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Software Microsoft Talks Location with Windows 7
Shane McGlaun (Blog) - November 7, 2008 11:45 AM
Print E-mail del.icio.us 47 comment(s) - last by robinthakur.. on Nov 11 at 7:57 AM
Windows 7 will know where you are and other programs running will too

Vista left a bad taste in many mouths and Microsoft hopes to clean the palates of Windows Vista users with the coming Windows 7 operating system. Microsoft has plans for a variety of new features that it hopes to hit the spot with computer users.

One of the new features of the operating system is an entire range of new location-based services. Vista has a location-based service in the Windows Weather widget that allows you to type in your zip code for custom weather information.

In Windows 7, the location of the computer will be easier to find according to CNET News. Applications like PC tracking programs and programs for finding friends will be offered among others. Local search could be greatly helped if the computer knew where you were without you needing to type in your city or zip code.

While it's easy for most to see the usefulness in a much more location aware operating system, for some the thought raises serious security concerns. Control options for location aware services are offered in Windows 7, and according to CNET News, the location-aware service is off by default in Windows 7.

The concern is that if users turn the location-aware service on for search or weather, any program running on the computer would have access to that location information. Microsoft says that the reason for this is that the OS doesn't provide the option to let only certain applications access location. Windows 7 doesn't have a method of determining that an application is what it claims to be. Any attempt to limit the access of location information by the OS would be easy to spoof according to Microsoft.

Microsoft Program Manager Alec Berntson said, "We only promise the control that we can realistically give to them (Windows 7 users), rather than trying to promise more than we can deliver."

Microsoft uses two APIs to provide location based services in Windows 7. The first is a low-level API for sensors and the second is an API for location. This allows the OS to use several methods for finding its location. The computer could use GPS, Wi-Fi, and cellular triangulation in addition to simply typing in where a user is.

Once the positional information of the user is found, location-based applications can use the info in a variety of ways. The usefulness of the feature extends beyond mapping and weather. In the end, what applications using the location information are capable of doing is up to the developer. Microsoft will only include a weather widget with Windows 7.

Windows 7 features have been talked about a lot recently. So far, it is known that Microsoft is stacking Windows 7 with improved reliability and performance when using a SSD, multi touch capability, a new task bar, and more.

An exact launch date for the OS is still unknown. However, several sources point to a mid-2009 launch. ASUS has stated that it will have Eee PC netbooks running the Windows 7 OS by mid-2009.

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They already know where I am.
By Clauzii on 11/7/2008 12:01:31 PM , Rating: 3
Certain pages on the net already say "Where to find friends in 'xyzxyz' (insert town name here)!"




RE: They already know where I am.
By TomZ on 11/7/2008 12:18:51 PM , Rating: 4
Right - so in effect, each time you do anything involving the Internet, you are broadcasting your location via the IP address your requests include for reply packets.

This all sounds like much ado about nothing.


RE: They already know where I am.
By DeepBlue1975 on 11/7/2008 12:40:46 PM , Rating: 5
One thing is knowing that your IP belongs to a pool assigned to certain country / region...
And a very different thing is to know almost exactly were you are via a GPS / cell network positioning method.

IE, to know where you are with very little precision, and to know where you are within, say, a 100 meters radius, are two very different situations.


RE: They already know where I am.
By TomZ on 11/7/2008 1:13:51 PM , Rating: 4
Without adding additional hardware, e.g., GPS, to your system and enabling it, this wouldn't change at all.


RE: They already know where I am.
By MonkeyPaw on 11/7/2008 1:34:55 PM , Rating: 4
quote:
IE, to know where you are with very little precision, and to know where you are within, say, a 100 meters radius, are two very different situations.


That's why you need to hold the phone as far away from your head as possible. It throws off Major League Baseball's mind reading satellite.


RE: They already know where I am.
By DeepBlue1975 on 11/7/2008 2:20:59 PM , Rating: 2
Good one!

But would you like the wife to know when you went lanpartying with your laptop and said you were just gonna be working late? :D

Seriously, I'm not implying the government would take advantage of this to spy on every individual. But, IE, stalkers would try to take advantage of this.


By quiksilv3r on 11/7/2008 3:10:58 PM , Rating: 2
You wouldn't want Don Mattingly knowing everything about you, now would you?


