Yes, stores are using this to track you.
https://substack.com/@nbtv/p-147691063
This weekend, I attended DEFCON, the world’s largest and most notorious hacking conference. If you’ve never been, it’s an incredible experience. The atmosphere is electric, filled with some of the most brilliant and unconventional minds who are passionate about dissecting technology. You delve into the inner workings of everything from hardware to software, and you learn not only how systems can be exploited but also how to defend against those exploits. It’s a treasure trove of knowledge, and I walked away with a wealth of insights that you can expect to see featured in upcoming episodes.
First: It was SO great to meet so many of you there; thanks for coming up and saying hi! (Note the awesome badge with the Swift add-on 😻)
Second: I gave a small presentation at “Hackers with Disabilities,” where I provided a sneak peek into some of the research I’ve been conducting over the past six months on medical privacy. We have a 3-part series coming out soon on the topic, where I’ll formalize this research, so keep your eyes peeled! Additionally, I gave an impromptu talk on privacy and AI at ShowerCon. Yes, you heard that right—there was a low-key, under-the-radar gathering in one of the suites after the conference, where about 25 of us crammed into a bathroom for restricted talks you won’t find anywhere else. I’m looking forward to bringing some of this exclusive information to you soon as well.
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Third: Today, I saw a post from the conference that I thought was a helpful reminder to everyone, so in today’s newsletter, I wanted to give a few tips about location tracking best practices.
This bank was kind enough to let people know that when they enter, the business will collect location information from their devices, and that if you don’t want this information collected, you should turn off WiFi and Bluetooth.
This is GREAT advice.
While people were scandalized by this particular bank, the truth is it’s not just banks or big tech companies that track your location using your phone’s Bluetooth and WiFi signals—retail stores, shopping malls, airports, and even small shops are doing it too.
Be seeing you
MCViewPoint 