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Location tracking of phones is out of control. Here’s how to fight back. (arstechnica.com)

submitted 3 weeks ago by misk@sopuli.xyz to c/technology@lemmy.world

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[–] Scolding7300@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

How did they do it tech wise?

[–] VintageTech@sh.itjust.works 12 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Originally the D.A.I.R. project (Driver Aid, Information and Routing) was conceptualized in the 60's. It wasn't until Hughes assisted EDS in the 90's that they were able to create a beacon that could communicate via Satellite and Cellular.

I myself didn't realize this was a thing until about a decade ago when I was trying to create an automation for my lights to turn on when I pulled into my driveway. I kept getting a ping about 5min after my phone connected to my WiFi. The MAC matched nothing I had in the house, I just blew it off.

When an associate stopped by to work on a HoneyPot project we started seeing a bunch of random MACs attempt to connect to the open wifi, we wrote that noise off as people walking by my house and their cell phones were just trying to connect. It wasn't until the garbage man showed up and stopped to talk to me that I was able to find his truck listed with an address connected to the open wifi, sent a few packets, then left. We made the correlation that the MAC's could be from cars so we started researching the manufacturer of those device MAC's

That pretty much opened a weird rabbit hole leading us to find out that almost every car has been tracked since the mid-90's.

Joking aside, I would move to Amish country if it weren't for the whiskey and bitches. But in all honesty; my family lives a much more comfortable life than I ever imagined I would with working in the IT field.

[–] AbsoluteChicagoDog@lemm.ee 3 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

There's a got to be a way to create an sudo Amish community where technology is hyper regulated but still allowed

[–] yonder@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

A linux-only society. Those using non-free systems (google android, windows, macOS) are expelled.

[–] AbsoluteChicagoDog@lemm.ee 2 points 3 weeks ago

We'll give them a chance to repent first at least

[–] ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 3 weeks ago

Just as soon as linux phones are better than Graphene, I can join. For now Graphene will suffice.

[–] crank0271@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Not even "pseudo-"... well done

[–] AbsoluteChicagoDog@lemm.ee 2 points 3 weeks ago

Sudo Amish. That's the name of the religion.

[–] AA5B@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Same as today, but slower.

GM’s OnStar was notorious for this. I think the first version had a 2G cell modem

[–] VintageTech@sh.itjust.works 3 points 3 weeks ago

GM's OnStar, I believe, was just EDS's tech at the time of their rollout in '96ish