Privacy Concerns Raised About New York City’s Free Wi-Fi

Discussion in 'privacy general' started by ronjor, Mar 17, 2016.

  1. ronjor

    ronjor Global Moderator

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  2. oliverjia

    oliverjia Registered Member

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    This is why you always need a VPN for any open/free/unsecured wifi.
     
  3. deBoetie

    deBoetie Registered Member

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    Presumably it requires you to log in to gain access? In which case, they'll have your location data if they didn't already from you mobile(!).

    Use of VPN would be, as they say, well advised - and that's not only for govt. snooping.
     
  4. Amanda

    Amanda Registered Member

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    Yes but wouldn't you be hidden in the crowd? Go to a place where there are tons of people, keep your smartphone in your pocket, and connect that way. Remember to act as if you're doing nothing, because they have security cameras and they're able to identify who you are if they see you using your mobile at the same time as when the connection was made.
     
  5. TheWindBringeth

    TheWindBringeth Registered Member

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    Even non-users could be vulnerable to WiFi MAC Address tracking.
     
  6. MisterB

    MisterB Registered Member

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    As long as the sole requirement is an email I don't see a problem. If they require real ID in some form, then it would be a serious concern. If I was in NYC, I would test the system with a disposable email address. VPN use goes without saying, this is no different from any public wifi network. For someone who actually resided there, a wireless repeater and cantenna could easily bring in distant access points.
     
  7. TheWindBringeth

    TheWindBringeth Registered Member

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  8. mirimir

    mirimir Registered Member

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    More panopticon. Not surprising. Think of the [terrorists, children, etc].
     
  9. deBoetie

    deBoetie Registered Member

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    This very much reminds me of corporate behavior in the early days of the industrial revolution - there was no consumer or worker protection, and what is basically an unprincipled land grab.

    What peeves me even more is that "we" sell ourselves so cheaply for "free". Mind you, it's not hard to persuade a few people to disadvantage the majority.
     
  10. guest

    guest Guest

    Are New York’s Free LinkNYC Internet Kiosks Tracking Your Movements?
    September 8, 2018
    https://theintercept.com/2018/09/08/linknyc-free-wifi-kiosks/
     
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