Libertarian ping! Click here to get added or here to be removed or post a message here!
Posted on 11/17/2008 6:09:50 PM PST by mad_as_he$$
Courts in recent years have been raising the evidentiary bar law enforcement agents must meet in order to obtain historical cell phone records that reveal information about a target's location. But documents obtained by civil liberties groups under a Freedom of Information Act request suggest that "triggerfish" technology can be used to pinpoint cell phones without involving cell phone providers at all.
(Excerpt) Read more at arstechnica.com ...
Your phone lets the nearest cell tower know it's there by responding to a "ping" from the tower. It will also respond to pinging from other equipment -- which can then triangulate on the location of the phone.
So the crooks can just remove the battery and avoid this?
Actually, although the criminal usage is a problem, I don’t think that was the gist of what the poster was trying to say.
They can do this to ANYONE, can track ANY citizen through their cell phones, ANY time they want.
How many people carry them with them everywhere? How many can’t seem to live without them?
It’ll be easy for the government to keep track of their subjects...I mean, the people.
May be of interest.
I doubt such technology is terribly useful against wanted criminals. Only a total idiot would carry around a cell phone that is directly associated with them, while trying to avoid law enforcement.
I suppose one of those ‘throw away’ cell phones would be the way to go for someone looking to avoid being tracked.
Exactly.
No, they seem to be pleased by only taking money from my paycheck.
The real question is why would anyone bother? I have a relative, borderline certifiable IMHO, who at one time firmly believed that she was being actively tracked. It was all I could do to keep from laughing out loud at the suggestion. She, like so many of us, is really a nobody. Go ahead, bug my phone, my house, my car. Warning, I sing (when I'm alone) in the car - badly. Look at any of the so-called reality-based shows polluting the airwaves. TV production companies have to work hard at making "reality" even mildly interesting. Anyone tracking me, I'd probably drive them to drink inside a week.
The upshot is, if someone with enough resources wants to track you, they're going to track you. There's not a heck of a lot you can do about it without living a completely bizarre lifestyle. A little paranoia is good, but this seems to be close-to or over the edge. I refuse to fear my cell phone, car, or anything else. I won't live in a "State of Fear."
So, your phone answers the ping even if it’s turned off? The only way to avoid the ping is to remove the battery? (no, I’m not getting fitted for a tin-foil hat, just researching the issue)
If you drive an On-Star equipped vehicle.
If you have LoJack anti-theft protection.
If you have a ez-pass toll-road (or equivalent) tag on your car.
Any RFID tags on your clothes or any items around you.
Your company badge, drivers license, etc. may have an RFID tag in it. eg. if you can wave your badge in front of a reader panel - that's RFID.
In an urban setting via any number of surveillance cameras.
Good old fashioned tail.
Really, once you become a "person of interest" you're going to be tracked. Heck, just taking excessive steps not to be tracked may make you a person of interest - as in "what is he/she hiding?"
I guess my feeling is, sure, the technology could be used to track you, but it is no big deal when there are sooo many other ways to keep an eye on someone. And that's not even getting into the fancy stuff like aerial surveillance, chemical tagging agents, bugging, wire-tapping, internet monitoring, etc.
Batman does it.
****Ok, I got off on a bit of a tangent. What I was trying to convey is what’s the big deal****
Whats the big deal?
How is that attitude helpful to a roomful of patriots that are trying to arm themselves with the knowledge that it will take to be prepared in the coming years?
How are you helping this community prepare for a future that will need input like this to help it avoid unnecessary interference from a possibly hostile government?
Is it true that my passport or drivers licence will be invalidated if the RFID chip is disabled?
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