The Lights Are On, But Nobody’s Home

Social websites that are ‘location-aware’, such as FourSquare and Google Buzz, are more popular now than ever. They are interesting, ‘revolutionary’ little bits of software and technology; bringing people together, and educating them about local areas they otherwise would probably never visit. An aspect of these programs that are rarely touched on, however, is how potentially unsafe they can be.

PleaseRobMe.com, a website and research project launched by a small Dutch group named ‘Forthehack’, shows just how risky these applications are (potentially), educating the public about how every time someone posts their location on the internet, that person is publically announcing that they are not home (and can possibly get robbed, or worse). To illustrate their point, the website posts updates from various users from FourSquare on their homepage, letting the public know when that person left home and when they last checked into the service. The site also presents map locations of the user through Twitter alerts.

The goal of the site isn’t to be a scare-tactic and keep people away from these sites, but instead attempts to be a kind of security operation. In today’s age where it seems like everyone is connected to the Internet and uploading his or her everyday, we begin to see how vulnerable we can be (and how dangerous it can get).

It gets to the point to where a user can use simple deduction, to learn where a user is at any certain time.

I know sites like these are incredibly popular, (almost everybody uses them, including myself), but what do you think of their privacy options (if any)? Do you think they’re easily accessible right now, or too hidden away? Should there be ways to educate people about the issues with privacy and these applications to prevent something (like being robbed) from happening?

Location-Aware Social Nets : Lights On, Nobody Home