mikaela.github.io/n/nomap.md

---
layout: mini
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title: "Opting out of WiFi positioning (_nomap)"
permalink: /n/nomap.html
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robots: yesai
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excerpt:
  The underscore nomap suffix in SSID indicates your desire to opt-out of Wi-Fi
  positioning systems and, in some cases, mass surveillance.
---

# `_nomap`

_{{ page.excerpt }} This used to be a not so great blog-post and has since
became a hopefully better note to whoever it may concern_

`_nomap` in the end of your SSID will exclude your network from Google, Apple,
WiGLE etc.
[Wikipedia has a more complete list of supporting services.](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi_positioning_system#Public_Wi-Fi_location_databases)

Microsoft has a separate
[location services opt-out](https://account.microsoft.com/privacy/location-services-opt-out)
which uses MAC addresses instead.

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- [Why?](#why)
- [`_optout`](#_optout)

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## Why?

Privacy. WiGLE.net may point your home directly just by entering the SSID and
who knows how many similar services there are. While I have been thinking of
this since 2015, there is at least one case where this has been used in 2018:

- [Christian Haschek: The curious case of the Raspberry Pi in the network closet](https://blog.haschek.at/2018/the-curious-case-of-the-RasPi-in-our-network.html)

In the second quarter of 2024, researchers found that Apple allows tracking
Wi-Fi networks that hadn't opted out, including Starlink terminals in Ukraine
and Gaza.

- [KrebsOnSecurity: Why Your Wi-Fi Router Doubles as an Apple AirTag](https://krebsonsecurity.com/2024/05/why-your-wi-fi-router-doubles-as-an-apple-airtag/)

## `_optout`

Legacy from 2015-2016. Used to be part of Microsoft WiFi Sense that shared WiFi
networks and passwords to all contacts.

- [KrebsOnSecurity: Microsoft Disables Wi-Fi Sense on Windows 10](https://krebsonsecurity.com/2016/05/microsoft-disables-wi-fi-sense-on-windows-10/)