Linked by Howard Fosdick on Mon 21st Nov 2011 07:48 UTC
Last June, CNET disclosed that Google collects and publishes the estimated locations of millions of phones, laptops, and other Wi-Fi devices. All without their owner's knowledge or permission. Google has finally announced how to exclude your home network from this database. Simply append "_nomap" to its name. Details over at CNET. Left unsaid is why the burden is placed on millions of individuals to opt-out, instead of on perpetrator Google.
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RE: I don't like to defend Google
by nej_simon on Mon 21st Nov 2011 09:28
in reply to "I don't like to defend Google"
Member since:2011-02-11
RE[2]: I don't like to defend Google
by B. Janssen on Mon 21st Nov 2011 12:07
in reply to "RE: I don't like to defend Google"
Member since:2006-10-11
Ah, yes, disable the BEACON and switch all your stations into PROBE mode, that will certainly increase network security and performance.
Snarkiness aside, if Google is really only picking up BEACON frames and no other traffic they would still have to look at each frame to realize it's not BEACON. All other frames originating from your wireless network, like the thousands of PROBE frames you get if you disable BEACON, also carry the SSID and can just as easily be harvested.
It may be more gratifying (and potentially effective) to change your SSID to "ScrewGoogle". Or "ScrewGoogle_nomap", if you are concerned about this data getting even more public 
But face it, running a WLAN means being a radio broadcaster. Everybody can listen in and everybody with the simplest equipment can triangulate your position. Don't want that? Don't broadcast.
Features
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/24/13 17:26 UTC
So, the Xbox One disaster continues. Microsoft's policy for dealing with the used games market has reportedly leaked - and it's a clear and direct attack to destroy the used games market. Prices for used games will be set at the retail value of a new game, and retailers have to hook into Microsoft's computer systems and comply with Microsoft's terms and conditions.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/21/13 21:38 UTC
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Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/18/13 21:33 UTC
Why does Google get so much credit in the technology industry? Why, despite the company's many obvious failings, do many geeks and enthusiasts still hold a somewhat positive view on the all-knowing technology giant? A specific talk at Google I/O this week provides the answer.
Linked by David Adams on 05/16/13 4:23 UTC
OSNews is a sponsor of this year's O'Reilly OSCON in Portland, Oregon, USA. A lucky OSNews reader will win a free three-day pass, including two tutorials days. To win the pass, post a comment on this story saying something about Open Source Software or OSCON. We'll pick a winner at random next week. If you don't have an OSNews account, you may email us your entry. Part of the conference is the 9th annual Open Source Awards, and today the 16th is the deadline for nominations. If you'd like to nominate an outstanding open source contributor, do it here. Read on for more information about OSCON. Update: The 20% discount code for OSNews readers is "OSN."
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/11/13 21:41 UTC
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Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/08/13 14:22 UTC
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Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/02/13 15:28 UTC
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Linked by Thom Holwerda on 04/29/13 21:06 UTC
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Linked by Thom Holwerda on 04/24/13 22:24 UTC
They're here! Whether that excites you or not remains to be seen, but the Galaxy S4, which will most likely become the best selling Android smartphone of the year by a huge margin, has been reviewed by all the major sites, and there's lots of interesting conclusions in there - although I think most of you will get the gist.More Features »
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Member since:
2006-10-28
Asking google not to map my network is like asking your neighborhood not to listen your music if you play it loud.
I like privacy that's why i try to have everything connected by cable. And for the wireless devices i got my router transmitter at the lowest power possible. This may not be an option for everybody, but it don't like to see my network at 50 meters away from my home.