How stores use your phone’s WiFi to track your shopping
habits
BY BRIAN FUNG
October 19, 2013
I find this article rather disturbing. Stores are beginning
to monitor people’s cell phone Wi-Fi and Bluetooth signals when they visit
stores. They are doing this by picking up the devices MAC address. Using this
technology, they can track your every movement through the store. Your
cellphone MAC number can be linked with the purchases you make when you go to
the checkout stand. The stores are keeping this information in a database, so
they can monitor your movements and purchases as you make return visits. The
database can be shared between multiple stores. The company that makes the
equipment to do this has an opt-out policy. But how many people even know that
they are being monitored? Also, the stores that buy this equipment are not obligated
to follow the opt-out policy. Privacy
advocates are concerned. What guarantee will there be that this that this
technology won’t be misused to illegally monitor and track people?
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