Can any of you technical types enlighten me please ?
A couple of days ago I upgraded to a slightly better Android tablet pc ( 8 inches with Android 2.3 and Flash 10.3,woo hoo ! )
The log-in is a Google screen,and as usual there was the question of whether I wanted to let Google know my location.I declined to,as I usually do.
A little later,I was playing with all the new applications,as you do.
Opening up the Google maps app,I found a screen with a map of my local area,with a glowing blue button where my house is,and the announcement that this was my location ” accurate to within thirty meters “.
Clicking the button gave the information that I was located between the actual addresses of my neighbours on either side.
What I’d like to know is,how the ****! does Google know where I am ? I’ve checked the tablet’s spec,and it doesn’t seem to have GPS.
The only thing that I can think has any relevance is that I was logged into my Googlemail account at the time.When I’d looked at the maps prior to that,all I got was a nice clickable map of the world.
Any ideas ?
By: Arabella-Cox - 7th November 2011 at 06:15
Please give me the link for that IP addr software.
By: PeeDee - 6th November 2011 at 19:59
I wonder if it is still able to triangulate if you hide your IP address?
I’ve just downloaded S/w that gives me a UK IP addy, so I can get to watch BBC Iplayer / ITV player etc. Works too.
I’ll check my Sophos notes – I use their Enterprise for my anti V.
By: Arabella-Cox - 5th November 2011 at 20:59
Sorry to dig up old stuff but this came in a security update, I think it was Sophos (you can google them and subscribe, well worth it),
It was recently discovered that Apple IOS products, beginning with version IOS 4, collect geo-location information about each device by default. It is believed that this data is acquired via Wi-Fi triangulation, not via GPS. There is currently no known way to disable this functionality.
By: kev35 - 13th October 2011 at 22:18
If Big Brother is watching me I’m very pleased to say that, like me, there is a strong possibility that he will die of boredom.
Regards,
Kev35
By: Arabella-Cox - 13th October 2011 at 21:31
Remember…in the UK( and various other places)…Big Brother is watching you! :dev2:
By: BumbleBee - 13th October 2011 at 20:50
Sorry chaps,a bit of in depth digging shows it actually does have GPS,accurate to street level.
It also has the ability to provide an even more accurate location,though if there’s an option to turn it off I haven’t found it yet.
So much for me thinking it sinister that Google might want to keep tabs on a little old lady.
Thanks for your suggestions anyway.I’ll try and engage brain before opening my trap next time.
By: Arthur Pewtey - 13th October 2011 at 08:46
Worked on mine at home – didn’t on the work PC though.
By: Arabella-Cox - 13th October 2011 at 07:45
Failed on mine too. I would have thought it extremely good if if could track me down :diablo:
As a matter of interest, there are some sites which track IP addresses which have pinpointed me to within about a 20 mile radius.
Bumblebee, did you give them your address when you registered the android?
By: Grey Area - 12th October 2011 at 16:58
Failed on mine…. 😀
By: Moggy C - 12th October 2011 at 16:25
Try this on your desktop machine
Moggy
By: ppp - 12th October 2011 at 16:14
GPS would be more accurate than 30 meters 🙂
By: jbritchford - 12th October 2011 at 13:04
How are connected to the internet?
If it’s via a direct connection to a network (such as vodafone etc) then much like a mobile phone, the signal could simply be triangulated via the signal towers?
If you connect to your home network then it’s possible it is finding your position from your ip address.
Either that or Google simply ignored you 😀
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October 12, 2011 at 12:34 pm