Uses Wifi Magic to Figure out your location(loki.com)
loki.com
Uses Wifi Magic to Figure out your location
http://www.loki.com/findme
12 comments
It tried to install something without even telling me what it was. I'll pass.
It asks permission to load a signed applet. Signed applets have access to the full Java API, and can in theory do "rm -rf /". I let it do its thing (I'm young and naive) and it died with a NullPointerError (Java's segfault). 2009 and segfaults are still with us ...
Update: it worked on reload, pinpointed my location to a block. On second reload, their applet was automatically loaded, without any security check from FF. This kinda sucks.
Update: it worked on reload, pinpointed my location to a block. On second reload, their applet was automatically loaded, without any security check from FF. This kinda sucks.
Chrome automatically downloaded something without even asking me. I am annoyed!
I'm not entirely certain how this works, but I live in a fairly residential neighborhood in a Boston suburb, and this was able to pinpoint my street address exactly. I'd love to read about how this actually works - their site is a little sparse on technical details.
My ipod touch does this also. Read the second half of this article (the linked site references Skyhook):
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20081022-google-gears-e...
I think it's just a giant directory of MAC addresses & locations. If you used a wired connection (and disable your wireless), Loki can't find you because it needs to find a nearby wireless access point that it knows the location of.
Here (http://skyhookwireless.com/howitworks/wps.php) is what the iPhone uses to do geolocation.
Edit: it doesn't seem to work in Chrome.
Here (http://skyhookwireless.com/howitworks/wps.php) is what the iPhone uses to do geolocation.
Edit: it doesn't seem to work in Chrome.
Though this looked interesting, I killed it because it seemed a dubious app.
US and Canada only. http://loki.com/support/coverage-map
It found me exactly and I'm in the UK.
Ironically, I'm in Canada and it can't find me... not even a guess.
Edit: Oh it guessed. Kamuela, HI 96743, USA. Not quite, to say I'm near Toronto, Ontario.
Edit: Oh it guessed. Kamuela, HI 96743, USA. Not quite, to say I'm near Toronto, Ontario.
Ditto. Spooky. Makes me consider switching off the WiFi and connecting purely via cable.
HN shouldn't allow suspicious links that install shit in our computers without our consent (or disguised).
Fuck Loki!
Fuck Loki!