Jogger’s Accessories Make You Trackable
12 Dec 2006Researchers at the University of Washington have demonstrated a frighteningly easy way to track anyone who uses the Nike+IPod Sports Kit
One of them built the tracker hardware (for only $250) which they interfaced with Google Maps.
Their paper has the details.
This is a great example of how even without any personal information stored on an RFID chip, privacy is easily violated (as long it has anything unique on it, like an ID).
It is possible that this is a desired result. Think of all the people in the world who are raped, murdered or just plain go missing. If they had one of these devices while they were out exercising, it might give better information about where they disappeared.
It is also possible that an individual may be interested in the locations where they exercise or just wander around. I know that it would be cool for me to track where I went in each of the cities I visit every year.
Food for thought…
Cheers,
Clint
@Clint Savage
Please, don’t tell me you think that Liberty should (or even could) be traded for “Security”? I thought I knew you better than that, Clint :) .
The Nike+IPod Sports Kit does not have that ability. It does not have any GPS. The tracking system the researchers built/used tracks the signal from the shoes. Using two or three Radio Direction Finding (RDF) systems, they could triangulate the positions of the shoes from over 60 feet away.
It’s a completely external system, that was easy to build and deploy in a fashion where those wearing the Nike+IPod combo don’t even know they are being tracked and that that tracking system can uniquely identify them.