Re:Tell HN: Google is correlating location data to your IP
by runjake on Saturday December 17, 2022 @09:54PM
(#34034643)
It’s not the MAC address, it’s the BSSID of the wireless network you are connected to, and those around you.
Software typically obtains BSSIDs from your mobile OS’s wi-fi frameworks.
The BSSID looks like a MAC address, and in many but not all cases, a given AP’s wireless network BSSID is within a byte or two of its actual wi-if radio MAC.
Google and Apple maintain their own massive geolocation databases of BSSIDs, signal strength, and latitude/longitude.
Software typically obtains BSSIDs from your mobile OS’s wi-fi frameworks.
The BSSID looks like a MAC address, and in many but not all cases, a given AP’s wireless network BSSID is within a byte or two of its actual wi-if radio MAC.
Google and Apple maintain their own massive geolocation databases of BSSIDs, signal strength, and latitude/longitude.