FYI: Pedometers sponsored by health programs are tracking devices

[OutHouse]

So my company is pushing HARD to get everybody to buy a pedometer that is being sold by the company that does health assessments for my company. The pedometer attaches to your shoe and transmits data via a USB device you have hooked into your PC. sounds good right? well the pedometer is not "paired" with the USB stick that came with your pedometer. That means the USB device will initiate a download of any pedometer it detects then uploads that data to the monitoring website. For example you are home walking your dogs and somebody in the neighborhood or apartment complex has a similar device, your data just got uploaded but what makes it worse is the data that is uploaded. so between the pedometers getting detected at work and away from work this monitoring company can keep a pretty accurate log of when and were you are.

we sniffed the data that is getting sent and it contains all the information about the PC that got the info from the pedometer. stuff like Name, Ram, disk space, IP settings, programs installed and other data that frankly is none of the monitoring sites business.

pretty fucked up if you ask me.

I for one refuse to participate in this crap, I will not be tracked period.

oh and get this we now have get 1000 points in one year either by walking with our steps recorded using the pedometer or by health-club membership and other things like phone consultation for your health issues. IF we do not get 1000 points we have to pay another $350.00 bucks towards our health insurance.

bunch of overbearing invasive shit.

 

[lxskllr]

That's America's future if it's allowed. Your freedom is worth more than $350. Don't let them wear you down.

 

[SSSnail]

So that's what those meters are for, tracking pedos. :hmm:

 

[Gooberlx2]

Who makes/tracks the pedometers? Bust them out for that shit! Gathering all that extra data does seem unecessary...and it's clearly insecure since it was so easy to sniff.

 

[halik]

Haah that ridiculous. Why not send this to gizmodo/engadget and make a huge media shitshow storm out of it?

My last company did a $250/rebate per 6 months if you show you went to the gym at least one or twice a week (forget what it was). Great deal imo, I just had my gym print out attendance.

 

[PottedMeat]

can you post the manufacturer?

 

[SKORPI0]

So that's what those meters are for, tracking pedos. :hmm:

They should be issued to kids. It starts beeping when a pedo is within 100 feet and gets louder the nearer they are. D:

 

[OutHouse]

can you post the manufacturer?

ill get that tomorrow, lots of people in the office have them now so ill look at one of theirs.

 

[vi edit]

If you want to check my fitness then check my vitals and stroke my washboard abs. No GPS needed for that.

 

[OutHouse]

If you want to check my fitness then check my vitals and stroke my washboard abs. No GPS needed for that.

hahahah do you have a fathead of yourself on your wall too?

 

[Howard]

hahahah do you have a fathead of yourself on your wall too?

A fathead?

 

[vi edit]

A fathead?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHfRR5c1yNo

 

[MomentsofSanity]

A fathead?

http://www.fathead.com/

 

[Kreon]

While this bothers me as well, remember your phone does the exact same thing. Phone doesn't report it all to your health insurance company though.

You should send the data to the EFF though. They would love to see this I bet.

 

[13Gigatons]

It's scary the amount of privacy people are willing to give up today. Also the amount of pressure that is brought to make people comply.

 

[FirNaTine]

If you want to check my fitness then check my vitals and stroke my washboard abs. No GPS needed for that.

This. Went in for my annual physical at work a few years ago, and the PA doing it is counseling me on my weight. Granted, at 6'1" ~200, I was about 10 lbs over the theoretical "ideal" weight.

I was also 7% bodyfat according to my exercise physiologist's most recent assessment, with a BP in the 110s over about 70, heart rate in the 50's and total cholesterol around 130.

I wanted to say "You're right, I do need a little more definition in my abs,"

Idiot.

Crazy me, having a job where I wear 50-70lbs of protective gear at times, plus whatever equipment I need to do my job, or lift/carry/rescue people, I thought strength training might be a good idea....

Averages might tell you a lot about a group as a whole, but very little about the individual you are dealing with.

 

[Red Squirrel]

It's actually pretty scary how the government has so many tricks up it's sleeves to try to get total surveillance of everyone.

If you want to fuck up with the system, stick the pedometer on a city bus, or if ever you happen to go on a plane, leave it inside the luggage compartment.

Could also go for walks from the gas station (hang around the diesel pump for a bit then go inside to buy a chocolate bar or something to simulate paying for the gas) then go to a local garden place that sells fertilizer, then start walking towards a government building. See how far you can make it. Would be a fun game of surveillance chicken. Bonus points if you get arrested while still eating the chocolate bar.

Would make a fun story to tell once you get out of jail.

 

[drnickriviera]

attach pedometer to dog? 1000 points in 1 day

 

[destrekor]

It's actually pretty scary how the government has so many tricks up it's sleeves to try to get total surveillance of everyone.

If you want to fuck up with the system, stick the pedometer on a city bus, or if ever you happen to go on a plane, leave it inside the luggage compartment.

Could also go for walks from the gas station (hang around the diesel pump for a bit then go inside to buy a chocolate bar or something to simulate paying for the gas) then go to a local garden place that sells fertilizer, then start walking towards a government building. See how far you can make it. Would be a fun game of surveillance chicken. Bonus points if you get arrested while still eating the chocolate bar.

Would make a fun story to tell once you get out of jail.

Well it sounds like it's not LIVE tracking. It's after-the-fact.

So, plan your steps as such - upload after a few steps on the "throw them for a spin" list. Then continue with the master plan, upload again.

Go to gas station, go to fertilizer store, do this a few times actually. Perhaps even visit some kind of fireworks store?
Then make a few trips to a particular government building, to ensure they get an upload with that a few times.

See what happens next. :twisted:


But seriously - I'd send the device, the USB thing, and a copy of the data it sends to some group capable of sleuthing and making a fuss about it. The Media might work, like a local news station that does a "Call for Action" type thing. Not sure how common that is, we have a local station that has a way to report various things and get the reports to do some fine investigation.

 

[Aharami]

i'd definitely try and expose them. that is ridiculous! what insurance company is this?

 

[SSSnail]

Buy magnet, tape magnet to pedo meter, stick magnet taped pedo meter to neighbor's car. Prophet?

 

[darkswordsman17]

That is pretty messed up and I agree with sending that to a few media outlets and stuff like the EFF. ArsTechnica would be a good place as I'm sure they'd snoop out more to the story.

 

[highland145]

attach pedometer to dog? 1000 points in 1 day

I was thinking get one (or more) of the elliptical users to wear it while you sit at the bar next door.

 

[Ns1]

Is this fitbit or something else?

 

[Brainonska511]

It's actually pretty scary how the government has so many tricks up it's sleeves to try to get total surveillance of everyone.

If you want to fuck up with the system, stick the pedometer on a city bus, or if ever you happen to go on a plane, leave it inside the luggage compartment.

Could also go for walks from the gas station (hang around the diesel pump for a bit then go inside to buy a chocolate bar or something to simulate paying for the gas) then go to a local garden place that sells fertilizer, then start walking towards a government building. See how far you can make it. Would be a fun game of surveillance chicken. Bonus points if you get arrested while still eating the chocolate bar.

Would make a fun story to tell once you get out of jail.

This isn't the government.

If anything, it's amazing what we let employers get away with when it comes to their employees.