Strava and military bases in the news
#26
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That is good news. Everything a government does should be public if they are claiming they are a democracy. One does not need secrets in a government of the people, by the people and for the people, it leads to bad things.
Also big kudos to all those overseas in those bases cycling : ) Maybe if we all biked together there might be a little less strife in the world. Instead of wars just create teams and have them all face off on a bike race and have fun.
Also big kudos to all those overseas in those bases cycling : ) Maybe if we all biked together there might be a little less strife in the world. Instead of wars just create teams and have them all face off on a bike race and have fun.
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Well, I would be surprised if the bad guys don't have sympathizers on every foreign combat base we have. We hire lots of locals I'm guessing and they keep their eyes open. They can provide plenty of detail.
One of our barber's was found dead outside the wire following TET in '68, probably cut my hair a time or two.
One of our barber's was found dead outside the wire following TET in '68, probably cut my hair a time or two.
#28
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I'm retired military, worked in a high-security technical position my entire career. I concur that the military does in fact need to have secretive networks, and have secure non-public resources. In those areas, and among those resources, cell phones are not even allowed there. Even if they're turned off. That's (part of) how the sensitivity is protected. But this STRAVA news seems to be late to the game. How long have we had maps available on our cell phones? Those map/traffic apps that show how traffic is flowing on the roads uses a method similar to the STRAVA heat maps...it's tracking cell phone signals. The cell network measures where, and how fast the cell phones in cars are moving along the roads. Your phone is contributing to that and you don't even realize it. And, it's been done for years in department stores too...to tell which isle you're on, etc. As long as the phone is turned on and emitting a signal, it can be tracked (unless it's in airplane mode I guess). It doesn't need to have STRAVA, Google Maps, or any other app running. So until the DoD completely bans cell phones from use on military installations...which we know isn't going to happen...someone will be able to track them and creat a map using their movement.
Dan
Dan
Last edited by _ForceD_; 01-29-18 at 10:08 AM.
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#31
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I'm retired military, worked in a high-security technical position my entire career. I concur that the military does in fact need to have secretive networks, and have secure non-public resources. In those areas, and among those resources, cell phones are not even allowed there. Even if they're turned off. That's (part of) how the sensitivity is protected. But this STRAVA news seems to be late to the game. How long have we had maps available on our cell phones? Those map/traffic apps that show how traffic is flowing on the roads uses a method similar to the STRAVA heat maps...it's tracking cell phone signals. The cell network measures where, and how fast the cell phones in cars are moving along the roads. Your phone is contributing to that and you don't even realize it. And, it's been done for years in department stores too...to tell which isle you're on, etc. As long as the phone is turned on and emitting a signal, it can be tracked (unless it's in airplane mode I guess). It doesn't need to have STRAVA, Google Maps, or any other app running. So until the DoD completely bans cell phones from use on military installations...which we know isn't going to happen...someone will be able to track them and creat a map using their movement.
Dan
Dan
#32
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This kind of reminds me of the "Pizza Intel" that was talked about in 1990 during the Gulf War.
Dan
Last edited by _ForceD_; 01-29-18 at 11:50 AM.
#34
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I'm retired military, worked in a high-security technical position my entire career. I concur that the military does in fact need to have secretive networks, and have secure non-public resources. In those areas, and among those resources, cell phones are not even allowed there. Even if they're turned off. That's (part of) how the sensitivity is protected. But this STRAVA news seems to be late to the game. How long have we had maps available on our cell phones? Those map/traffic apps that show how traffic is flowing on the roads uses a method similar to the STRAVA heat maps...it's tracking cell phone signals. The cell network measures where, and how fast the cell phones in cars are moving along the roads. Your phone is contributing to that and you don't even realize it. And, it's been done for years in department stores too...to tell which isle you're on, etc. As long as the phone is turned on and emitting a signal, it can be tracked (unless it's in airplane mode I guess). It doesn't need to have STRAVA, Google Maps, or any other app running. So until the DoD completely bans cell phones from use on military installations...which we know isn't going to happen...someone will be able to track them and creat a map using their movement.
Dan
Dan
Thank you for this.
Like I said, it is non-news put out by a couple of guys trying to make a name for themselves via twitter.
At least two of them claim to be studying or have graduated with degrees in intelligence analysis and so they know all this quite well.
The media is happy to run with it.
-Tim-
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edit: people list their hometowns. Plus, if you can identify a concentration of super athletes in a remote area, that would be a red flag ("special ops").
Last edited by tyrion; 01-29-18 at 12:11 PM.
#36
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#38
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One thing you can tell from the strava heat map: There is not a single straight road in all of England. Looks more like a bowl full of macaroni than a road system when you zoom in there.
#39
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Dan
#40
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Thank you for this.
Like I said, it is non-news put out by a couple of guys trying to make a name for themselves via twitter.
At least two of them claim to be studying or have graduated with degrees in intelligence analysis and so they know all this quite well.
The media is happy to run with it.
-Tim-
Like I said, it is non-news put out by a couple of guys trying to make a name for themselves via twitter.
