Garmin is watching you

It appears after reading this that this relates directly only to the units with the free ad supported traffic.

Pretty soon, we won't be able to go to the bathroom, without someone watching. This is getting pretty sick!!

Good afternoon, everyone,

All I can say is.....there're already 5000 entities keeping tabs on us. What's one more?

Miki

I just browse through that jardon stuff all the time. I guess I need to start reading it.

I've never felt the need to take a GPS into the bathroom with me.

Tbey bank on the fact that most people do the same thing.

I read it to mean that they will collect whatever your unit supports. As you say, if your unit supports traffic, they will collect tracks and coupon/ad usage, but if your unit does not have traffic (ads/coupons), then they will collect only tracks.

At least, that's how I interpret it. I think I'll be deleting my logs/track files before checking for any future software updates.

Jeff

You mean like the Ozzy commercial I saw over the weekend for his new cell phone/PDA? The GPS guides him to a bathroom in the house and he says "That's new."

Now, they can't say they do not know my whereabouts once they collected the data in my GPSr.

...
swallow the ad-coupon, erase the track log
a collecting has been declined
where did you go ?
where did you go ?
...

Papers please, please have your papers ready.

I never read that stuff. Guess I should.

that I'm actually driving on a road to enter my development!!!

The maps have been wrong forever. I submitted a correction... ...still waiting...

It would seem that Garmin should be watching the market instead of its customers. The market, meaning what will Garmin do when most of us are using our smartphones to locate where we are.
JeffSh

Personally, I don't mind sharing it for a free traffic service.

used to compile traffic reports. For example, where you are and how fast you're moving. In parts of NY, E-Z Pass is being used by the blue electronic boards to estimate the ETA of certain destinations.

I am certainly no expert on the subject, but I have my doubts about that capability. My Garmin has a receiver. There is also a FM transmitter, but the signal it puts out is barely strong enough to go from the dashboard to the back of the car where the antenna is located, let alone to any towers that might be in the area.

I don't know if they are doing it or not, but it seems to me that if they were, they would have to capture a log file on the device and transmit it if/when you connect it to the Internet via your computer.

"...you will upload to Garmin from your device certain historical information that is stored on your device, including track logs (a track log consists of a list of spatial points and the times your device was at given spatial points)..."

I think this statement would cover that. I for one, don't like it one bit. I'm with the poster that said he'll be erasing this info before updating.

If you get something you have to give something! If that happens you have to be aware what that is you are sharing! If they are doing the trace of us for the proposes of targeting advertise, what they should do is improve accuracy of their maps or they are going to lose a percentage of the market!

There are too many ways to abuse this kind of information when foisted upon people, and reminds me of the Patriot Act et al, in which anyone, anywhere, any time, can be monitored without probable cause.

This is merely one small step away from your GPS being not only a receiver, but a transmitter. It's a razor-thin line. And, you voluntarily cross it at this time.

They apparently don't worry about that!

aluminum foil on your cell phone, they track you also.

I will then drive around in circles.lol

One way or another you pay for what you get. It might not be good all the time, but you will end up giving something up to get that free lunch ( or whatever it is that is suppose to be free).

According to their website, the Garmin Communicator plugin allows you to send and retrieve data from the GPS device to any supported website or vice versa. The functionality of the software is transfer of location data.

http://www8.garmin.com/products/communicator/

For instance, one could locate business addresses on Google Maps or MapQuest and send that information to a GPS device that is connected to your PC through USB.

[Be aware that an earlier version of the Garmin Communicator plugin has a vulnerability that can be exploited.]

http://www.f-secure.com/vulnerabilities/SA200901973

Samething

Ya, just like reading through the EULA (end user license agreement) before you install software. Reminds me of the brouhaha with Google's Chrome browser. Apparently, when you accepted the original EULA then you gave consent for Google to own any content created through the use of that browser.

http://gizmodo.com/5044871/google-chrome-eula-claims-ownersh...

