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NatSci 802.11x WiFi Tracker Zeroes In On Users

Posted by timothy on from the triangulation-nation dept.

securitas writes "Techweb reports that IT admins can now track and physically locate 802.11x WLAN users within a few feet using the new Wi-Fi Tracker hardware from National Scientific, based on its DarkStar wireless product. NSC's site says it will also produce tracking-only 'tag or badge' formats so admins are not limited to tracking active WLAN users and equipment. The company is now shipping development kits to its first customers and a technical specs PDF is available. The product incorporates Ekahau triangulation software. This is reminiscent of an earlier Slashdot story about office surveillance using 802.11b triangulation to track and determine the location of wireless network users."

6 of 85 comments (clear)

  1. Great news! by Bender_ · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This is really great news for all online gamers, because this allows games like features in this article further down the top page without losing all your money to your wireless provider.

    Just imagine all the geeky reallife RPGs you can build using this technique!

  2. Well.. by Sir+Pallas · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Well, maybe my boss will be intrigued to discover that I am sitting on a couch using my laptop instead of sitting at a desk using my desktop; but I can think of interesting games that one can play with this kind of technology. I mean, if you hook this thing up to a wearable computer, first person shooters could be a lot more first person. Will companies be tracking the movement of wardrivers that normally track companies' bad security policies?

  3. Active badge by yanboss · · Score: 3, Interesting

    A bit like:
    Office tracking as already in use.

  4. IANAEE by boobsea · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I'm not an Electrical Engineer, but would this system be able to tell where I am located if I'm using something like a yagi or parabolic dish from several miles away?

    What if I had a multi-antenna setup pointing my signal at different APs? To make the thing more confusing, what if I had attenuators or amplifiers on some of those antennas?

  5. I'll be across the street at a local coffee bar! by csoto · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Whenever I have to write up presentations or work on code, I disappear to this place for hours at a time, but magically, work gets done (free wireless, and decent, if not super speedy, net connectivity). I think smart managers (I'm one of them) understand that sitting in a cubie 8 hours per day does not consitute "putting in a day's work." WiFi lets us be the most productive we can be, no matter where we are. Sometimes, that means leaving the office.

    --
    There exists no way of exchanging information without making judgments. --Bene Gesserit Axiom
  6. Military applications by Wag · · Score: 2, Interesting

    What does this mean for US warships that use Wi-Fi?