Google Scanning for Your Mac Address?
Is Google scanning home networks for Mac addresses?
What exactly is Google up to? That's the question some may ask based on recent news that the search giant's Street View cars are scanning private WLAN networks. Although there's no word if Google is conducting its invasion of privacy here in the States, German officials have discovered that the automobiles are not only scanning consumer-based networks, but is possibly obtaining users' unique Mac addresses in the process.
Naturally, this has ruffled a few feathers, especially Germany's Federal Commissioner for Data Protection Peter Schaar who said that he's simply "horrified" by the discovery. He's worried about the implications of Google's acquired information, especially when the various pieces of data are connected to identify each individual residing on the Internet.
According to The Register, German broadcaster ARD is already requesting that Google shut down its local Street View project."I am appalled… I call upon Google to delete previously unlawfully collected personal data on the wireless network immediately and stop the rides for Street View," said the ARD.
Currently Google has not launched Street View in Germany, nor has it published the WLAN map. As Softpedia points out, Google has always said that it was scanning for Wi-Fi networks and mobile phone relays with Street View cars. Supposedly the data collected by the scanners would help consumers find the nearest Internet hotspot. What wasn't apparent was that the Street View cars would scan neighborhoods as well.
Should Germany be concerned over the WLAN scanning? Every nation should be concerned, especially after Google CEO Eric Schmidt said that Internet users shouldn't worry about privacy unless they have something to hide.
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Well assuming that Skynet has full control by 2018, I think they're right about on track.....
Well, I actually like street view, and I have used it a few times (looking at a place I may have rented).
However, scanning Mac addresses? Why?
I guess they soon adds "or else" to their slogan...
Quick, everyone change their SSID to g00gleisWatching
I'm going to change mine to di-eG-oo-gl-e!
My phone's GPS unit (when using Ovi Maps) can get a lock more quickly if it finds a nearby wireless network with a known access point location. Maybe this is why they're scanning (faster GPS lock when using Google Maps).
Key here people is "but is possibly obtaining users' unique Mac addresses in the process". POSSIBLY. Doesn't mean that they actually are. Maybe we should do some fact checking on google's end first, yes?
I wouldn't be opposed to the whole "public" wifi hotspots, but neighborhoods? When does Mac addresses have anything to do with internet hotspots anyyways?!
MAC addresses on most wireless routers can be changed (clone mode for example), I would be more concerned about Google sharing SSID's, except you can hide that as well.
Mac Addresses are how hardware talks to each other. You can't connect to a wireless hotspot without addressing your traffic to the routers MAC address. Therefore, scanning for open networks will no doubt involve retrieving the routers MAC address. Whether or not Google stores that MAC address is another matter.
As I see it, there are two options here:
A) an open network is an open network, and Google's car's aren't going to know the difference between Starbucks and some moron who doesn't lock-down his router. And even with a locked-down router, if the router broadcasts its presence, people will know its MAC address.
b) google is obtaining this information so it knows exactly where you are at, and will be able to localize searches not just to your city but to your front yard. "Google has found 18347 results for 'furry animal farm escapades' in your neighborhood."
well I think anyone thats running a wifi at home wide open with no security deserves to have google obtain info about it.
a simple WPA(WPA2)or even WEP setup is all you need. wifi has been around long enough that if you have it at home..spending 3 minutes to set that up should be common sense.
Not just every nation, EVERY HUMAN! The in your face attitude Google has started to become has shown its true colors in late years forgetting that if everyone stopped going to google for one month Google would tank faster than the titanic since they have 95% of there profits from advertising. Not like its going to happen but it would send a clear message if it did which is one of the main reasons they are branching out in all directions to broaden their portfolio to prevent this from happening. They want to be the giant you fear, love, and hate at the same time.
It's unfortunate how Corporate they have become, but perhaps its just my blind ignorance like many who feel for them in the beginning as the "Innovators and Good Guys" that we thought they were.
Google is the beast 666
Not just every nation, EVERY HUMAN! The in your face attitude Google has started to become has shown its true colors in late years forgetting that if everyone stopped going to google for one month Google would tank faster than the titanic since they have 95% of there profits from advertising. Not like its going to happen but it would send a clear message if it did which is one of the main reasons they are branching out in all directions to broaden their portfolio to prevent this from happening. They want to be the giant you fear, love, and hate at the same time.It's unfortunate how Corporate they have become, but perhaps its just my blind ignorance like many who feel for them in the beginning as the "Innovators and Good Guys" that we thought they were.
in your face? because they take pictures of anything with eyes can see themselves..or wifi spots that anyone in your neighborhood (or anyone passing by with a smartphone) can detect anyway?
now if they was warhacking the security on wifi to log into it. I could see a problem.
getting upset about google taking your picture is like tracking down people that took pictures at disney world and posted the pics on thier twitter, and you getting upset that its online and you happen to be in the background of that picture.
this whole "Google is evil for listing things that anyone can find out anyway" is getting out of hand.