RE: They already know where I am.
By mfed3 on 11/10/2008 10:05:00 AM , Rating: 2
The PURPOSE of this feature is to make it easier to find yourself and not have to type it in, NOT to broadcast your location publicly and insecurely to the entire internet telling them where you are.

The API is GOOD for developers, shut up about the security, its a location! not a credit card number


RE: They already know where I am.
By Clauzii on 11/7/2008 7:01:25 PM , Rating: 3
Exactly my thought too. Even my 'dynamic' IP is always the same, even after a modem reset. OK, some people don't WANT to be found on the net, so I'm sure they get their way through that system anyhow, should it be used for security purposes.

I actually think I saw some USB-GPS receiver with software, so MS is probably just putting something like that into the OS.


RE: They already know where I am.
By prenox on 11/7/2008 8:46:19 PM , Rating: 2
I know that on cable systems that if you change the MAC address on your computer or router that you will get assigned a different dynamic IP.


RE: They already know where I am.
By Clauzii on 11/7/2008 9:20:10 PM , Rating: 2
I thought so too, but my Canal Digital connection here in Denmark have shown the same the few times I needed to switch off. Unfortunately I can't switch of my modem/router setup without going through the scanning of frequencies which sometimes takes ~1 hour so no powersaving for me. I think it's my (Netgear) router, since I also only can access it with IE. FF doesn't work :-/


RE: They already know where I am.
By grenableu on 11/9/2008 5:32:28 PM , Rating: 1
quote:
This all sounds like much ado about nothing.
That's what most of these stories are, just an attempt to drum up some fear and sell press. "OMG, a computer I'm sending my IP address to is going to know my zip code!"

Big deal.


RE: They already know where I am.
By TomCorelis (blog) on 11/7/2008 2:16:28 PM , Rating: 2
Well hell, they certainly aren't very accurate. Wow, you geolocated me to San Diego! Nice job!


RE: They already know where I am.
By Clauzii on 11/7/2008 9:22:12 PM , Rating: 2
They never missed my hometown in Denmark. Not that I worry or anything :)


RE: They already know where I am.
By Major HooHaa on 11/9/2008 12:27:14 PM , Rating: 2
I heard that with Windows 7, Microsoft wants us to use on-line applications (rather than ones we have installed on our computers) and the files we create with those applications will be stored on-line. Have I got that right? Imagine your personal letters and copywrited work being stored somewhere in Internet Land.

Now I read that they can pinpoint your location while you’re using those applications.

Two points then... First is that from windows 7 onwards it seems you will have to have a working internet connection to do any work on your P.C.

Second is that Big Brother is well and truly here.


RE: They already know where I am.
By mfed3 on 11/10/2008 10:06:35 AM , Rating: 2
You're dumb and wrong. Get off Anandtech and go to Gizmodo or Engadget


Security concerns?
By Spivonious on 11/7/2008 11:58:28 AM , Rating: 1
I can't think of any security concerns that I would have. So what if an application knows you're in a certain town, or can get your coordinates from the GPS?

Hacker: Ooh, it looks like he's on the toilet.
Hacker2: Okay, let's break into his car while he's occupied.

If anything, this data will be used for marketing and choosing which ads are displayed on webpages, which is already localized based on IP.




RE: Security concerns?
By Mr Perfect on 11/7/2008 1:01:43 PM , Rating: 3
You aren't cynical enough, I guess. :)

Maybe someone could create a malware program that tracks your online purchases and, using this tech, link them to your location. That way, when your spiffy new purchases arrive, someone else is there to receive them.

How's that for cynicism?


RE: Security concerns?
By mindless1 on 11/8/2008 11:00:13 AM , Rating: 2
What if some instable person gets offended by what you write then knows where to find you? There are more reasons it could be a problem than anyone could possibly list at once.


RE: Security concerns?
By Iger on 11/10/2008 4:08:15 AM , Rating: 2
Ahh, but perhaps more people will then pause for a moment before clicking this "Post!!11!!" button ;)


RE: Security concerns?
By elgueroloco on 11/8/2008 1:14:57 PM , Rating: 2
Or, how about, dirty old pervert pretends to be a kid to talk to your kid, uses a program to get your comp's loc, then comes to your house and steals/molests your