Seattle PD Mum On Tracking By Its New Wi-Fi Mesh Network

An anonymous reader writes "The Stranger reports that Seattle's police department has installed a Wi-Fi mesh network paid for by the Department of Homeland Security. FTA: 'The SPD declined to answer more than a dozen questions from The Stranger, including whether the network is operational, who has access to its data, what it might be used for, and whether the SPD has used it (or intends to use it) to geo-locate people's devices via their MAC addresses or other identifiers.'"

Comments

Meaning

[Anonymous Coward]

Just because Seattle PD doesn't want to waste any more time responding to an obscure blogger does not indicate a nefarious conspiracy. But, the implication of a nefarious conspiracy does have a remarkably good effect on click counts. Doesn't it, Slashdot?

Here's the lowdown. WiFi, being unlicensed spectrum, can be used by anyone(even Seattle PD) to "track" WiFi clients. If it really bothers you, turn off WiFi(don't forget BueTooth). You can also turn the tables on your boogeymen by spoofing a MAC address or go all out and write an app that automatically rotates random MACs at random intervals(this is actually an appealing idea). Then you can walk around Seattle with your WiFi on and without fear of tracking. Though, the smug grin on your neck bearded face is a dead giveaway for the automatic facial recognition cameras that are everywhere, so you should probably shave and wear a disguise.

Re:changing it is a good idea regardless

[houstonbofh]

No doubt there is a provision buried in Law somewhere that says that any attempt to subvert the surveillance system, obscure your identity, or obscure your location, shall constitution obstruction of police powers and land you in jail.

When it is criminal to use airplane mode, only criminals will have airplane mode.

Re:changing it is a good idea regardless

[arisvega]

You "fixed" it, but not the part where he was changing the wired MAC address to prevent wireles tracking.

Try wlan0.

Utter nonsense- carrying around miles of ethernet cable is the only way to be safe.