Control access point inclusion in Google's Location services - Google Maps Help
support.google.com
To improve Location services and estimate the location of a device, Google uses publicly broadcast Wi-Fi information from wireless access points and GPS, cell tower, and sensor data. This data is limi

cross-posted from: https://infosec.pub/post/51680303 where I suggest you check for more discussion on the topic.

cross-posted from: https://infosec.pub/post/51680197

Append “_nomap” to the end of your SSIDs to instruct Google not to use your wi-fi access point for their mapping services.

To do the same for Apple, add “_optout” to the end of your SSIDs¹.

To boycott both, the rumor is that Google’s “_nomap” must be last, but Apple’s “_optout” flag must be in the penultimate position if and only if Google’s token is at the end. So you might have an SSID like “boycottCloudflare_optout_nomap” to boycott the baddies, for example. But note that “boycottCloudflare” is merely symbolic, to raise awareness of the web’s most harmful enshitifier.

¹ sorry to say I have no reference to cite for the Apple rules. It’s just a rumor.

update

The Apple opt-out procedure has apparently changed to align with Google. Someone refers to this page for Apple.

update 2

Mapquest is suddenly gaining popularity.

  • bruh@nord.pubEnglish
    2·
    2 months ago

    can somebody explain how SSID are used for mapping? what if I change my SSID often, will that mess up google results?

    • wr2623@midwest.socialEnglish
      3·
      2 months ago

      There are probably millions of “Netgear” SSIDs across the globe so Google doesn’t really use your network name to do the mapping. Every wifi radio also has a BSSID, which is the unique MAC address for your radio. This or the combination of both would be what they are using to do the lookup.

      So adding the _nomap to your ssid is the only option you have to prevent your BSSID from being added to their database. If you don’t trust Google to honor the _nomap you could regularly change your BSSID. Many consumer routers let you change your WAN MAC but almost none of them will let you change your BSSID.