tpkatl
join:2009-11-16
Dacula, GA | reply to kapil
Trivially easy to fake a MAC address in every router Given that it is trivial to falsify a MAC address in a router, my own bit of payback is to fake a new MAC address every couple of weeks. That way Google will have lots of meaningless data polluting their file, which reduces its value.
And the side benefit is that by changing MAC addresses from time to time, I get new IP addresses assigned by Comcast, meaning that anyone trying to track me by IP address is going to have that much additional trouble doing so. Not impossible, of course, but one more hurdle to climb. |
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 kapilThe Kapil
join:2000-04-26
Chicago, IL | LOL. I did some consulting work around "reputation management" and that was one of the primary strategies to overcome negative online information...clutter up the search results with fake content to obfuscate and drown out the negative stuff. It works much better than trying to send out DMCA notices and lawsuit threats to every no-name website out there.
Isn't changing the MAC address every few days too much work though? I wish there was a way to script it...
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»www.kapilville.com |
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openbox9Premium
join:2004-01-26
japan
kudos:2 | reply to tpkatl
said by tpkatl:Given that it is trivial to falsify a MAC address in a router, my own bit of payback is to fake a new MAC address every couple of weeks. Does Google drive by your house every couple of weeks? I honestly don't understand people's concern with this trivial collection of data. Beyond someone knowing the general vicinity of the "Hot-Stud-27" SSID, I don't understand the problem. |
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 GbcueP.E.Premium
join:2001-09-30
Santa Rosa, CA
kudos:8 | reply to tpkatl
This wouldn't do anything as I'm sure the Google street view car doesn't roll down your street every couple of weeks...
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My Blog 2.2 |
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 koolman2Premium
join:2002-10-01
Anchorage, AK | The database is also self-healing. Devices that use the database transmit the networks they see, and if one that *should* be there stops showing up for a while, it gets deleted. |
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| reply to tpkatl
MAC address on the WiFi radio, not the WAN side |
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| reply to tpkatl
I hate to break it to you but it will probably be 5 to 10 years before Google drives by your house again. |
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Reviews:
 ·Comcast
| said by battleop:I hate to break it to you but it will probably be 5 to 10 years before Google drives by your house again.
The bastidges did my neighborhood and didn't do my street. Class Action of One!
Dave |
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| reply to battleop
That's what I thought, but I've had three Street View updates in 7 years. |
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| You are also closer to the Google mother ship. I would suspect your more frequent updates are more about R&D than street view accuracy. |
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 SeleniaI love DebianPremium
join:2006-09-22
Lanesboro, MA
kudos:2
1 edit | reply to battleop
said by battleop:I hate to break it to you but it will probably be 5 to 10 years before Google drives by your house again.
You seem not to quite understand how their system works. They use a self-healing database. Basically, what Google did with the wardriving is get an extensive, professionally gathered snapshot to load into it. Now, with mobile apps that use Google's location services, the gps and agps data is gathered and associated with access points present at that location by MAC address and SSID. New APs found in that location get added, SSIDs associated with MAC addresses get updated. Now, if that MAC and SSID keeps being reported as not present, when it should be in that location, the AP then gets purged from the DB. If it ever starts showing up again, it can readd it. Automated technology at its finest, but always come with it privacy issues to be considered.
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A fool thinks they know everything.
A wise person knows enough to know they couldn't possibly know everything.
There are zealots for every OS, like every religion. They do not represent the majority of users for either. |
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| That's provided that there are people running the AP and they have WiFi turned on. Even at that you still don't get the location of the AP you get the location of the device that can hear the AP.
I still don't understand what all the fuss is about. So your SSID ends up on a map. So what? If you don't want people seeing your SSID or using your wireless secure it or turn it off. |
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 ThalerPremium
join:2004-02-02
Los Angeles, CA
kudos:3 | One, hiding your SSID offers no security for someone who can read a FAQ. That safety protocol has long since been broken.
Second, your SSID is broadcasted regardless of your wireless security. That string value that has the name of your WiFi network? Yeah, there's no password required for that.
Now, if you want to restrict the number of people actually using your wireless network, then yes - securing your AP will let you be more selective as to who connects. |
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SeleniaI love DebianPremium
join:2006-09-22
Lanesboro, MA
kudos:2 | reply to battleop
1 indirect implication here on DSLR is now people shouldn't even show screenshots with their SSID. Some say, stalker could search the DB with that info and get your approximate or exact address, if yours is unique in your town. The more information tied to your vital info, the less privacy. |
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| Mine is "heya-wardrivers" now good luck taking that and finding my house. |
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| reply to openbox9
said by tpkatl:... "Hot-Stud-27" SSID...
PRICELESS...how long did it take for dude to go and change his SSID after posting it on the net? |
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