Control access point inclusion in Google's Location services - Google Maps Help
support.google.com
To improve Location services and estimate the location of a device, Google uses publicly broadcast Wi-Fi information from wireless access points and GPS, cell tower, and sensor data. This data is limi

cross-posted from: https://infosec.pub/post/51680197

Append “_nomap” to the end of your SSIDs to instruct Google not to use your wi-fi access point for their mapping services.

To do the same for Apple, add “_optout” to the end of your SSIDs¹.

To boycott both, the rumor is that Google’s “_nomap” must be last, but Apple’s “_optout” flag must be in the penultimate position if and only if Google’s token is at the end. So you might have an SSID like “boycottCloudflare_optout_nomap” to boycott the baddies, for example. But note that “boycottCloudflare” is merely symbolic, to raise awareness of the web’s most harmful enshitifier.

¹ sorry to say I have no reference to cite for the Apple rules. It’s just a rumor.

update

The Apple opt-out procedure has apparently changed to align with Google. Someone refers to this page for Apple.

update 2

Mapquest is suddenly gaining popularity.

  • einkorn@feddit.orgEnglish
    12·
    4 days ago

    On the one hand I can understand it. Default wireless settings amount to your router screaming “I AM HERE, YOU CONNECTIONLESS IDIOTS” down the whole street. Simply writing this information down that is constantly broadcasted by your device is not an inherently bad thing to do.

    But yes, connecting all these hundreds of dots across multiple devices, systems and whatnot is where it gets terrifying. Just like HTTP, WLAN protocols have not been developed with security as a top priority. They are simply not made to protect from tech-surveillance companies. They are meant as utilities for everyone to share freely.