HTML5 Geolocation

[zombie615 9]

<!-- I was reading up on the new elements that HMTL5 has introduced since I haven't
done any coding for years an this caught me a little off guard.

A script that you can input into your HTML5 coding an easily acquire the exact
location of a person down do the very last coordinate.-->

<script>
var x = document.getElementById("demo");
function getLocation()
  {
  if (navigator.geolocation)
    {
    navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition(showPosition);
    }
  else{x.innerHTML = "Geolocation is not supported by this browser.";}
  }
 function showPosition(position)
  {
  x.innerHTML = "Latitude: " + position.coords.latitude + 
  "<br>Longitude: " + position.coords.longitude; 
  }
</script>

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

I don't see any way to find anyone who isn't broadcasting his location using a GPS locator.  So how is this supposed to work?

[zombie615 9]

http://www.w3schools.com/html/html5_geolocation.asp I'm running windows 8.1 with the latest updates for security so this may work differently for others I don't know. All I know is go to the site above an with the click of a button it gives the script encoded in the page with HTML permission to locate your exact location using google maps. Plus, without even using google maps it can still post your coordinates in plain text. That enough is alone for someone to find out exactly where you are in the world down to your very home address. 

 

Honestly I don't know javascript but I'm reading up on all the basic web design stuff so I can get back into doing that kind of stuff. Though I assume it uses your ISP or something. It does however need adequate permission to do so. My thinking is that someone good enough with javascript can simply trick you into pressing it an sending your location information into their database or email it to them, I don't know.

 

I know locating someone is no new thing. I was just questioning how easy it is now with this HTML5 an very little knowledge of javascript to be able to locate someone.

[glazert 89]

I don't think you need to worry too much. If you don't give permission for your location to be known it doesn't get sent, and if you do it doesn't necessarily give correct or meaningful information, the map it showed me certainly wasn't where I live. On a mobile phone (cellphone) you can turn off GPS

[Munchiez 74]

I want to figure out these things you do here! I can't do code or anything, I think I should learn though.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

If you want to become a computer programmer, pay attention to your logic and mathematics.  Programming is simply making a cohesive list of instructions for a machine.  However, a program can be any list including the menu for a restaurant.

[zombie615 9]

Well when I was younger (around 15 years old) I used to be all into this Web Design an Computer Programming thing. Seemed to come so easily back than. Now I'm just like lost in space. I keep trying but its just getting annoying that I seem to be so confused when I feel like I shouldn't be. This stuff is so simple yet I take it in a complex subject of which a college degree is need to understand. SMH

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Aw c'mon.  Programming is easy.  What does this do:

 

 

#include <stdio.h>

 

int main (int argc, char * argv[ ]) {

if (argc > 1) {

int i;

 

for (i = 0; i < argc; ++i) {

printf( "Argument # ", %i, " =  ", %s, "\n", i, argv);

}

}

return 0;

}

 

A simple little C program.

[glazert 89]

c is a a very useful language for many purposes, but introducing it when the original poster needs to get his head round Javascript and any add-ons to that and how to integrate that with HTML5 and CSS3 may confuse rather help. He is working through the right website: w3schools is very good for both self teaching and reference. 

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Maybe, but programmers tend to be polyglot.  The big deal about C is that it is practically an assembler without having to know much about the target machine.

[Duke87 1,070]

I don't see any way to find anyone who isn't broadcasting his location using a GPS locator.  So how is this supposed to work?

 

GPS is the obvious way, but the almighty Google has found an even more ingenious way using the power of their data-mining apparatus: they have compiled a massive database of the location of WiFi networks all over the world and can tell where you are with very good precision based on which WiFi networks are being detected by the device you are using. Since the information used is all publicly accessible (a router broadcasts its unique MAC address to every device in range, all you need is access to a large enough network of devices which have GPS and WiFi simultaneously enabled that can collect this data - like Street View cars, and people's Android phones), the only way to thwart this is to turn WiFi off and use a wired connection.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Google is starting to look like a try at world dominance.  I don't use any devices that can be detected by WiFi.  How does Google differ from Sky-Net?