Google allows you to opt out of their wireless network data collection system

Google allows you to opt out of their wireless network data collection system

Google has now made it possible for you to easily opt out of their wireless network data collection system.

This system is used for better location based services on their Android platform and other services.

The company was forced by the government regulations around the world to offer such an opt-out option.

The method is pretty crude. You would have to rename your wireless network by adding ‘_nomap’ to the end of its SSID.

Google said that they expect this system to be adopted by other similar services operating around the world to make it easy for web users to opt out:

As we explored different approaches for opting-out access points from the Google Location Server, we found that a method based on wireless network names provides the right balance of simplicity as well as protection against abuse. Specifically, this approach helps protect against others opting out your access point without your permission. Finally, because other location providers will also be able to observe these opt-outs, we hope that over time the “_nomap” string will be adopted universally. This would help benefit all users by providing everyone with a unified opt-out process regardless of location provider.