I have see some questions recently on how to beat GPS tracking systems, especially how to beat the gps tracking on nextel company radios. One way to do this is to use a GPS jammer. These devices basically send out an isolation frequency signal that prevents the GPS device from communicating with the GPS satellites. When wanting to jam a company radio, or gps cell phone, you will want a device that is small enough to carry in your pocket and can be recharged in your car as well as at home. Preferably, you would want to find a GPS Jamming device that can be used WHILE it is being charged so if you are in your car for long periods of time, you can still use the device to jam the GPS tracking system. That is the best way to beat a GPS tracking system whether it is in your car, or your nextel company radio, or cell phone. There are many options available today.
08:19:46 pm, by gps guy , 529 words, 108 views Categories: Privacy Issues
The Next Generation of GPS Tracking (Since Privacy Is Out The Window)
A new device is coming out called the DASHexpress. What is interesting about this
device is that it relies on other users to gather real-time information on traffic conditions using a technology called the Dash Driver Network™. What is it and how does it work?
Imagine this...
You are on your way to work and you have a choice between 2 routes. You are running a bit late so you turn on your handy dandy Dash express unit mounted on your dashboard. After a few moments, BAM, lights, and data are flashing on your screen, the highway is a mess! At best, traffic is moving about 5 miles an hour! This information isn't 5 minutes ago, or earlier that morning, it is NOW in this moment. You quickly look at your second choice and see that while traffic is heavy, it is moving at 55 miles an hour. Your momma didn't raise no fools, so you wisely take your 2nd choice to work. You arrive on time and calm knowing your little secret dashboard pal 'had your back' on the way to work this morning.
How was this so? What was this technology that allowed you to avoid what could have been a potential extreem stress test? Well, you can thank the poor slob who got caught in the traffic and unfortuanately didn't turn on his little secret dashboard pal until it was too late to avoid the traffic. While he was sitting in traffic giving his blood vessels a 'high-pressure" workout, his little handy dandy unit was transmitting all kinds of information back to the base station, such as his speed, direction, and location, all in real time!
As more and more people use the device, the more accurate and comprehensive the data will be. Are you afraid of being the first one and don't want to be the poor slob caught in traffic? Well, don't despair. Because not only does the Dash system get data from other dash units, but they get data from road sensors, commercial fleets and other sources through their partnership with Inrix.
What is more interesting, is that your device is loaded with historical data about the traffic patterns. Imagine knowing when and where to avoid if you have to get somewhere in a hurry?
Their driver network provides data for over 2 million miles of US road, and is the only source of real time driving conditions for surface roads. So chances are, you'll be driving on some of those 2 million miles of roads.
So why is this listed in the privacy section of my blog? Well, there is that issue of having your whereabouts transmitted somewhere 24/7. They say that the data transmitted is anonymous, but I was a programmer in a previous life and it is pretty easy to change a bit from a 0 to a 1 change all that.
In any case, if you already have a GPS unit and you are totally into the technology, then this is a piece of technology that you would love to get in line to have. Right now, they are not available, but you can pre-order them below.
08:12:38 am, by gps guy , 682 words, 151 views Categories: Privacy Issues
GPS Cell Phone - Life Saver or Big Brother In Your Pocket?
This is an interesting article about GPS Tracking in cell phones and the privacy issues that are associated with this technology. With so many cell phones out there, do we know how much we are being watched? Do we even know that there is GPS tracking technology in our cell phone? Do the phone companies tell us this when we buy the phone?
Nearly all cell phone end users have a cell phone feature that they did not even realize they possessed. Not everyone recognizes that their phone is outfitted with a GPS tracking device. All the same, the question that comes up is that does that sound chilling or pretty neat? To the majority of individuals, it feels paradoxically both good and bad. Although more individuals are frightened that a GPS function on cell phones pulls us one step nearer to a 'Big Brother' kind of society, however many other people are enthusiastic for the abilities it provides users.
Nevertheless, where the line gets blurred is when safety is overshadowed by the potential for invasion of your privacy when the ability to track daily movements of an individual sets in. This gives rise to concerns of who has the ability to access such private information.
However, E911 has a relevant law that is fairly explicit in its orders. It gives the ability to carriers to give tracking location information to third parties for E911 emergency calls only, however this data cannot be furnished under any circumstance at all without the prior consent of the cell phone owner.
