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NatSci 802.11x WiFi Tracker Zeroes In On Users
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."
I wonder if we can put tinfoil hats on our 802.11 emitters?
And yes, I know.
Striking fear in the authors of godawful fanfiction, I am here, appearing in darkness, Tuxedo Jack!
AFAIK, the signal strength metric from almost any card is different from any other, making it a highly arbitrary number from vendor to vendor. With that said, Kismet (www.kismetwireless.net) offers the ability to store signal strength and do some nifty triangulation with GPS.
I am interested to see if the product in question can be used indoors for traingulation. Without a usable gps signal, you'd have to calibrate known locations and that seems out of the range of the Dark Star's ability.
FWIW, I spoke at ToorCon in San Diego this last fall on the subject of using a directional antenna and a fluxgate (electronic) compass. We did some coding and quite a bit of hardware hacking, and we didn't get far because one sensor cost around $1400 in raw materials and hardware tests to get one built.
Google for Cassandra or e-mail me if you're still interested.