5 ms·
Unless you are carrying your cell phone at the time—not sure anyone is doing this yet, but I have heard of at least one chain that tracks customers' cell phone
by organsnyder 7y ago
Unless you are carrying your cell phone at the time—not sure anyone is doing this yet, but I have heard of at least one chain that tracks customers' cell phone locations via triangulation.
- gpvos 7y agoWhich chain?
- sp332 7y agoAs of 2013, at least Macy's. https://lifehacker.com/how-retail-stores-track-you-using-your-smartphone-and-827512308 https://lifehacker.com/how-retail-stores-track-you-using-you...
- godshatter 7y agoAnother good reason to keep wifi off unless you really need it.
- organsnyder 7y agoNot going to name them since I don't have verified firsthand knowledge. It's a large regional chain based in the midwestern US.
- artificial 7y agoThe accuracy by Bluetooth is horrendous.
- reaperducer 7y agoHow accurate does it need to be? If you shop in a market stall, or a bodega, then you could be tied to a neighboring store. But if you're in a regular-sized (American) store, it's certainly good enough.
- organsnyder 7y agoWhat about wifi? My understanding is this chain uses their in-store access point mesh for this.
- alasdair_ 7y agoIt used to be common to track the mac address of customers that pinged the in-store wifi. Not sure how much this happens now that some phones randomize mac addresses.