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Nike+ iPod Used For Surveillance
Posted by
Zonk
on Sat Dec 02, 2006 01:38 AM
from the what-isn't-though-nowadays dept.
from the what-isn't-though-nowadays dept.
Thib writes "Researchers at the University of Washington have published a report detailing many easy and cheap ways the Nike+ iPod Sport Kit previously discussed on Slashdot can be used to track individuals, even when they are not carrying their iPod. They have even implemented a Google Maps application to display surveillance data in real time." From the article: "'Our research also shows that there exist simple cryptographic techniques that the Nike+iPod Sport Kit designers could have used to improve the privacy-preserving properties of the Nike+iPod kit,' the group reports. 'Our work underscores the need for a broad public discussion about and further research on the privacy-preserving properties of new wireless personal gadgets,' the group reports. 'We stress, however, that there is no evidence that Apple or Nike intended for these devices to be used in any malicious manner. Additionally, neither Apple nor Nike endorsed this study.'"
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Apple: Apple and Nike Team up for iPod Shoe Interface 300 comments
lyonsden writes "Apple and Nike are teaming up to provide runners a system to integrate their shoes and their iPod. A $30 antenna will connect an iPod nano with special shoes to provide pedometer functions."
Offsite: Wired News Coverage
Offsite: Seattle Post-Intelligencer Coverage
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how is this different? (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:how is this different? (Score:5, Insightful)
Agreed.
Much ado about barely anything. I met the product manager for the Nike+iPod kits. I can assure you that tracking people without their permission wasn't in the MRD.
So, based on the FA, you have to be within 30 feet of the person the "bug" is planted on. How is this so effing different than following someone around and watching what they do?
I'm a pretty big privacy advocate. I got ticked when the company who "wanted to hire me" made me take an invasive personality test [calipercorp.com] But this is a lot of heat and noise over nothing - an attention-seeking hyper concernicus group looking for attention.
Parent
Re:how is this different? (Score:5, Funny)
Parent
sensor can detect the presence of a person. wow. (Score:4, Funny)
Groundbreaking stuff, really.
Next up on YRO: Intrepid humans use eyeballs to invade privacy from distances of up to 100M!
God. Dammit! This is a stupid story (Score:4, Informative)
No, but they still have to have that particular pair of shoes on, and you have to be within 60 feet of them!
The amount of effort it would take to track someone via the transmitter in one of their (presumably many shoes) is ridiculous compared to the amount of effort involved in shall we say more traditional methods of stalking.
Sure, you could custom-hack a Linux "gumstick" computer to read the shoe tag and transmit it to a computer to see when your girlfriend is home. But really all you'd ever know for sure is when that particular shoe is at home. Maybe a better bet would be to just install a Web-enabled X10 cam with no hacking required. Or you could go really old-school-stalker and just drive by her damn house to see if the lights are on.
Sure I guess you could drive along behind some girl reading her electronic shoe tag from 60 feet away...on the other hand if you're within 60 feet you can probably SEE her with your own EYES.
I know iPods and security vulnerabilities are hot topics these days. That doesn't mean every story that crosses the two should get the breathless treatment. This is just blatant fear-mongering in an attempt to generate press. There isn't even any valuable information to be captured, like from an RFID credit card for example.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Well, that's if you want to track someone with their Nike shoes. But what prevents you from taking the transmitter, slipping it into someone's backpack, and then track them? Similarly, you may not necessarily need to know where exactly the person currently is, but just want to know when t
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
Yes, there are lots of ways to track people (Score:5, Insightful)
I bet Apple didn't bother encrypting the transmission because all it does is transmit an ID and data stream. The data is totally unimportant unless you happen to care about someone's training program. And here's the crucial part--the ID is also totally unimportant because when people go jogging, they almost always go jogging in a public place. And when you're jogging in public you're already broadcasting your ID at least 60 feet, via the light that is reflected off your recognizable face.
