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

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.

  • agent_nycto
    9·
    1 month ago

    Can you explain this and how to do it like I’m an ignorant peasant filthy casual?

    • daveyOsborn@infosec.pubOP
      1·
      1 month ago

      Well, @[email protected] mentioned that it’s on the google page. But then when I chose some of the brands under “Find specific steps for your access point”, it’s a bit useless because manufacturers web admins have no sense of discipline or self-control. They cannot resist the urge to rearrange their website which broke Google’s links. But further below on Google’s page are some general instructions. I would try to follow those. And if you get stuck, maybe try posting a support request in [email protected].

      (update) I just had a closer look at the general instructions to do a quick sanity check. Google’s instructions for linux are bad at the 2nd step. That is, running ifconfig as a linux user can be tricky… might need to run /sbin/ifconfig instead. And even if it runs, it does not give the gateway anyway.

      If you’re on linux, run ip route instead, which will say something like default via 192.168.1.1. Whatever IP address is the default gateway, that is what you need for the next step. Note I am only talking about linux. Google’s instructions are probably fine for other platforms.