Google Says You Can Now Turn Off Wireless Location Tracking
- Posted on November 15, 2011 at 12:14pm by
Liz Klimas
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Either you find it helpful or you find it unsettling that Google seems to sense wherever you are when you use its search. For example, when you type “restaurants” — no city associated with it — into the search bar, it comes up with a map of restaurants right around the location surrounding where you’re currently sitting.
Google has now given people the option to opt out of using the Google Location Server, even though it was anonymous, in an effort to improve privacy and user control. This opt out comes after European data protection officials called for Google to create the option earlier this fall.
Here‘s what Google’s blog had to say:
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. 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. In addition, this method is a good alternative to other approaches, like GPS, because it’s faster, it works indoors, and it’s more battery-efficient.
The wireless access point information we use in our location database, the Google Location Server, doesn’t identify people. But as first mentioned in September, we can 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. To opt out, visit your access point’s settings and change the wireless network name (or SSID) so that it ends with “_nomap.” For example, if your SSID is“Network,” you‘d need to change it to “Network_nomap.”
At some point, Google hopes that other location service providers, who will be able to observe those opting out of Google’s service, will adopt the “_nomap“ system for their users so there is a ”unified opt-out process regardless of location provider.”
Here is more information on Google’s location-based services.
[H/T Slashgear]
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SamIamTwo
Posted on November 17, 2011 at 7:19amIt‘s not the gov’t that you have to fear, it’s the internet companies and those who can hack into their systems.
Report Post »120pages
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 11:09amHey Mr_Anderson,
Exactly how to you turn yours off? I have followed the directions provided by Google on how to turn this annoying function off and it just continues to stay on. The explanation from the link in this Blaze article is incorrect because it says you need to re-configure your router but I was traveling last week in California and Google Maps was still reading My Location as North Carolina. So, when I was looking for directions in California, Google Maps would automatically give me directions all the way across the United States. Very annoying and frustrating!!!!!
Report Post »jado1981
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 8:41amWhy is this news? the iphone, (and I’m no huge fan of theirs or trumping their products) has the ability to turn off location services, and I’m sure that the android can too, surely apple wasn’t alone in being able to kill the loc. services. Like Mr_Anderson said, turn it on when you need it, and kill it when you don’t. With mine off, it says I’m somewhere over in Africa… That‘s fine since I’m in Texas
Report Post »vic138
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 1:02pmof course you can turn off location services in android. The point here is you can use location services (for applications such as weather.com), but its not tracked by google or your service provider (I think). I couldn’t modify my ssid (+’_nomap’). Mine is ‘T_-Mobile US‘ and should modified to be ’T-Mobile US_nomap’)? My ssid (or name) is read only. Using gingerbread, 2.3.4, and bought my phone unlocked from google.
Report Post »vic138
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 1:06pmI take that back. I was able to change the ssid and location specific apps still work. Cool !!!
Report Post »pwd
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 12:49amIf you don’t like their policies, don’t use Google. It really is that simple people!
Report Post »midnightgolfer
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 4:06amthank-you
Report Post »MR_ANDERSON
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 7:16amOr, enable it when you need it, and disable it when you aren’t using it.
That is what I do, but maybe I have that option because I don’t live in the US.
Report Post »WAKEUPUSA2012
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 12:54pmIts not just Google people its all these systems. I love the systems they make life easier. But i dont use them anymore because they can track you on it.
Report Post »Paul D.
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 5:07pmThe issue here has nothing to do with using google or a cellphone. Google was taking note of where wireless networks were when they sent those nice trucks taking pictures of the streets. This allowed anyone who used their services to scan for nearby wireless networks and get an idea of where they were using Google’s database of wireless networks.
The privacy issue here is should Google be noting my Wireless network at my house and recording it to a public database. The info couldn’t identify me personally but it is still disturbing to others to know their own wireless networks are now being used for a global directory.
Report Post »WAKEUPUSA2012
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 12:46amEven if you can opt out I guarantee they can and will turn it back on without you knowing. Google was funded in the early days by the NSA and DARPA. They are deep in goverment backing. This is all apart of the big brother goverment that wants to control every aspect of our life. And they want to know where we are going who we talk to and what our habits are. This is very scary to me. I love my country. But things are getting to a point where I cant walk down the street without being on camara. Im sick over it.
Report Post »WAKEUPUSA2012
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 12:47am1984
Brave New World
Report Post »miren
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 12:44amWhy does this even matter? What, a hacker can find out where I am or the Gov’t and come an KILL ME????
Report Post »madarain
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 11:54amIt’s clear you intend to kneel down, submit and obey whomever gains control over our country in the future…so why are you even reading this blog? Benjamin Franklin said… “Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.” Perhaps he was imagining you.
Report Post »Airgun
Posted on November 15, 2011 at 11:39pmUmmm, no.
Report Post »I would have much preferred an “opt-IN” service that required you to sign up to participate.
There is no way to verify (just because they said so) that your location is no longer being plotted, and having lived as an adult throughout the lifetime of the internet my trust level is non-existent.
just happy
Posted on November 15, 2011 at 11:04pmI think people should be very happy about this. I think their is so much going on that people have missed this piece of good news.
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