I say if standing in the street of any random area, anything I can see(google street view), or detect (your wireless) is fair game.
I wouldn't be opposed to the whole "public" wifi hotspots, but neighborhoods? When does Mac addresses have anything to do with internet hotspots anyyways?!
Google isn't going to try and predetermine where public wifi hotspots are. They are just going to scan everything and then sort out the data. As soon as someone defines a rule describing where public hotspots cannot exist, exceptions will be found.
It is the wireless network admin/owner's responsibility to secure their network. If they want to broadcast on public frequencies out to public streets then they are equally to blame. What expectation of privacy do you have standing naked in your front yard? Ignorance is no excuse.
Why is anyone surprised by this?
Why is anyone surprised by this?
we arent, its no big deal...people act like they are coming into your house with the street view car, and taking photos of you in the shower
adding them to your network, and listing your wifi connection people can use to view the images
Well assuming that Skynet has full control by 2018, I think they're right about on track.....
Come with me if you want to live
This news is as funny as it is dangerous. As a network consultant having someone a mac address only matters depending on what you plan to do with it. Mac addresses are changable, maskable, and if you have something to hide you already know this. For the rest of us, I ll just quote what another network consultant. Google is the real life skynet.
This news is as funny as it is dangerous. As a network consultant having someone a mac address only matters depending on what you plan to do with it. Mac addresses are changable, maskable, and if you have something to hide you already know this. For the rest of us, I ll just quote what another network consultant. Google is the real life skynet.
Saved me from having to type it.
Still, fuck google. They really are crossing the line. They think that everyone is willing to sacrifice privacy for the sake of a little added convenience that i'm sure only a small % of ppl will every make use of. And we're just supposed to trust that google will NEVER do anything unethical with all the data their collecting on everyone.
Google keeps and uses "EVERYTHING" it can get its claws on. And I don't believe them when they say they are not.
Google is evil for making knowledge that you can find out yourself readily available. of course governments would think that is evil, some governments don't want people to know stuff, and act more like sheep.
Google is like the federation from star trek, they have good intentions, but everyone thinks Google is evil because they themselves are evil and going around being goody 2 shoes in on their turf.
Even if Google is doing this with no harmful intentions, if they make the data available, it may be used for harmful purposes. There is no reason to make this kind of data available without permissions.
We live with certain amount of paranoia this days. Most of the times not just because of what we know already but indeed because of what we don't know. I am a regular network challenged joe, with a locked router anyway, but I wonder. Not a very good network consultant can't detect "anything wrong with it". But if that information exist and becomes useful, or someone finds a use, shouldn't we act before that happens? Sorry, more paranoia... Kind of, lets protect Bigfoot with a law just in the remote scenario he is a real creature?... We the people want to know!!! lol
I like Google Street View and I don't find anything wrong with it...
Having an unsecured network is asking for someone to steal personal information.
Having Google post your unsecured network information on the internet isn't going to help...
google
gooogle
g666gle
hmm very close.
Google knows where you live, where you work and what you had for breakfast. So I don't think Google knowing your MAC address is a big deal now.
I routinely scan networks where I am. Whats the difference? I could care less if Google finds the WLAN that I am "Broadcasting". They still can't connect to it, so why should I care?
This is no different than someone standing in their front yard screaming their phone number or email address. Not really a big deal in my opinion.
If you don't want to have your network viewed by others then don't broadcast. Pretty simple really.
All they can really do is get your routers MAC anyway, layer 2 information is stripped off at each hop and replaced.
Well, they did, they got the data.... and... you ask them to stop and you are appled?????!?!?!
This is why they keep doing this shit. If you, say.... flayed the CEO and put his head on a pike... chances are the next one would have better discretion.
Scanning for hotspots... right. This is not an area where you'll find hotspots. Cows don't use WiFi... yet. *sigh* This and their CEO's position on privacy are why I won't use Google products if it can be helped. Do No Evil... really?