At least two of them claim to be studying or have graduated with degrees in intelligence analysis and so they know all this quite well.
The media is happy to run with it.
-Tim-
Well...usually the Pentagon doesn't do reviews or issue orders based on "non-news"
Originally Posted by WaPo
BEIRUT — The U.S. military said Monday that it is adjusting guidelines for the use of all wireless and technological devices on military facilities amid revelations that fitness trackers can be used to expose the identities of individuals working in sensitive and hazardous locations.
The review came after reports in The Washington Post and elsewhere that a global heat map posted online by the fitness-tracking company Strava reveals the outlines of U.S. military bases in some of the most dangerous locations in the world — along with the routes taken by supply convoys and patrols.
The review came after reports in The Washington Post and elsewhere that a global heat map posted online by the fitness-tracking company Strava reveals the outlines of U.S. military bases in some of the most dangerous locations in the world — along with the routes taken by supply convoys and patrols.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world...67e_story.html
#41
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Of course not. (One of) The point I'm trying to make is that this threat (or similar threats such as the use of Google Maps...which has been around longer than Strava)...or just the general use of cell phones on military installations...has probably been evaluated by the DoD. The writers of this article might have simply come to the realization more recently and are announcing it as a threat...which the DoD may, or may not have already evaluated and dismissed as a non-threat. Or, a threat they can control (if needed).
Dan
Dan
Last edited by tyrion; 01-29-18 at 01:03 PM.
#42
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The whole idea is we shouldn't need to have enemies, it is something that the governments of the world choose for their citizens. There is no need for hate just kick ass bicycles! If you have a squabble settle it on the track or a MTB trail or a road ride of some sort.
#43
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Last edited by canklecat; 01-29-18 at 01:59 PM.
#44
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I wonder if DoD will go to Strava with a request to retroactively privatize some data. I remember when this happened with Google Maps and satellite views of certain sensitive areas like the White House.
#45
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They're listening!
#46
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The problem isn't military personnel exercising. All militaries do that, or should.
The problem is making it too easy to identify patterns in individuals and groups. For decades military and civilian personnel assigned overseas have been advised to avoid predictable routines in order to make it a little more difficult for kidnappers and terrorists.
Without these handy surveillance devices we voluntarily carry around, prospective enemies had to risk exposing themselves in order to track the movements of their targets. No need to make it easier for them.
This may be one advantage to Cyclemeter, which stores data only on the users mobile device by default. The user must choose to share activities to Strava, social media, or even to private cloud storage, etc.
The problem is making it too easy to identify patterns in individuals and groups. For decades military and civilian personnel assigned overseas have been advised to avoid predictable routines in order to make it a little more difficult for kidnappers and terrorists.
Without these handy surveillance devices we voluntarily carry around, prospective enemies had to risk exposing themselves in order to track the movements of their targets. No need to make it easier for them.
This may be one advantage to Cyclemeter, which stores data only on the users mobile device by default. The user must choose to share activities to Strava, social media, or even to private cloud storage, etc.
#47
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I don't use Strava but I think it's more about revealing where high traffic areas are. For instance, if I was a terrorist and wanted to blow troops up at Ft. Bragg I know the absolute perfect places where I could destroy a whole platoon while they're doing a morning run on the firebreaks in the woods. Someone who hasn't been in the military there would have no clue. The same would apply to any military base in the world, secret or not, because troops do PT wherever they are. Some places you wouldn't even be able to spot on google like tiny FOB's in the middle of nowhere in Afghanistan. Even if they aren't running PT out of there they go on patrols and the young troops nowadays are using Strava wherever they go. Basically, Strava is letting people track the movement of troops.
I bet one million dollars by the end of the week the department of defense will have already put orders out banning soldiers from using Strava after this news. Nobody should worry, it won't take away their freedoms lol
I bet one million dollars by the end of the week the department of defense will have already put orders out banning soldiers from using Strava after this news. Nobody should worry, it won't take away their freedoms lol
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What's so special about the target value of troops doing PT? If body count is desired by an evil doer with the means/weapon to deliver explosives on post, the on post movie theater, PX, school buildings, gym, health clinic/hospital, officers/EM club, etc. are well marked static targets filled full of vulnerable people during known hours.
#49
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Uhh... Oh...
My driveway has turned HOT on that heat map, and it's not supposed to be hot
I have to wonder why the military even allows Strava on their sites. No policy about private phones and applications?
Of course, they would also run the risk of creating dead spots where activity is shown all around, but not within their bases, not that the actual location of the bases shouldn't already be known
My driveway has turned HOT on that heat map, and it's not supposed to be hot
I have to wonder why the military even allows Strava on their sites. No policy about private phones and applications?
Of course, they would also run the risk of creating dead spots where activity is shown all around, but not within their bases, not that the actual location of the bases shouldn't already be known
#50
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Strava doesn't need phones. A lightweight wrist device could record the info and upload it via desktop computer. While this might be an unusual use case, it could happen when security is only focused on phones and it needs to be addressed.