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Privacy fears over Google "Latitude" tracker

  • 05-02-2009 5:01pm
    #1
    Run_to_da_hills
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,009 ✭✭✭✭


    Google has announced a new feature that allows users to share their locations among a chosen network of friends.

    The "opt-in" Latitude service uses data from mobile phone masts, GPS, or wi-fi hardware to update a user's location automatically.

    Users can also manually set their advertised location anywhere they like, or turn the broadcast off altogether.

    The service has raised a number of security concerns, as many users may not be aware that it is enabled.

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7872026.stm


Comments

  • #2
    Mena
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,180 ✭✭✭Mena


    Run_to_da_hills wrote: »
    Google has announced a new feature that allows users to share their locations among a chosen network of friends.

    The "opt-in" Latitude service uses data from mobile phone masts, GPS, or wi-fi hardware to update a user's location automatically.

    Users can also manually set their advertised location anywhere they like, or turn the broadcast off altogether.

    The service has raised a number of security concerns, as many users may not be aware that it is enabled.

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7872026.stm
    "opt-in"
    I say no more.


  • #3
    Hogzy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,544 ✭✭✭Hogzy


    Thats all a bit "silly" isnt it... you could say the same about gps trackers in taxis...

    People who choose to install that program will know what there signing up to! if there caught in a place they shouldnt be then there stupid for installing it in the first place!


  • #4
    Run_to_da_hills
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,009 ✭✭✭✭Run_to_da_hills


    Mena wrote: »
    I say no more.
    What if you were issued with a company phone and didn't have that option? There are plenty of sales reps and couriers that are driving about Dublin on GPS tracking devices that their bosses can pinpoint their location at any given time. This could take corporate surveylance to another level.


  • #5
    Mena
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,180 ✭✭✭Mena


    Run_to_da_hills wrote: »
    What if you were issued with a company phone and didn't have that option? There are plenty of sales reps and couriers that are driving about Dublin that their bosses can pinpoint through GPS positioning. This could take corporate surveylance to another level.

    1. I'd know how to disable it.
    2. Assuming I couldn't... who cares? If they want to keep tabs on me they are welcome to.


  • #6
    Run_to_da_hills
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,009 ✭✭✭✭Run_to_da_hills


    Mena wrote: »
    1. I'd know how to disable it.
    2. Assuming I couldn't... who cares? If they want to keep tabs on me they are welcome to.
    I would shove it in a Faraday cage.:D


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  • #7
    generalmiaow
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 865 ✭✭✭generalmiaow


    I don't buy the slippery slope argument being voiced on the net about this. Even apart from the opt-in and the friends-only thing, GPS is a very client side technology and its output is entirely controlled by the user. There is absolutely no way The Man can track you with this, considering that even if you do opt in you can feed whatever bull you want to the google maps app about where you are.

    I'm experimenting with this program and it currently shows me travelling in a huge arc over scandinavia. (by the way, that's not accurate) Even without fake GPS info, you can still set your location to anywhere by simply typing it in and no one is the wiser. No way this could even be used as evidence. You couldn't even use this to convince your girlfriend you weren't in the pub.

    If I wore a tinfoil hat, I would be more worried about subpoenas on my cell triangulation data. And we all know how useful that was in a recent high-profile case. I am also not worried about my friends knowing where I am. I am not afraid of change.

    The only reason for concern I suppose is minors giving away location data to predators. However, it seems that they could probably just tell them where they were.


  • #8
    dahamsta
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 16,659 ✭✭✭✭dahamsta


    The concerns being expressed are idiotic, and the people using it are equally idiotic. Perhaps it's good that they're tagging themselves though, they can play with the rest of the idiots, and the rest of us to avoid them.


  • #9
    aidan_walsh
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,208 ✭✭✭✭aidan_walsh


    dahamsta wrote: »
    The concerns being expressed are idiotic, and the people using it are equally idiotic. Perhaps it's good that they're tagging themselves though, they can play with the rest of the idiots, and the rest of us to avoid them.
    But how do you know who or where they are unless you tag them? :)


  • #10
    Run_to_da_hills
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,009 ✭✭✭✭Run_to_da_hills


    dahamsta wrote: »
    The concerns being expressed are idiotic, and the people using it are equally idiotic. .
    Not so if it becomes a trend for employment management as they have been doing with GPS vehicle tracking. Don't come back and say employees can use the "switch off" option, You will be out the gate. With the jobs market drying up beggars can't be choosers of who they work for.


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