Creeva's World 2.0 - Latest Comments in Worried About Skyhook Mapping Your Wifi Router To a GeoLocation?

Re: Worried About Skyhook Mapping Your Wifi Router To a GeoLocation?

creeva — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 20:13:29 -0000

Actually the information theory is sound if you realize that it about an individual removing their Mac address from the database. Since it isn't about people doing it collectively in a neighborhood, the assisted GPS database would still function perfectly fine for someone that was using the service.

We do run into the part that I didn't touch upon, that if Skyhook can handle duplicate Mac
Addresses or not. If they can you would have to check the frequency they patrol an area before your MAC is back in the database - then you would have to change it again.

Also this is about routers and not about tracking laptops or phones - which would be a completely different discussion.

Re: Worried About Skyhook Mapping Your Wifi Router To a GeoLocation?

caligula — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 17:01:18 -0000

Well that's not correct reasoning. It doesn't matter how many people counterfeit their location as long as they don't do it en masse. Random
noise will be cancelled out and the true location will still show.
Write needs some classes in information theory

Re: Worried About Skyhook Mapping Your Wifi Router To a GeoLocation?

www.42ndstreetoffices.com — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 06:46:16 -0000

Is that actually a McDonalds?? Jeez, thats upsetting.

Re: Worried About Skyhook Mapping Your Wifi Router To a GeoLocation?

Steve — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:35:35 -0000

I've got a better idea. Why don't we ALL set our MAC addresses to one that originates around the Skyhook corporate office? I could set mine, and dozens of friends, and together we make everyone point to one MAC address.

Re: Worried About Skyhook Mapping Your Wifi Router To a GeoLocation?

PlainJane — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 12:52:35 -0000

Okay, so... I'm reading all this hype about geolocation by MAC address and I just HAVE to ask... "so what?" The chances of pinpointing an exact location seems a bit far-fetched. And, supposing you did locate my residence, what benefit does it give you other than knowing you spent all the this time to find plain ole jane?

Re: Worried About Skyhook Mapping Your Wifi Router To a GeoLocation?

Guest — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:21:35 -0000

Thanks man, just what I was looking for. Thanks so much…

Re: Worried About Skyhook Mapping Your Wifi Router To a GeoLocation?

creeva — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:20:40 -0000

I don't nec. disagree with you - it took me much longer to write the article then it would have been to come up with the idea of doing this and make the change.

In theory my one AP is newer and prob. is not in the database, if my other API's are in the database it will probably say the wrong state depending on when they passed through - pre or post move to my current location.

Either way - I can change, I know how to change, and if I am inclined I can do it in under a minute.

What the real point of this article was everyone was going WAY overboard and overthinking this issue and solutions to remove their own AP's from teh database. If they don't like the database or have a grudge against, my solution is simple and sweet. The geo loc. data they get from your MAC is wrong - but like you pointed out if they want the information they can just walk down the street and pick up a different one.

There is no reason I have to be altruistic and give out my geo loc. information just because someone didn't buy a device with a GPS in it. That's really the issue though right? When geo location applications become more refined we will just be using GPS chips in all of our devices anyways? At that point the skyhook database should eventually die off. It's a stop gap until the GPS chip itself takes over.

Re: Worried About Skyhook Mapping Your Wifi Router To a GeoLocation?

shokk — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:10:51 -0000

Just seems like a lot of tinfoil hat motions to hide your AP MAC.

Re: Worried About Skyhook Mapping Your Wifi Router To a GeoLocation?

creeva — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 08:26:13 -0000

Isn't that the point though - I wasn't going through stating that everyone should change and break the skyhook API - just if your worried about the geolocation information of your own API.

Re: Worried About Skyhook Mapping Your Wifi Router To a GeoLocation?

shokk — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 06:34:18 -0000

When you change you MAC to fool Skhhook you are just one of hundreds of APs in your neighborhood. Considering that many people still don't change the default admin settings on their router, your bit of subversion is only as effective as the radius of your AP.

Re: Worried About Skyhook Mapping Your Wifi Router To a GeoLocation?

creeva — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 13:05:10 -0000

did you know they deliver in Manhattan?

Re: Worried About Skyhook Mapping Your Wifi Router To a GeoLocation?

John — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 03:46:32 -0000

I have been to a McDonald's in Manhattan just not that one.