How Does Google Locate You?

[KFC911]

Hey David, thanks for that link...you da man . So it's "big browser" that's looking over your shoulder...in my case (if I had it enabled), it would be "Big MIL" (that's for you Rick), but instead of mother-in-law, Microsoft-in-law. I just did a quick scan of David's link...in a nutshell: IP address, and using Wi-Fi (and inferred is smartphones based upon the cell tower comment I presume) to narrow the location down. Here's the appropriate portion of that link for those that don't want to wade through geekdom:

"Location Services in Internet Explorer let websites request your physical location in order to improve their services. For example, a mapping website can request your physical location in order to center the map for you.

When you visit a website that uses Location Services, you can choose whether or not to allow the website access to your location information. If you choose to allow a website access, Internet Explorer will contact a Microsoft location service to attempt to determine your computer’s physical location. This service uses your IP address and data from nearby Wi-Fi access points, if available.

Based on the information received, the Microsoft location service will determine your computer’s approximate location and provide it to the requesting website. The location information provided includes the latitude and longitude of your computer. It does not provide the requesting website information about available cell towers or Wi-Fi access points or any unique identifiers from your computer."


Hope this helps guys...this has been a trip down memory lane for me and I enjoyed putting my "thinking cap" back on ...

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by mikester

We track access points by their MAC addresses mostly because that is the least likely thing to change under normal circumstances. So from a 'rogue' AP stand point you can 'know' all the access points in your network by their MAC addresses. When an unknown AP starts sending a signal on 2.4 or 5 Ghz the monitoring software will see it and unless the MAC address has been spoofed it'll show up on the map of the office floor plan with an approximate location identified as a rogue.

Google street view trucks/cars/bikes had wifi sniffers on them and recorded the signals they heard and where they heard them. Two things are important there, a third is a bit unnerving. They got that you had a wireless AP of some kind because it was broadcasting a signal (BSSID or not) and they got the general location of that signal via their own GPS systems on the Google streetview recorder. The third thing they got which is unnerving is the data that was being transmitted wirelessly at the time. It's likely not that well encrypted because consumer grade devices don't use fantastic encryption methods.

So, it's pretty easy for Google to tell where you are and it really doesn't matter how rural you think you are - if they have a 'street view' view for your street then they know where you are.

The company I work for makes appliances and software that does this sort of location tracking for business wireless networks - it's cool stuff and I like it generally.

I used to setup "Rogue" APs at work...The last one I did was a Bluetooth Access point. Would your system have picked that one up, or only Wifi?

[KFC911]

Before I go away for good on this thead...we had more than 500+ WAPs at my last corporate gig in a pretty small area...it was "eye opening" to see "what was what" after a site survey was completed. Keep in mind, MACs, SSIDs, etc. are only detectable on the LAN...none of that information is available out in the routable portion of the WAN.

[john70t]

It gets better: Malls halt plans to track consumer movement via cell phones
"The technology, Footpath, uses tracking devices throughout a mall to record shopper movement by triangulating the signals of their cell phones. The collected data are then run through analytics and the results given to retailers. [i]Personal information such as cell phone numbers and the names or address of phone owners are not recorded.[i]"

That last sentance is bunk.
Any device that transmits a unique signature(i.e. processor i.d.) can be read, saved, interpolated, and used for other purposes.
How is anyone to know?

[mikester]

Originally Posted by red-beard

I used to setup "Rogue" APs at work...The last one I did was a Bluetooth Access point. Would your system have picked that one up, or only Wifi?

Yes. All your base are belong to us.

[KFC911]

Home plate...I know you've got that covered too

[Rick V]

Originally Posted by KC911

Microsoft-in-law.

Bwahahahahaha, the phrase of 2012