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Note that streetview cars are not only for maps, they're also wardriving cars. They collect information on Wi-Fi networks, so then you can map a router MAC addr
by partycoder 10y ago
Note that streetview cars are not only for maps, they're also wardriving cars. They collect information on Wi-Fi networks, so then you can map a router MAC address to a physical location. They used to sniff wifi traffic too.
There was a tool (http://samy.pl/mapxss/ http://samy.pl/mapxss/) that allowed you to interface that system. When I moved to a new home, my router appeared on the old location for a few weeks, and then it got updated to the new one. Creepy.
- Terr_ 10y agoAlso with android phones: Identifying a known nearby wifi network can allow a faster estimate of the phone's location than waiting for a GPS fix. In a weird way, one privacy concern helps mask another: People spend time worrying that nefarious phone-software can locate itself even with GPS disabled... rather than worrying about nefarious server-software using a vast fleet of strangers' phones to locate and surveil their wireless equipment.
- JamesMcMinn 10y agoI wouldn't be surprised if this was due to Android reporting MAC address and GPS data back to Google, rather than a wardriving car.
- partycoder 10y agoOr "games" such as Ingress.
- deleted 10y ago[deleted]
- netinstructions 10y agoWhy equip cars and pay drivers to do this when ordinary people's Android phones can report WiFi MAC addresses, signal strengths, and GPS coordinates to Google? Android users are likely the ones wardriving without even realizing it.
- ars 10y agoUnless I'm misremembering Android asks you for permission to do that. So the might actually realize.