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NutmegYankee

(16,487 posts)

10. It's not the phone.

Reply to lostincalifornia (Reply #8)

Sat May 23, 2026, 09:56 AM

Yesterday

The WIFI signal from the router radiates out as a wave - just like light from a light bulb. Just like a light can illuminate you, the signal does the same. You could have no phone on you and potentially still be tracked.

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Starbeach

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In Other Dystopian News: WiFI Routers can now Potentially Passively ID individuals [View all] SorellaLaBefana Yesterday OP

I wonder if VPN protects you from that? lostincalifornia Yesterday #1

Seems unlikely as VPN is still using WiFi signals. Source states "... SorellaLaBefana Yesterday #2

Then best thing to do if you are using a government phone, and concerned about tracking lostincalifornia Yesterday #7

No Ponietz Yesterday #3

No. It's just like visible light. NutmegYankee Yesterday #4

Thanks. Easy answer. Turn off one's government phone unless you need to use it, and lostincalifornia Yesterday #8

It's not the phone. NutmegYankee Yesterday #10

So if you go to starbucks with your phone off, how is the WIFI at starbucks going to know it lostincalifornia Yesterday #11

It's possible with AI. NutmegYankee 23 hrs ago #13

I see a market orangecrush Yesterday #5

Interesting. Those are widely available now. Some electric cars automatically open their lostincalifornia Yesterday #9

Stories like this tend to be more theoretical than practical Renew Deal Yesterday #6

Message auto-removed Name removed Yesterday #12