Their features that help consumers, such as maps, directions and restaurant and Movie Theater finding abilities, the GPS equipped cell phone supplies emergency call centers with data critical to preserving lives. Regrettably, it's rather frequently that a person dial 911 to report an accident, fire or other emergency, and whenever requested where they are, they can merely state the name of the city they are close to, or the interstate highway on which they are traveling on.
In such cases, the location information is inadequate. This is why cell phones are nowadays GPS enabled; call centers can detect your position through GPS in the same manner they have been able to trace calls from land-lines for so numerous years.
What's In It for Consumers?
Although the above-mentioned safety option is meant to be used for emergency uses, cell phone companies have brought the GPS cell phone far beyond this rudimentary 911-enhanced phone. In order to make GPS attractive to customers, cell phone suppliers have produced numerous methods that cell phone end users can utilize the GPS feature on cell phones for themselves, irrespective of whether or not the 911-enhancement is ever used.
The majority of cell phone service providers have made directions and maps ready to be used as part of the GPS feature of their phones. Before you become too charged up in regards to this, you have to recognize that this service is not a free additional bonus on your present service; employing your cell phone for maps and directions calls for an added service plan that amounts to about $10 per month. If you are averse to still added monthly subscription to be paid-up, there are software programs that, for a one-time-only-fee of purchasing the software, can add similar features to your GPS cell phone.
As technology move ahead, several of these GPS cell phones can still be used as handheld GPS devices merely to be utilized during walking or biking. The prior and less costly variations need an antenna on your car in addition to a console in your car, only the wave of the future is upon us, if users are ready to pay the price for it. It appears that even now numerous consumers are buying into the navigation generation of cell phones.
Listen to Korbin Newlyn as he shares his insights as an expert
author and an avid writer in the field of electronics. If you
would like to learn more go to GPS Vehicle Tracking
advice and at GPS
Mapping tips.
GPS Jammers use a code interference technology to block the GPS signal to the satellite. When the GPS signal has that much interference, it can't communicate with the GPS satellites and therefore is unable to communicate your position to the satellites. This means that whatever GPS tracking device is in your vehicle can literally cause your vehicle to become "invisible" to the GPS tracking Satellite system.
The debate on privacy is a continuous one and there will always be products made to invade our privacy or protect our privacy and sometimes one or the other can find themselves on either side of the law.
Many Vehicle GPS Jammer's work by plugging them into the Cigarette lighter of a vehicle. Signals from other electronic devices such as cell phone, wifi, laptop, tv, etc are not interfered with. With this unit just plug in and play. Will not affect other vehicles.
Many of these type of devices have the following capabilities and uses:
# Prevent car from being tracked.
# Prevent human from being tracked.
# Doesn't intercept mobile phone and other electronics.
# Doesn't affect gps navigation installed on other cars.
# Portable and easy to use.
# Can be used Worldwide.
03:41:59 pm, by gps guy , 1340 words, 4684 views Categories: Privacy Issues
Get identified under your skin!
New technologies are available that make it even easier to track your movements and information. Somewhat related to gps tracking is RFID technology that is used to track anything from containers and inventory to people. In this age of decreasing privacy, this issue of using it to track people can be explosive. This article talks about some of the issues with RFID.
There are movies that entertain you, frighten you, and enlighten
you. There are movies that trigger your brain of a possible
invention that might take shape. This happens every time you
watch a Science-fiction movie you wonder, THIS is something that
can be explored! There have been movies in the past that have
shown the possibilities of planting a gadget inside a human to
track his/her daily activities. If that idea has already
triggered you of a possible invention, and you are on the edge
of dismissing that as a distant dream, think again! You could be
just on your way to getting yourself identified by surgically
implanting yourself with a rice-grain sized chip under your skin
thanks to a VeriChip.
Now, whats a VeriChip?
Applied Digital Solutions Inc, a company into RFID applications,
end-to-end food safety systems, GPS/Satellite communications,
and telecomm and security infrastructure, has come up with a
unique solution called the VeriChip. This chip is a subdermal
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) device that can be used in
a variety of security, financial, emergency identification and
other applications. About the size of a grain of rice, each
VeriChip product contains a unique verification number. When
this chip senses one of Verichip's proprietary scanners, it gets
activated and transmits a unique ID number to the scanner. If
the number matches an ID number in a database, the person with
the chip under his or her skin can enter a secured room,
complete a financial transaction, get his medical records
verified, etc.
