Geoclue has been around for like 10 years - now there's this outcry...why? Is there any evidence that your geolocation/IP is even uploaded anywhere? I mean really... people posting FUD should just get over themselves.
@Superfly: if you read carefully, the forums on the net, one guy said he found his router address on the net after geoclue. Again, it seems that people are applying double standards here: if spying in Windows is bad, spying in Linux is OK. I don't want geoclue & co. Canonical seems to follow MS footsteps, or they should change the motto to: free software, but spyware. It doesn't mean that users can't complain about it just because it's free.
Never heard of it before, but it's kinda facebook for devices/buildings... aka just another tracking tool.
I'm tending to think not to that .... this looks like a different animal altogether . I'm still hoping to gather more info before I maybe check it out ....
They advertise it clearly: That "much more" is smartphones, laptops/PCs and so on. Big Brother...in the open. When people will realize it, it will be...1984.
@Superfly: I do not believe the original post to be FUD. If I did, I would have simply ignored it. The OP posted this and indicated that it was an interesting subject. And, IMHO He was right. Geolocation awareness can be a good thing. If used by the authorities, it can save your life. In the wrong hands, it can be used against you. And sadly, that's what's happening today. Some teenage genius comes up with a stalking app, and some looney decides to stalk his / her ex. To me, that's just creepy. I'm not saying that someone is doing it right now, I'm saying that if I thought it up, You can bet that there are at least 1000 other people who thought of it too. My point is, knowing about such a technology, and how to disable it is critically important to those who want to keep an eye on what is radiating out of their machines. What bugs me is why is this technology so deeply embedded in the OS that it can't be removed easily?
'Sup? my comment was directed at the link posted not necessarily at the OP - that being said, subsequent posts in this thread certainly demonstrates some fear, uncertainty and doubt. Either way, it's compiled into the source libraries as no-one expected a paranoia outbreak - perhaps future versions will have an option for those that do not want it... who knows.
For testing purpose only : Installed dconf-tools Code: apt://dconf-tools Go to com>ubuntu>geoip and change the adress to example.com Does-it works, LOL, i don't know windsman.
Personally , I don't have any of those above mentioned . I'm following this thread , and contributing , because the subject has just come to my attention , and it interests me. Anything I've written is with the intent to promote a lively and intelligent discussion , and with the hope that we all learn a little more by sharing. I don't have an agenda or " an axe to grind " , or a cause to champion , and I have zero interest in FUD . And that also applies to my being on this forum in general .....
Many thanks for this and your early post windsman , it is very much appreciated. I'm going to try this out on one of my " disposable " Linux machines . If it gets trashed , I won't be crying ..... I can replicate it minutes ..... it's all part of the learning experience !