Posted on 11/12/2013 1:20:54 PM PST by grumpygresh
How does that geo-location work? Devices in the network's coverage area are "heard" by more than one radio in those APs (the off-white boxes). Once the network hears a device from multiple APs, it can compare the strength and timing of the signal to locate where the device is. This is classic triangulation, and users of Aruba's AirWave software—as in the Cabela's example—report that their systems are able to locate devices to within a few feet.
(Excerpt) Read more at thestranger.com ...
It’s interesting that on a thread here on Freerepublic, I was called a “bleeding heart liberal” for my defense of the 4th Amendment.
The thread in question involved a motorist being stopped for not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign and then anally probed, 3 forced enemas and an involuntary colonoscopy. Then sent a bill from the hospital for $6000. No drugs were found.
But 4th amendment is not always popular here.
Hope it doesn’t come as a shock to learn that geolocation is done on all wireless networks, to varying degrees. Every AP knows which MACs are associated with it, the only thing left is to share that information, or have some outside entity come and fetch it. When you’re using someone elses wi-fi, it’s probably smart to assume they’re doing so, and if you’re on a 3 or 4G network, it’s a sure thing.
No worries - everybody’s got to be somewhere!
There's likely a much more nuanced backstory to this claim.
Not that I'm at all interested in the particulars.
HA,
You are correct of course. Nuanced in that the State should have to the right to do anything it wants to keep the criminal element in check. Not that your interested.
HA,
You are correct of course. Nuanced in that the State should have to the right to do anything it wants to keep the criminal element in check. Not that your interested.
It’s trivial to use software that will change or ‘spoof’ the MAC address of a device on the network.
It IS possible for the Network Admins to deploy measures to detect this, but I doubt they’re doing so on a public WiFi network.
I'm unsure of what is contained within the 4th Amendment that anyone on FR would have a problem with? The story of the person being violated through a forced colonoscopy should scare every American, especially since the radio discussion on this topic this morning stated there have been three such cases in N. Mexico, and drugs WERE NOT found in any of these three cases.
If that is your stance then I would say such measures can and often do violate the 4th amendment. A government has no "rights" under our Constitution.
I would also state further that if that this is your stance, your are not a bleeding heart Liberal.
You are clearly a statist.
Ping!
The 4th Amendment:
Keep in mind - in Free Republic, the opinions of LEO are very polarized. It’s a complex issue. Comments like yours (Or the comment from the other thread TOWARDS you) don’t help that.
One thing at a time. The LEO power answers will come when we can all get a grip on the things that LEO have to deal with, and when the LEO also wake up to find out that they have been lied to, used, and put into harm’s way for poor reasons.
I’m on your side, but we need to keep focused on a problem that all (Pro and anti leo) can agree on: The top of the command chain needs to be shut down and replaced.
You need to reread that conversation.
I took it to mean that was his view on the 4th. Perhaps he was speaking of other Freepers and I got it backwards?
Buy one of those RF pouches. Turn off your phone and place it inside. No signal, no tracking (with that device).
Do this while shopping, especially when you go to buy all those soon to be illegal or taxed (through your O insurance) unhealthy things like tobacco, bacon, alcohol, and any other things that taste good.
Turn you phone on and let your fitness nut friends carry it while they run, maybe you will get a discount. Or you can leave it in your locker while you go over to the pancake house for breakfast.
Oh, and remember to pay cash for all that bad for you stuff, credit cards can be tracked too.
A few years back you have been called paranoid for thinking someone was recording all this, now?
Why not, in this age of instant everything, go back to something that we old-schoolers would remember. When we had folks out-of-sight, with the older telephone technology ...
1. When did we set up call times?
2. When did we set up personal call times at work?
3. During the rest of the time of the day, was the telephone dormant, or not being used?
How can we make this work, again?
Only text when necessary, only call when it is important.
Turn off the device the rest of the time!
Won’t be a signal to locate.
The answering system will work, even with power off.
I know that I am talking about this in a time where teenagers that have no sense, are making idiotic adventures with their parent-supplied cellphones. Be a parent! Seize the SIM card if you must. Your kids are being tracked, just like you are, and their traffic history, and gps-located travels, documented, as a type of character profiling, too. Or did you know that?
Yup.
Now imagine an app that cycles through MAC addresses at random as you’re walking through a city...
I’m always surprised at the number of modern-day programmers that don’t know you can change the MAC address of many Ethernet devices. Then they start asking why, why, why would someone do that?
Then I have to start explaining DECnet and XNS to them. It’s like I’m talking about something out of a Grimm Fairy Tale...
So here’s a business opportunity. I contract with 100 people who want smart phones. I provide 100 smart phones distributed randomly to these people but all phones are in my name. I keep only paper records and, when the bill comes in, I mail out a paper bill. Since the GPS ID is assigned to me, the most they can determine is that I’ve been in 100 locations at the same time.
If an actual criminal act occurs using the phone, I’ll turn over the paper records in response to a legal subpoena. If it’s just unauthorized government curiosity regarding peoples whereabouts, well, get a subpoena and we’ll talk.
I have a long history on FR. Feel free to investigate my pro 4th amendment stance.
I have long opposed those with a utilitarian view of law enforcement.
I have a long history of butting heads with Law and Order Conservatives. Nothing gets said in a vacuum.
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