Slashdot Mirror
Nike+ iPod Used For Surveillance
Thib writes "Researchers at the University of Washington have published a report detailing many easy and cheap ways the Nike+ iPod Sport Kit previously discussed on Slashdot can be used to track individuals, even when they are not carrying their iPod. They have even implemented a Google Maps application to display surveillance data in real time." From the article: "'Our research also shows that there exist simple cryptographic techniques that the Nike+iPod Sport Kit designers could have used to improve the privacy-preserving properties of the Nike+iPod kit,' the group reports. 'Our work underscores the need for a broad public discussion about and further research on the privacy-preserving properties of new wireless personal gadgets,' the group reports. 'We stress, however, that there is no evidence that Apple or Nike intended for these devices to be used in any malicious manner. Additionally, neither Apple nor Nike endorsed this study.'"
My cell phone and my laptop broadcast where I am and who I am all day long; what difference does it make if my shoes do the same thing?
For about the price of a webcam, you can remotely violate only 1 person's privacy - and all you can do is detect their presence.
Groundbreaking stuff, really.
Next up on YRO: Intrepid humans use eyeballs to invade privacy from distances of up to 100M!
i forget
No, but they still have to have that particular pair of shoes on, and you have to be within 60 feet of them!
The amount of effort it would take to track someone via the transmitter in one of their (presumably many shoes) is ridiculous compared to the amount of effort involved in shall we say more traditional methods of stalking.
Sure, you could custom-hack a Linux "gumstick" computer to read the shoe tag and transmit it to a computer to see when your girlfriend is home. But really all you'd ever know for sure is when that particular shoe is at home. Maybe a better bet would be to just install a Web-enabled X10 cam with no hacking required. Or you could go really old-school-stalker and just drive by her damn house to see if the lights are on.
Sure I guess you could drive along behind some girl reading her electronic shoe tag from 60 feet away...on the other hand if you're within 60 feet you can probably SEE her with your own EYES.
I know iPods and security vulnerabilities are hot topics these days. That doesn't mean every story that crosses the two should get the breathless treatment. This is just blatant fear-mongering in an attempt to generate press. There isn't even any valuable information to be captured, like from an RFID credit card for example.
Build a man a fire, he's warm for one night. Set him on fire, and he's warm for the rest of his life.
From University of Washington. And a good writeup from Wired.
Geez... with the way this is being "headlined" on CNN's site, one has to wonder how much M$ had to shell out for this little op.ed.'ish piece to boost dismal Zune sales (kidding)...
I mean, really though: "iPod flaw helps stalkers track your every move", and "Tracked through your iPod - Some researchers say that your iPod could double as a tracking device."... Neither mention Nike's role in this issue, and both make it sound like an iPod is diddling your sister or something...
This also seems to imply someone wants to stalk your sweaty, running ass to begin with... I mean, seriously, if someone wanted to track you, there has to be a better way than sprinkling "Gumstix" PCs in the damn bushes to listen to your ugly ass sneakers.
I have no objection to an article detailing some of the tricks people can use to track other people. The over-hyped connection to Nike and Apple is the ridiculous part. It's not like the only place in the world to get an electronic transmitter or RFID is from this one particular product that just happens to marry two of the best-known brands in the world. And it's not like an electronic tag is the only way to figure out when someone is in their dorm room.
I bet Apple didn't bother encrypting the transmission because all it does is transmit an ID and data stream. The data is totally unimportant unless you happen to care about someone's training program. And here's the crucial part--the ID is also totally unimportant because when people go jogging, they almost always go jogging in a public place. And when you're jogging in public you're already broadcasting your ID at least 60 feet, via the light that is reflected off your recognizable face.
Build a man a fire, he's warm for one night. Set him on fire, and he's warm for the rest of his life.
Wouldn't it be easier to just hide behind a tree? Just in time to try and pump some Zune sales. To get real about it, the "news" report from KING TV (http://www.king5.com/) in Seattle didn't say it was the iPod tracking you, and neither did the "researchers" but the morons at CNN did. What about the data squirting Zunes?
Most of the stuff on
That's a nifty little gizmo they've got there, but I can track iPods just as easily by looking for white earphones.
Most of the stuff on
Your 1km time today: 6:31
Last week: 6:28
You need Red Bull!
The Nike+ sensor module has a little switch on the underside, you can switch it off if you don't want to broadcast the sensor data.
I personally only use my sensor on my running shoes, which I only wear while running. Good running shoes are too expensive to wear just walking around town, they wear out too quickly. So if anyone wants to track me while I run 5 one mile laps, in the exact same course, 4 times a week, hey, help yourself to my sensor data.
The University of Washington's news and information office put together a release that includes an embedded video and a PDF of the research paper: http://uwnews.washington.edu/ni/article.asp?articl eID=28494
The inline video, made by the researchers, is well-crafted and rather entertaining.
Disclosure: I work on behalf of the UW and the technical side of its news operations.