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Fitness-Tracking App Reveals Locations of Secret Army Bases (theguardian.com)
Coisiche shared this story from the Guardian:
Sensitive information about the location and staffing of military bases and spy outposts around the world has been revealed by a fitness tracking company. The details were released by Strava in a data visualisation map that shows all the activity tracked by users of its app, which allows people to record their exercise and share it with others. The map, released in November 2017, shows every single activity ever uploaded to Strava -- more than 3 trillion individual GPS data points, according to the company. The app can be used on various devices including smartphones and fitness trackers like Fitbit to see popular running routes in major cities, or spot individuals in more remote areas who have unusual exercise patterns.
However, over the weekend military analysts noticed that the map is also detailed enough that it potentially gives away extremely sensitive information about a subset of Strava users: military personnel on active service... In locations like Afghanistan, Djibouti and Syria, the users of Strava seem to be almost exclusively foreign military personnel, meaning that bases stand out brightly. In Helmand province, Afghanistan, for instance, the locations of forward operating bases can be clearly seen, glowing white against the black map.
One analyst analyst predicted that after this discovery, "A lot of people are going to have to sit through lectures come Monday morning."
Another military analyst told the Guardian "U.S bases are clearly identifiable" -- though he added that the map "looks very pretty."
However, over the weekend military analysts noticed that the map is also detailed enough that it potentially gives away extremely sensitive information about a subset of Strava users: military personnel on active service... In locations like Afghanistan, Djibouti and Syria, the users of Strava seem to be almost exclusively foreign military personnel, meaning that bases stand out brightly. In Helmand province, Afghanistan, for instance, the locations of forward operating bases can be clearly seen, glowing white against the black map.
One analyst analyst predicted that after this discovery, "A lot of people are going to have to sit through lectures come Monday morning."
Another military analyst told the Guardian "U.S bases are clearly identifiable" -- though he added that the map "looks very pretty."
And this is why letting some company track your data is a bad idea. This would probably have been avoided if this company didn't track their users and then publish the data.
If you are in a sensitive area and you have a smart phone turned on then you aren't smart enough to be allowed in a sensitive area. If we are near people who potentially want to kill me and you turn your fucking position broadcasting device on beside me, I will turn it off after I take it off of your recently deceased body.
True. I would amend the above to say "phone" instead of "smart phone" to be even more accurate. If the area is that sensitive, your probably don't want the cellular provider tracking you either. Even a non-smart cellular phone with no applications is giving up your location constantly.
This could happen regardless of "radio silence". Strava can log your route even when not actively broadcasting your location. It could be uploaded months, or even years later.
Because the location isn't sensitive. These bases aren't hidden, they are fortified forward operating positions.
What is inside the base is sensitive, what information there is sensitive, what force composition is there is sensitive.
I believe the industry term is meta-analysis. It actually makes sense that it exists, as there's far too much information for one analyst or one team to analyze, especially when it crosses disciplines. At some point analysis has to trust on the other of other analysis.
It's probably in the interest of the higher-level analyst to be a natural skeptic though, since it's always a good idea to at least spot-check the work of others that one is reliant on.
Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
A road map that any local who wishes already has. These bases are not secret, they are not hidden, they use local nationals employees for many general labor services, Further on average there are not massive numbers all at one spot on any base's running routes. There will be more runners at sunrise and sunset as it's cooler but not to dark to safely see, but they don't usually group together.
This is being blown out of proportion by people who don't understand what they are even talking about. Yes it is of some degree of concern, I would expect the devices to become restricted on smaller forward bases, but mostly this is not an issue. A local national working on base can generate the same information with his mark one eyeballs and he doesn't need a computer or internet access to do so.
I'm too lazy to compose a creative sig.