Hello all,
I was wondering what your thoughts on Wifi Aware are? For those unfamiliar, Wifi Aware will allow Wifi-enabled devices to use "GPS like" services (such has sharing location of photos via instagram or what have you). In some major cities, companies (such as google with LinkNYC) are changing payphone's into free Wifi hubs.
Now is this just me and my tinfoil hat, or does it seems like another method to track people via their wifi devices? Wifi Aware claims that it can provide precision even in crowded areas. Seems like a way to be able to help track people, since most cell phone providers require a credit background check and enter in your driver/personal license at the point of sale (at least in my experience getting phones from ATT and Verizon in the United States).
Thoughts, or should I just add another layer of tinfoil to my hat?
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HoneyNutStallmans ago
Step 1: change MAC address every time you switch APs
Step 2: use Tor
Wifi devices are in question here, not necessarily cell phones. People might stop using cell services in favor of wifi even for calling others.
CatManDew ago
True, you could Tor instead but that would only be for browsing the Internet.
Also, as far as I know you can't change your MAC Address. At least in my iPhone in the settings the This value is static.
HoneyNutStallmans ago
Not in the iPhone because Apple probably doesn't want you to prevent people from tracking you.
Lots of phones allow you to change the MAC address.
CatManDew ago
Valid point, was not aware of that. Is this something that needs to be done with root acces on Androids?
If so I'm sure there's an option for jailbroken iPhones.
HoneyNutStallmans ago
Probably.