According to Applied Digital, this technology has been around
for a while. Digital Angel, a sister concern of Applied Digital
has been selling these identification chips for about 15 years
now. but most of them have until now been used only for
identifying animals like household pets and livestock. The U.S.
Department of Energy has also been using this technology to
monitor salmon migration. Whats more these chips can last for a
whooping 20 years!
So why use it on humans?
Applied Digital says that the idea for using these chips to
identify humans came after the horrifying incidents of the Sept.
11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
While watching the post disaster coverage on TV, Richard Seelig,
Vice President of medical applications at Applied Digital, saw
how firemen were writing their badge numbers on their arm with
pen so that they could be identified in the event of a disaster.
He then inserted one of these chips under his skin and tested
their viability and was quite amazed at how perfectly they
performed. As of now, about 9,000 VeriChips have been sold, of
which about 1,500 have been inserted into humans. This number
will soon increase, since even Federal Drug Administration (FDA)
has cleared VeriChip for medical applications in the United
States. However FDA hasnt yet cleared this device for usage in
security, financial, personal identification and safety
applications. It might not be long when these chips make their
way into other parts of the world.
Well, speaking of other parts of the world, the Mexican Police
Department has already chipped all of their personnel. The
Italian Ministry of Health has also started a six-month trial of
these chips for hospitals. The Baja Beach Club in Spain has also
used them as electronic wallets to buy drinks and pay for usage
of other facilities at their club. Most sales of these chips
have taken place outside the US in Russia, Switzerland,
Venezuela and Colombia.
How do you get it under your skin?
An authorized medical practitioner or surgeon can implant this
11-millimeter RFID chip in the fatty tissue below your right
tricep. This chipping procedure lasts just a few minutes and
involves the use of only a local anesthetic followed by quick,
painless insertion of the VeriChip. Once its inserted under your
skin, not even you can tell whether you have an RFID chip
implanted there. So where does the chip get its energy? Well,
you dont have to worry about that. This chip is dormant most of
the time and wakes up only when you pass your skin over an
external proprietary scanner. When you do this, a small amount
of radio frequency energy passes through the skin energizing the
chip. The chip then emits a radio frequency signal containing
the verification number. This number is then deciphered by the
scanner and transmitted to a secure data storage site accessed
by authorized personnel via telephone or Internet. "It is used
instead of other biometric applications such as fingerprints,
says Angela Fulcher, Vice President Marketing and Sales,
VeriChip Corporation. Implanting these chips would cost about
$150 - $200 per person.
03:18:37 pm, by gps guy , 2155 words, 4534 views Categories: Privacy Issues
Enemy of the State of Privacy (GPS Tracking and Privacy)
This is a good article that talks about the state of survelliance using GPS Tracking technology and how it can affect society. The author, Robert Ing gives a great example of the movie "Enemy of the State", starring Will Smith, and how invasive technology has become. The author goes beyond GPS tracking and talks about other forms of personal data collection that is all too common in this day and age. Read on for an interesting discussion.
In the 1998 movie, "Enemy of the State", actor Will Smith's
personal privacy is invaded by his own government using high
technology devices planted in his home, office and even on his
person. Sounds far fetched? The technology does exist to do
everything portrayed in the movie and much more. The only
difference between the movie and real life is that unlike the
movie where government agents physically entered the home and
office of Smith, this is not necessary to breach the privacy of
any citizen.
If you are like most individuals, you have unknowingly
permitted yourself to be tracked, documented and your privacy
breached in exchange for living a life of convenience. When you
sign applications and agreements for your credit cards, bank
accounts, vehicle leases and mortgages have you really read the
fine print? The fine print in most cases states that you give
your permission to have your personal information collected by,
"exchanged" with, and even sold to third parties throughout the
course of your business dealings. Do you belong to a reward
points or discount program? The fine print of the agreement may
allow program operators to track your spending habits (where and
what you buy), allow them to share and even sell this
information to third parties and put you on mailing and
telephone solicitation lists of companies you've never heard of.