Parent
Isn't this = to any frequency emitting device? (Score:2, Insightful)
if any big brother organization wanted to track you they could triangulate your cell phone signal, use credit card records...
I honestly think it's a bit late and a bit hyppocritical to start complaining about an ipod interface.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
By that logic a fax machine is a web server, since somebody can call and request a page be sent to them.
welcome to 1984? (Score:2, Insightful)
News flash! (Score:2)
I thought the sharing of information was good? Ixnay?
Original... (Score:5, Informative)
Sensationalist Headlines at CNN (Score:5, Insightful)
I mean, really though: "iPod flaw helps stalkers track your every move", and "Tracked through your iPod - Some researchers say that your iPod could double as a tracking device."... Neither mention Nike's role in this issue, and both make it sound like an iPod is diddling your sister or something...
This also seems to imply someone wants to stalk your sweaty, running ass to begin with... I mean, seriously, if someone wanted to track you, there has to be a better way than sprinkling "Gumstix" PCs in the damn bushes to listen to your ugly ass sneakers.
This just in from Seattle... (Score:3, Insightful)
Pretty cool, actually (Score:3, Funny)
Neither Apple nor Nike endorsed this study. (Score:3, Insightful)
Advertising potential (Score:4, Insightful)
Your 1km time today: 6:31
Last week: 6:28
You need Red Bull!
No surprise. (Score:3, Insightful)
If you're that paranoid and don't want to risk being tracked it's simple. Don't buy electronic devices, particularly those that transmit any kind of signal. Even then there are ways to observe people, but at least it's significantly more difficult.
The problem becomes when people are forced to carry devices that report some organization, be it the government or some corporation. We aren't there yet, but I wont be surprised if when it comes people either don't notice it happening or they openly embrace it.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Not there yet?
Company provided cellphone or pager.
GPS schoolbus/delivery driver/trucker.
RFID cards for building access.
Company car with OnStar.
The ever present cameras.
Now your shoes. When is it too much? I think 'too much' happened a while a
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
The way the pager knows if it has missed any pages is because there's a rolling sequence number on the pages, and if one is missed, it knows a page has been missed.
This leads me to think that people who are paranoid of being tracked through cell phones sho
It has an off switch. (Score:5, Insightful)
I personally only use my sensor on my running shoes, which I only wear while running. Good running shoes are too expensive to wear just walking around town, they wear out too quickly. So if anyone wants to track me while I run 5 one mile laps, in the exact same course, 4 times a week, hey, help yourself to my sensor data.
UW news release, inline video, and PDF of research (Score:3, Interesting)
The University of Washington's news and information office put together a release that includes an embedded video and a PDF of the research paper: [washington.edu]http://uwnews.washington.edu/ni/article.asp?articl eID=28494 [washington.edu]
The inline video, made by the researchers, is well-crafted and rather entertaining.
Disclosure: I work on behalf of the UW and the technical side of its news operations.
The Multi-Talented Nike (Score:3, Funny)
Nike+Apple didn't pay for this FUD? (Score:3, Funny)
Shoe tracking surveillance is a serious threat to runners everywhere. The spooks will know how many times your shoes hit the ground without actaully having to run around behind you counting. Clearly, this is an attempt by Apple and Nike to track perhaps thousands of individuals who are a) athletes b) unaware that Nike+ is a wireless system and c) concerned that other people will have access to the information they upload to the web.
What's next from Apple, a way to publically advertise personal details through web pages (say, iWeb)? How many people will unwittingly publish their social security number, mother's maden name, and perhaps their secret affinity for a specific type of cheese, creating clear and obvious vulnerabilities from the phishing scammers and spooks out to poison them. THE WEB IS PUBLICLY AVAILABLE PEOPLE!!!
Don't say you haven't been warned. When the machines rise, the first to go will be hot chicks wearing tight Nike clothes and cheese eaters. Oh the humanity.
iPod vs Zune: Microsoft's Slippery Astroturf [roughlydrafted.com]
Bill Gates for President? No Thanks. [roughlydrafted.com]