x404.co.uk
http://www.x404.co.uk/forum/

The stalker becomes the stalkee…
http://www.x404.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3262		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  pg2114 [ Thu Oct 08, 2009 10:40 pm ]
Post subject:  The stalker becomes the stalkee…
Hello all,

When browsing Google Maps on Firefox, I have just noticed a new button above the zoom bar entitled "Show my location". Within seconds, Google Maps showed me my exact location. I don't understand how it knew precisely where I was, since I'm just connected to my own private network and on a machine without GPS capabilities :shock:

Mozilla website wrote:
When you visit a location-aware website, Firefox will ask you if you want to share your location.

If you consent, Firefox gathers information about nearby wireless access points and your computer’s IP address. Then Firefox sends this information to the default geolocation service provider, Google Location Services, to get an estimate of your location. That location estimate is then shared with the requesting website.

If you say that you do not consent, Firefox will not do anything.


Any ideas how it managed to get my location so accurately?

Peter.
Author:  cloaked_wolf [ Thu Oct 08, 2009 11:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The stalker becomes the stalkee…
Ip addy?
Author:  big_D [ Fri Oct 09, 2009 4:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The stalker becomes the stalkee…
Yep, there have been a lot of services which have tracerouted graphically over the years, which were able to track down to at least the last mile, based on the IP addresses. If you have wireless, then it can pinpoint more accurately, I believe they build a list of WLAN AP names and track those down to their nearest point, then triangulate your location based on them.

Mozilla and Google announced they were working on this about 6 months ago and there was a huge uproar in privacy circles.

Just had a look myself and I don't see any button to do this.

Edit: Found it, but it wasn't obvious. And it doesn't work on mine. Left it with the spinning hour-glass effect for 5 minutes and it hasn't moved away from North America yet...

Edit 2: Its been running for over 20 minutes and still hasn't refreshed... :?
Author:  AlunD [ Fri Oct 09, 2009 7:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The stalker becomes the stalkee…
couldn't find me. :D
Author:  Amnesia10 [ Fri Oct 09, 2009 9:07 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The stalker becomes the stalkee…
AlunD wrote:
couldn't find me. :D

Yes but I bet Chuck Norris could!
Author:  bobbdobbs [ Fri Oct 09, 2009 9:08 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The stalker becomes the stalkee…
Amnesia10 wrote:
AlunD wrote:
couldn't find me. :D

Yes but I bet Chuck Norris could!


Find implies Chuck would have to expend effort. Chuck just knows where you are and what you are doing :lol:
Author:  ShockWaffle [ Fri Oct 09, 2009 8:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The stalker becomes the stalkee…
I think was the the eminent philosopher Martin Heidegger who first posited the question, could Chuck Norris roundhouse AlunD so hard that he landed somewhere even Chuck Norris couldn't find him?
Author:  l3v1ck [ Fri Oct 09, 2009 8:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The stalker becomes the stalkee…
Didn't work for me. It just sat there thinking.
Author:  mars-bar-man [ Fri Oct 09, 2009 9:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The stalker becomes the stalkee…
pg2114 wrote:
Hello all,

When browsing Google Maps on Firefox, I have just noticed a new button above the zoom bar entitled "Show my location". Within seconds, Google Maps showed me my exact location. I don't understand how it knew precisely where I was, since I'm just connected to my own private network and on a machine without GPS capabilities :shock:

Mozilla website wrote:
When you visit a location-aware website, Firefox will ask you if you want to share your location.

If you consent, Firefox gathers information about nearby wireless access points and your computer’s IP address. Then Firefox sends this information to the default geolocation service provider, Google Location Services, to get an estimate of your location. That location estimate is then shared with the requesting website.

If you say that you do not consent, Firefox will not do anything.


Any ideas how it managed to get my location so accurately?

Peter.

Ha!! I tried it....it put me like 4 miles away :) I think I'm safe for now :D
Author:  pg2114 [ Fri Oct 09, 2009 9:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The stalker becomes the stalkee…
Where I am currently located, there are no other networks in range, except for my private wireless network. It still manages to locate me instantly to about 100m accuracy :shock:

Peter.
Author:  ProfessorF [ Fri Oct 09, 2009 9:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The stalker becomes the stalkee…
Hah! In your face Google - I'm not inside your blue circle! :P
Author:  pg2114 [ Fri Oct 09, 2009 10:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The stalker becomes the stalkee…
ProfessorF wrote:
Hah! In your face Google - I'm not inside your blue circle! :P

I'm right in the middle of it. Now I know what it's liked to be permanently stalked!

Peter.
Author:  leeds_manc [ Fri Oct 09, 2009 10:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The stalker becomes the stalkee…
Where's this link?
Author:  ProfessorF [ Fri Oct 09, 2009 11:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The stalker becomes the stalkee…
In Firefox 3.5, go to google.co.uk/maps
Above the +/- slider thing in the top left, there's a new button.
This will then try to locate you in Google Maps, if you give Firefox permission to share your location.
Author:  mars-bar-man [ Sat Oct 10, 2009 12:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The stalker becomes the stalkee…
Same in Chrome as well.
Page 1 of 2 All times are UTC
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
https://www.phpbb.com/