One of the ways Google tracks where you are for its location-based services is via a list of known wireless routers and access points. While that list doesn’t include personal information, if you’d rather Google wasn’t tracking your router or access point at all, there’s now an easy way to make that happen.
All you need to do is change your network name (the SSID) so that it ends with “_nomap”. Changing the name usually requires logging into your web-based configuration page, a process which will vary depending on the hardware you use and may require you to connect via ethernet. Google has a help center article which covers the basics for many popular models.
Unfortunately, this does make it harder to use a quirky name for your network, though I guess “I_have_nomap” or “LottsaVirus_nomap” would still work.
Greater choice for wireless access point owners [The Official Google Blog]
Greg
Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at 3:53 PMHaving to change your SSID to fix google’s broken behaviour is completely backwards. Sorry google, you should fix your process for reporting bad wireless locations instead of forcing end users to apply hacks.
Blake
Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at 4:32 PMIt’s no different to a robots.txt
If you’re broadcasting a SSID, or throwing up a WWW page – you’re making something available to the public at large. You don’t get to complain that others make use of that information.
Kendal
Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at 9:13 PMHey Blake, where do you live, I mean street address?
Stove
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 1:27 AMOr putting windows in your house and then using curtains to block people looking in.
Google captures the data from public property. Legally it might be along the same lines of ‘taking a photo of your house from the street’ – whether you leave the curtains open or closed, the person is within their rights to take a picture.
David
Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at 4:07 PMSound familiar?
Rick
Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at 4:51 PMHow about we reverse it, Google only map networks with specific approval by ending with “_map_ok.” ?
Max
Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at 5:56 PMBecause the majority of us are completely fine with Google accessing information that we’re publicly broadcasting ourselves.
Take off your tinfoil hat and join us :)
Ross
Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at 5:20 PMSo, Yeah. Google should have an Opt in option rather than an Opt Out option.
The Joker
Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at 7:57 PMand yet so many people are fine with Streetview. You can’t ever get your privacy back so don’t give it away in the first place. You’ll likely live long enough to regret it.
Notabo Gan
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 1:35 PMTalking of tinfoil hats…
http://berkeley.intel-research.net/arahimi/helmet/http://berkeley.intel-research.net/arahimi/helmet/
Notabo Gan
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 2:33 PMhttp://berkeley.intel-research.net/arahimi/helmet/