Ha! This from the company whose informal motto is: "Don' be evil".

http://investor.google.com/conduct.html

Of course, they've rescinded their original terms so that the current EULA is more palatable.

Also, who can forget Sony's rootkit?

Jeff,

It's all about marketing. Garmin runs pop up ads on some units in exchange for free traffic and other services. At some point the company has to show those advertisers they're getting something for their money. The ability to prove the ad was viewed and then the motorist actually stopped at that restaurant/motel/etc would be huge.

If, for some reason, you don't want your travels to be known you can simply delete the track log (if applicable to your unit).

I'm guessing some people would be a lot more worried about their travels coming to the attention of a significant other than Garmin though

Cheers

the palm pre actually does this. garmin..not so much.

the palm pre actually does this. garmin..not so much.

That doesn't work. You have to put the foil on your head and wear it like a hat. If you make a peak at the top it will deflect the radio waves to the side and away from you.

The more data that companies like Garmin collect, the harder it is for them to process that data. That's the good news.

The best solution is a freedom of information act that applies to US and foreign companies. Each of us should have full access to the data that companies collect on us. This has done wonders to keep the US Government in check. It's not perfect and not valuable if agencies cheat or hide behind "the greater good."

If you are really concerned about trends in data collection, contact your representatives and demand a freedom of information act that applies to YOUR data held by non-government organizations.

Jen

cell phone is much worse, and you have no way to delete your log. Plus, they do not give you free traffic.

I'm not sure, but I think I saw a blacked out vehicle with a big antenna on the roof following me to the supermarket, and back...should I be concerned?

What do you expect. Nothing is really free. I really like my "free" traffic. I guess I have to make sure that I don't connect to the Garmin site to upload or update anything and I won't have to worry.

You know someone really should post a diagram of how to do this so we all can get it exactly correct!

White-Out the Garmin logo and write Tom Tom in its place. That'll fool them!

Sorry, I couldn't resist.
If we all took apart every EULA we would find out just how open we all are for data mining, etc. I hope that in the end Garmin can deliver a more accurate and value-packed product through this process.

Rob

yes, we all have a habit of doing that I think

Exactly!

Google "tin foil beanie" .... The first site is really a howl!

Larry

Most clever owners I know wait until just before they have to do an update and then find a very large field. They take their vehicle to the field and, as if constructing a 'corn maze', drive in a pattern and 'write' something obscene with continuous connecting letters. When their trails are downloaded and viewed,'on the QT', the Garmin or the NSA readers are in for a shock. Even if you don't like what they are doing -- YOU have the last laugh.

Not to Worry --- You are protected by the First Amendment -- Freedom of Expressive Script Driving.

Gary Hayman

I just empty the tracking log almost every day. For as many times as I have used it after the day is over I don't need it.

Not that big of a deal to me.

Unless I was going to a top secret meeting or hide out or something, I don't care.

am doing the same here.

It won't help on your GPS but adding the free extension Ghostery to your Firefox browser will block all tracking of your internet browsing. Works great.

My Vehicle is always wrapped in aluminum foil (camiflage of course) and I have every kind of antenna that I find mounted on the roof and back. The aluminum foil has foiled the Blackhawk choppers.

my parents are watching me as well.
If I get a ticket, they will be very mad.
So, I have to be careful in driving.

I thought it was common knowledge that if you are suspected of a crime the first thing the cops do (OK, almost the 1st thing) is get a warrant for your GPS unit (if you have one). Many major crimes have been solved or the bad guy identified through a download of day/time/ coordinates from a GPS unit.

All of this is squeeky legal with lots of presedence in the books. Good luck and keep your nose clean, or leave your Garmin home when you go on your crime spree.

Who is most of us? do you have a mouse in your pocket or what? Smartphone my Arse for GPS tracking.. I need a real GPS not a pseudo receiver.

I am more concerned about every single website including this one that tracks my moves and ip address then stores cookies to boot. But I guess it all falls under my signature. All though I don't allow cookies to be stored on my equipment, and are erased at the end of each session.