Remember all the fuss about Google Vans taking photographs in streets - but later we found out Google were gathering data using our wireless routers.
Well it gets worse
Just by visiting a website - the website can get the unique identifier for your wireless router (MAC address) from your web browser and then ask Google Location Services to provide your location (home address) without your knowledge
There is a feature in your browsers called Location Aware Browsing which can also be used to get your location - but websites must request your permission to do a trace with this - and Google claim they provide your location by using your IP address and "nearby wireless hot spots"
But - when Google were gathering data in your street - they were actually mapping your router MAC Address to your home address - yet they are still trying to claim this was all innocent
Any peodophile can set up a website to attract children and secretly get your address just by your child visiting the site - even if your turn off the "official" location aware service.
This is really really bad - Google had no right to collect this data in the first place and now they are using this to secretly provide websites with your address
Social networking sites can also use this method to get your address - and then compile a list of all your "friends" addresses - (google did actually collect your names and bank details etc if they were available on your computer as well)
The government needs to investigate this again as they are totally unaware google are providing our location based on our router MAC address - rather than our IP address - based on the data they gathered in secret in our streets
(If you want to turn off the official Location Based Browsing which allows websites to track your home address thanks to Google here are the instructions to help you keep your children safe from predators possibly finding out your address
? Firefox ?The ?How To Geek? website gives clear instructions for switching off Firefox Location Aware Browsing
www.howtogeek.com/howto/1672/deactivate-location-aware-browsing-in-firefox-3.5/
? Google Chrome ? use Tools -> Options -> Under the Hood -> Content Settings, and change the radio button on the location section to "Do not allow".
? Internet Explorer ? using the top right tools option (looks like a cog) select Internet Options > Privacy Tab and then tick the following option ?Never allow websites to request your physical location?
If you don't want google giving out your address in secret to websites contact your MP and provide him with this information (here is the website which explains how your address is given out in secret by Google to any website that asks - samy.pl/mapxss/