648
Usually connect to Walmart's WiFi but they changed their policy I guess, won't be doing that now...
(lemmy.ml)
this post was submitted on 29 Sep 2023
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Privacy
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Many people here suggesting a throwaway email and/or VPN. While this does migitate the impact somewhat, the only proper response is to not use their "service" and deactivate the WiFi fo your phone (else they might be tracking your MAC address).
Android randomizes Mac by default.
Walmart has an interesting app where if you're connected to their wifi then the app "transforms" to tell you what's in stock in the store you're connected to. I wish they'd just do something like Home Depot where the site just tells you if X location has an item or not, but alas.
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From personal experience I've found that an OpenVPN connection routed over port 53 (same as DNS) bypasses their signin screen entirely.
Of course it's been months since I last tried since I rarely go into the store and don't have reception issues when I do. Could be they've patched it since. Still worth a shot.
Now I have to imagine you standing in the store scanning ports just to get somewhat usable Wi-Fi :)
Imo, this is part of the problem with lack of privacy in today's world.
People will accept this more than not, without a second thought. This leads to the taking of a little bit more until one day you are left wondering where your privacy went.
Again, this is just my humble opinion.
And the poorer people find themselves having to trade their privacy for access to technology.
Yeah, you can pretty much assume that any random Wi-Fi asking for that information is already doing that. My local mall has one that will accept any old email but it certainly looks like this one wants you to create an actual Walmart account.
Well that's just plain invasive. I'll make sure to take myself off of their network next time I'm there.
Have you tried using Tor? Sometimes it works.
Why can't you use cell service?
2 GB data limit, need a different provider honestly...
It sounds to me like they are developing some tools to help map things inside the store. So they can give you directions to things you are looking for maybe. Also with this information they could do something similar to those Amazon stores where you just pick things up and walk out and it charges you automatically.
Not saying you all want to share the info with them. It is invasive. But as an engineer I can see so many cool features I could build with this information.
Temp-mail.org
i'm pretty lucky to have unlimited data included with my phone plan. i would 100% have been hacked by now. public wifi is scary.
That's great, unless the store you're in is a giant concrete bunker.
Mobile data barely works in my neighbourhood supermarket; even text-based communication is frequently dicey, but you want to send someone a photo of something as a "should I buy this"? Fuhgeddaboudit.
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Junk email + VPN, but I've found that most free wifi services like this explicitly try to inhibit the functionality of mobile VPN clients.
The irony being open wifi like this absolutely need a vpn running