While this may seem more of an inconvenience than an invasion
of privacy consider the case of Mr. X. Mr. X had signed up for a
reward points program linked to his credit card. This meant
everywhere and every time he used his credit card he would get
points for all of his transactions to be used towards vacations,
gasoline and a new car. Mr. X was in line for a promotion with
his firm, a major multi-national corporation. As part of the
selection process he would have to submit to a background check
and security clearance. The firm conducting the check performed
what is known as a character lifestyle check and through their
sources were able to obtain a record of Mr. X's spending habits
over a two year period as documented by the reward points
program he had enrolled in. It was noted by an entry on his
spending record that he had on one occasion frequented a small
retail establishment whose operator had been convicted of child
pornography. As a result, Mr. X was not given a clearance for
the promotion and was later released from the firm's employ.
Further investigation found that the establishment in question
was a convenience store chain where Mr. X purchased a box of
chocolates for his wife's birthday. This was the one and only
documented time he had entered this establishment.
Similar tracking of individuals is also done via their personal
computers. In this case, most individuals are all too quick to
breeze through the Terms of Service posted on websites and in
software and as a result surrender their privacy all too easily.
People who do any form of online commerce from ordering
merchandise off of a website, to online banking and stock
trading are often tracked by having small files placed on their
computers without their knowledge, known as cookies to gather
and track personal and personal preference information. By
accepting the Terms of Service users agree to have the cookies
placed on their computer. Although the word "cookie" may not be
specifically used in the text of the document. Cookies, also
known in the computer security world as Spyware may provide
information about the computer owners name, address, telephone
number and e-mail address all culled from information provided
by the users themselves when they first registered their
computer operating system and software. Additional information
may be obtained on the type of software and computer used,
websites visited, Internet searches performed and total time
spent at the computer.
This is an interesting article on the privacy issues involved in tracking your children using GPS technology. In today's world, how can privacy and security co-exist? The human aspect will not go away just because of an advancement in technology. In fact, an increase in technology almost always brings up privacy issues. Read this article for more insight into the privacy issues that arise with GPS Tracking.
he Global Positions System (GPS) satellites are free for
anyone to use. However, to use it, a GPS receiver is required
which is not free. In recent years these GPS receivers have
become very small and embedded in mobile phones. This has given
rise to many location based services. Though there are many LBS applications that are very useful, there are a few
applications that are misused.
One of the location-based services as mentioned at Wireless Technologies reference
site is Child Tracking. In a study carried out by New
Media Technologies students (2005) in Australia, they have
detailed how this service can be misused. They state that,
"In 1998 the US implemented the Children's Online Privacy
Protection Act 1998 which limits the ways Web site operators
and others may collect and disseminate information pertaining to
customers under the age of 13. So far, Australia has not
followed suit and does not seem to have a law, which directly
protects children from technology such as the Internet. With the
introduction of global positioning systems for tracking
purposes, the issue of child protection needs to be addressed
before this technology gets into the wrong hands and used for
malicious purposes."
Some of the other consequences that may occur due to these
services are the problem of parent-child relationship and
also marital relationship. In their study they point out
"parents should negotiate with their teenagers an agreeable form
of knowing where they are whether it be GPS on their phone or
just a phone call to let them know where they are. This will
ensure that the relationship will not be damaged through a form
of mistrust."
And even between spouses each needs a bit of their own space and
privacy, which will be jeopardised by the use of this service
and may cause problems in marital relationships.
In a ZDNet news by Lisa Bowman (1999) speaks of some scary
scenarios where this technology can be misused such as,
"Insurance companies could refuse to insure you, or charge you
higher rates, unless you install a tracking system on your car.
They could then tell if you drive over 55 or spend time in shady
neighbourhoods where your car has a greater chance of being
stolen." Or "FBI and local police officials could have access to
your whereabouts by simply logging onto a database attached to a
cell phone, tollbooth or GPS tracker".
In yet another case a rental car company was sued by the
customer for tracking him down using GPS. "In a case that could
help set the bar for the amount of privacy drivers of rental
cars can expect, a Connecticut man is suing a local rental
company, Acme Rent-a-Car, after it used GPS (Global Positioning
System) technology to track him and then fined him $450 for
speeding three times." (Robert Lemos, 2001).
