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Google Street View Logs Wi-Fi Networks, MAC Addresses

Posted by timothy on from the cannot-see-basements dept.

An anonymous reader points to this story at The Register that says "Google is collecting more than just images when they drive around for the Street View service. 'Google's roving Street View spycam may blur your face, but it's got your number. The Street View service is under fire in Germany for scanning private WLAN networks, and recording users' unique MAC (Media Access Control) addresses, as the car trundles along.' There's a choice quote at the end: 'Google CEO Eric Schmidt recently said Internet users shouldn't worry about privacy unless they have something to hide.'"

10 of 559 comments (clear)

  1. something to hide? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    'Google CEO Eric Schmidt recently said internet users shouldn't worry about privacy unless they have something to hide.'

    What could I possibly have to hide, other than the fact that I'm wardriving around people's neighbourhoods? Oh no, wait a second...

  2. I use LINUX by mgkimsal2 · · Score: 5, Funny

    so I guess only people unsavvy enough to use MACs will have their addresses recorded! Whew!

    --
    creation science book
  3. Re:And... by JustOK · · Score: 3, Funny

    what are you trying to hide?

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    rewriting history since 2109
  4. I don't by JustOK · · Score: 5, Funny

    I don't have a mac address. I use PCs.

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    rewriting history since 2109
  5. Re:Tell Your Wireless ... by Shakrai · · Score: 3, Funny

    But my hard drive was full. I had no where else to save my sex tape other than Youtube ;)

    --
    I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
    We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.
  6. Re:Tell Your Wireless ... by clsours · · Score: 4, Funny

    Does anyone have the actual citation? Cause that would be kinda nice. http://xkcd.com/285/

    --
    Seagoon: Shut up Eccles!

    Eccles: Shut up Eccles!
  7. Re:Don't worry by mcgrew · · Score: 2, Funny

    I think you're confusing Google with the DEA.

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    Free Martian Whores!
  8. Pinpointing your location via this by Sabalon · · Score: 2, Funny

    I can just see Google Maps now - "We have found you are near wifi access point Linksys. We have narrowed your location down to one of these 1,232,342 locations."

  9. Re:Ignorance abounds indeed by QuantumG · · Score: 1, Funny

    Thankfully more educated people than you have determined that anything that can be seen from a public place is "in public".

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    How we know is more important than what we know.
  10. Easy fix by netsavior · · Score: 3, Funny

    My friends and I all have a wifi router swap program. We each have 2 routers (WRT54G) and we keep one active until google wardrives them then we mail them off to the next person in the list. And he mails you one that google tagged as being elsewhere in the country.

    if you are in front of my house, google will tell you that you are in Southern California (1500 miles away)

    (no this post is not actually true)