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this post was submitted on 21 Sep 2024
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Privacy
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Uhhhh.... How is it reading the ip addresses of people's phones?
I imagine it MITM's the wifi? Obviously wouldn't work with cellular but thats the only this claim can ve even remotely true.
That being said they could do some shit with malicious bluetooth/NFC behaviour but that would be a crime.
Well its probably not a MITM if its just an official access point
That's fair. MITM wouldn't be the right term.
Why would it need to MITM the WiFi? The store runs and operates the wifi
good point.
Ever hear of a stingray?
I've heard for a while that stores use Bluetooth to track you as you go through a store. Not for anything nefarious but just to understand how people move around the store typically. So it probably does that too.
It probably just has a WiFi repeater in it
Someone made a mistake here. It's not getting your IP address. An IP address is assigned by the gateway when you're connected to an access point. An IP address is not an identity. They are always changing and can be shared. This has already been tested and upheld in court.
It's actually collecting your MAC address. Which is exchanged when your phone or tablet scan nearby WiFi points or Bluetooth devices. However, this can already be defeated. By default iOS and Android both have the option to randomise the MAC address in intervals. Making it extremely difficult to prove anything. This feature exists because the devices real MAC address never changes. It is unique. Alternatively, users can disable WiFi and Bluetooth scanning entirely. However, your device no longer participates in the Find My Devices program by Apple and Google, location does take longer to acquire in some scenarios, and accuracy may take longer to triangulate.
Counter-argument, this is all correct, but when the application is against shopping mall criminals it will work well enough. Not talking masterminds here
I bet it was something like the hardware id instead but she misspoke
It must be for wifi that they operate.
Scarier than I thought 😭