A Wireless week (2003) article lists how even location based
games can be misused. "In Sweden, thousands of wireless game
subscribers stalk each other using cell phones and location
technology. In Japan, you can use a GPS-enabled cell phone to
arrange a date, an application sometimes used by teenage
prostitutes. In many countries around the world, a GPS-based
game called "geocaching" is growing in popularity." Ever since
Princess Diana's death the perils of stalking has come to the
forefront in the media. The availability of such services will
only help the stalkers.
As if these are not enough there are other privacy issues
related to location based services. If you need further
reference visit http://www.m-indya.com/LBS/index.htm
About the author:
William Alexander is a wireless solutions consultant based in
Singapore. He has more than ten years of experience in
architecting wireless solutions for technologies such as LBS,
GPRS, 3G, WAP, SMS, Bluetooth etc. For more articles by William
Alexander please visit http://www.m-indya.com
This is an interesting article that talks about some of the ethical issues of GPS tracking systems and their use by businesses to track their employees. This article definately takes the point of view of the business owner and how GPS tracking benefits businesses and their customers....
When people ask about my business, I tell them, "My company
offers GPS vehicle tracking systems." Their response lets me
know whether they are an employee or a business owner.
The first words out of the mouth of an employee is: "Sounds like
'Big Brother' to me." Oh no, not 'Big Brother!' Visions of
mind-controlled drones working like slaves come to mind and they
quickly walk away.
'Big Brother?' What is wrong with a business monitoring their
vehicles? Or making sure their employees are doing what they're
being paid to do? Who owns these vehicles, anyway? Does the
owner have a right to know how they're being used?
Now, don't get me wrong. I believe employees should be trusted
and treated as adults. But, if you've ever driven a rental
vehicle differently than the car you own, then you understand
how an employee may mistreat a company vehicle.
Take the speeding employee, for example. Employees who drive too
fast waste your gasoline, wear out your vehicle prematurely and
sooner or later, drive up your insurance rates.
A GPS vehicle tracking system can alert you when someone exceeds
your pre-set speed limit. It's your vehicle, your fuel and your
insurance premium; a tracking system helps you regain control of
them.
Who uses your vehicles after hours and on weekends? Is an
employee using your vehicle to moonlight? Is he using your gas
to move his brother-in-law into a new apartment? You'll know if
you install a GPS vehicle tracking device in your vehicles.
How do you verify overtime claims? Maybe you can verify the work
was done, but when? With a GPS tracking system, you can
cross-check a vehicle's location with the time of day it was
there.
Have you ever been tempted to take an extended lunch hour? Think
your employees might be tempted, especially if they're out of
the boss's sight? A GPS tracking system records how long each
vehicle remains at one location; use it to keep them honest.
Another benefit of GPS vehicle tracking systems: you'll never
make another phone call to find out where your employees
are--you can just look on the map displayed on your computer
screen. Also, your GPS tracking system will remind you when it's
time to rotate tires, change oil or perform other scheduled
maintenance. And, many insurance companies offer discounts of up
to 30% for vehicles protected with GPS tracking systems.
The employee also benefits when their company vehicle is
equipped with a GPS vehicle tracking system.
1. Hand-written driver logs are replaced with data from the
tracking system. 2. Using info from the gps tracking system,
each employee's productivity can be quantified and compared; an
employee's performance can be more objectively measured. 3. Your
dispatcher can look on a computer screen and locate all your
vehicles immediately.
Customers also benefit from GPS vehicle tracking systems.
Businesses can provide precise arrival or delivery estimates,
because the estimate is based upon the actual location of the
tracking device-equipped vehicle at the moment they call. If a
customer questions when your employee arrived or left --prove it
to them using data from your tracking system.
Still think GPS tracking systems are tools of 'Big Brother?' I
guess it depends upon your point of view.
The concept of 'Big Brother' never comes up with business
owners. The business owner will say: "How will tracking my
vehicles help my business make more money?" They want to know
what GPS vehicle tracking can do for them.
Are GPS vehicle tracking systems 'Big Brother?'--You tell me.
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GPS Tracking devices are a growing populare way to keep track of your vehicle. can determine the location, speed, altitude and direction of your vehicle. Never loose your vehicle again!
GPS Tracking Privacy Issues
This blog discusses the privacy issues that become involved when using gps tracking methods.
