Re:Microsoft Just Killed the "Cover for Me" Excuse: 365 Now ...
by TavsiE9s on Friday January 30, 2026 @02:08PM
(#46828525)
Great. Can you share how exactly someone's location is being derived?
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Re:Microsoft Just Killed the "Cover for Me" Excuse: 365 Now ...
by csmpltn on Friday January 30, 2026 @03:30PM
(#46829460)
The tenant admin configures that mapping. They can also configure whether the data can be exposed to users outside of the organization. There’s no magic here.
Re:Microsoft Just Killed the "Cover for Me" Excuse: 365 Now ...
by cptskippy on Friday January 30, 2026 @02:29PM
(#46828783)
> ...what building they're in...
Given that not every device has built in GPS, it sounds like the Network Team is going to have to provide the locations of APs for that to work.
Curious how Teams will resolve that. If you're on your phone using a VPN back to your home network will it know or show you as at home? What happens if you have multiple APs at home?
Re:Microsoft Just Killed the "Cover for Me" Excuse: 365 Now ...
by shevy-java on Friday January 30, 2026 @03:13PM
(#46829253)
Perhaps it can be derived indirectly, if you have all global positions in the area and can calculate back, with some uncertainty, who is where and when and how.
It's like in Minority Report. Though with not perfect accuracy yet.
Re:Microsoft Just Killed the "Cover for Me" Excuse: 365 Now ...
by pbhjpbhj on Friday January 30, 2026 @03:04PM
(#46829132)
There are public databases of APs. Google reportedly used their Android users to sniff APs (?), and used StreetView vehicles to wardrive. MS can surely pin many APs to user's PII and locations just on the data they already have?
Re:Microsoft Just Killed the "Cover for Me" Excuse: 365 Now ...
by acheong08 on Friday January 30, 2026 @03:10PM
(#46829228)
> Google reportedly used their Android users to sniff APs
Pretty sure that's how it works across all phones. I know that's how Apple gets their location services database at least.
Re:Microsoft Just Killed the "Cover for Me" Excuse: 365 Now ...
by reloadtak on Friday January 30, 2026 @03:29PM
(#46829454)
Yeah, you need to add the BSSID of all APs. VPN does not matter the OS will have to provide access to this info.
Re:Microsoft Just Killed the "Cover for Me" Excuse: 365 Now ...
by LordGrey on Friday January 30, 2026 @07:39PM
(#46831959)
Or you set up a local router with an SSID that matches one from the corporate internal network.
That actually sounds like fun. The result, I mean; not the whole setting-up-a-router bit.
Re:Microsoft Just Killed the "Cover for Me" Excuse: 365 Now ...
by zamadatix on Friday January 30, 2026 @09:26PM
(#46832730)
You'd probably want to clone the BSSID of one of the APs, the SSID is unlikely to be used as it gives zero context to which office it's at most of the time.
Re:Microsoft Just Killed the "Cover for Me" Excuse: 365 Now ...
by zamadatix on Friday January 30, 2026 @09:30PM
(#46832756)
Assuming this is how it functions, the network team would export the list of BSSIDs (I.e. AP+SSID+Band specific wireless MAC used) by location and then there's really nothing about being VPNed in or even having a remote work device which advertises the work Wi-Fi that would create some problem needing to be resolved.