XPost: sci.geo.satellite-nav, alt.comp.os.windows-10   
   From: robin_listas@es.invalid   
      
   On 2023-10-25 13:39, Paul wrote:   
   > 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-s   
   rvice-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".   
   >   
      
   Right :-)   
      
      
   > 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.   
      
   I think they need access to the ISP hardware for doing this, so getting   
   the help of the ISP would be faster.   
      
   >   
   > 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.   
   >   
      
   True, they can use wifi maps. Still, the external query needs access to   
   knowing the WiFi... or access to the OS location services.   
      
   > 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 don't think the ISPs do this. Facebook, Google... maybe.   
      
   > 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   
      
   --   
   Cheers,   
           Carlos E.R.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)