Gratitude is the sign of noble souls - Aesop
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Google offers a Streetview WiFi collection opt-out
INTERNET SEARCH OUTFIT Google is offering European citizens the chance to opt out of having their wireless networks mapped out by its Streetview cars, something that has caused it a lot of problems among regulators and governments in the past.
The feature, which no one welcomed, has had some spin from Google, and while it is offering citizens a chance to opt-out it is also suggesting that staying in is a good thing.
"From tagging a post with your location, to checking in to a restaurant, to simply finding out where you are, location-based services have become some of the most popular features of today's Internet," said Peter Fleischer, global privacy counsel at Google.
"One of the key ways technology companies are able to determine a location for these services is through a location database, which matches publicly broadcast information about local wireless networks with their approximate geographic location. By looking for wireless access points that are close to a user's phone, location providers can return the approximate location you need." Nice, eh?
Well, not really, and especially if you never asked for it in the first place. Google said that the information that it gathers does not identify people, which it has said before, but added that by letting people opt-out it will do more to "address privacy concerns".
"We're introducing a method that lets you opt out of having your wireless access point included in the Google Location Server," added Fleischer.
To opt out, users should get into their access point's settings and change the wireless network name (or SSID) so that it ends with "_nomap". There is a help page here.
"We found that a method based on wireless network names provides the right balance of simplicity as well as protection against abuse," added Fleischer. µ
Tags: Security
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You can set WPA2 but you can also use MAC address filtering as well. Very effective.
http://bit.ly/dI3hcF
You may not have heard this, but Google has also announced a way to opt-out of all personal information collection. All you have to do is to legally change your middle name to "Optout". See, easy!
Since when did hiding your SSID stop hackers?
I've got a Windows program that lists wi-fi networks even though the SSID is set to be hidden.
Just set a decent long WPA2-PSK [AES] passphrase and you can sleep at night.
:)
BobJob: Its not JUST google who could be using your connection! you would be amazed how simple it is a for a good hacker to get access to your router.. If you hide it, they will have no clue you have one.. and I will bet there are 10 others to target!
privacy? so tell me, WHY do you keep your front door closed and locked? 9 out of 10 have NO clue about 'net or wifi, or that it is usually the same as leaving your doors and windows wide open!!
and some info on google maps is hopelessly out of date, bus stops that were removed years ago, street maps more than 5 years old, etc...
I think you will find there are plenty of wifi hunter programs out there, to map all your local routers, and where they are!! heck, when I want to logon to my local pubs free wifi, I have to wade through hundreds of other routers, just to find it!!!
Just change SSID to hidden in router settings - no need to change any settings on already connected devices
surely this is illegal?
regardless of how much they bribed the polieticians, it does not make something lawful, just deemed acceptable by corrupt idiots
somebody needs to complain to the european court of human rights and also the data protection agency
somebody stop google before we descend further into an orwellian society..
oh, the evils of google
dont trust 'em they use your personal information for their greedy profits.
they have no right to make their actions 'opt out' it should ONLY be 'opt-in'. they mustve paid some politician LOTS of cash to get it this way round.
i will let them read my network, but i will change the name of it to something like:
google_suck_c%cks_in_hell
or
google_takes_it_up_the_@hitter
then when they publish it they will look stupid
dont be fooled by google, it is not wholesome it is a bitter, vindictive organisation that sh*ts on the little guy
Sure, I just have to re-register the 10 or 20 (Including those of family and friends that connect when they come to visit) devices that actually talk to my wireless router in order for it not to be logged next time they drive past!
What could be more fun or simpler!
Wow!
Why should I have to change my SSID to opt-out? It should be the other way around surely?
Surely this should be an opt in option, not an opt out. How many people are aware of this 'solution'. My elderly parents know nothing about their Wifi router, so why should we expect other less technical people to know? Another Google screw up?
What has happened to our digital rights when personal equipment is hijacked like this?