

johnchristopher 11y ago

Do we know for sure it's working: does that information lead to more sales ?

datagram 11y ago
It's generally understood that it's quite effective to advertise to prior customers compared to say, targeting a geographic area. Apparently it's about as effective as search ads: http://venturebeat.com/2014/12/16/90-of-marketers-say-retargeting-now-as-good-as-search-ads-email-marketing/ http://venturebeat.com/2014/12/16/90-of-marketers-say-retarg...

datagram 11y ago

Unless there's techniques I'm unaware of, I assume you're talking about MAC address-based tracking? Apple has been working to eliminate that; they've been using randomized addresses during scanning since iOS 8. The other possibility here is tracking via geolocation or iBeacon, which require an app with location services/bluetooth enabled. And in those cases the tracking is most likely based on Apple IDFA/Google Advertising Id, so you at least have the option to opt out: https://dev.twitter.com/mopub/ui/opting-out-interest-based-advertising https://dev.twitter.com/mopub/ui/opting-out-interest-based-a... (assuming the app properly respects the setting).