XPost: sci.geo.satellite-nav, alt.comp.os.windows-10   
   From: nospam@needed.invalid   
      
   On 10/25/2023 7:11 AM, Carlos E. R. wrote:   
      
   >   
   > Hum. The browser knows the location from the IP. Try Google Maps   
   > in a computer with a new web profile or computer user, see how   
   > they get your location correct. At least the area.   
   >   
      
   It's more complicated than that.   
      
   The browser can query the "Location Service" on a Windows machine.   
      
   https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-location-ser   
   ice-and-privacy-3a8eee0a-5b0b-dc07-eede-2a5ca1c49088   
      
      "Microsoft operates a location service that helps determine the   
       precise geographic location of your Windows device. The precise   
       location of your device allows apps to give you directions, show   
       shops and restaurants that are near you, and more.   
      
       Many apps and services request location information from your device,   
       and the Windows location service gives you control over which apps   
       are allowed to access your precise location."   
      
   There is a big difference between the "precise" on a Windows Phone   
   versus the "precise" on a de-equipped desktop. Using my Ethernet IP, they   
   would precisely locate me to the "head office of my ISP".   
      
   My pizza won't be getting here in 30 minutes, so it will be free.   
      
   *******   
      
   There was an academic paper, claiming location via Ethernet packets,   
   to around two city blocks. Which is not "precise" and is not enough   
   for legal cases. And that method, required a certain density of probing   
   devices, to make the determination. This is a good enough method for   
   setting up police road blocks and doing a grid search.   
      
   With wireless in the picture, the situation could be quite different.   
   Both Microsoft and Google have "snarfed" SSIDs. Google was doing   
   this, with the Google map car that drives around. Microsoft was doing   
   it with the OS, but they have likely stopped doing that, some time ago.   
   Microsoft would collect all the SSIDs they could find, on a Wifi, and   
   then by comparing all the customers, build a map using that info.   
      
   I would guess, without Wifi and without a 4G Dongle, you're pretty safe.   
      
   However, if you Google on "toronto pizza" then you're in Toronto,   
   and if you type in "toronto city hall main phone number", again,   
   you're in Toronto. If you type in "Joes Pizza", then that might   
   isolate you to a section of Toronto. Enough of these kinds of requests,   
   geolocates you (as people are too lazy to go to the other side of Toronto).   
      
   I think on one occasion, they got three of my post-code letters correct.   
   But since the info displayed at the bottom of the page, is not their   
   actual determination (it's to knock you off the scent), their   
   determination could be a lot closer.   
      
      Paul   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)