Selling Your Old GPS Device? Be Careful -- It Might Still Have Your Address
Though it probably comes as no surprise to the paranoid among us, it looks as though Big Brother is, indeed, still watching.
Getting his degree in technology security, an inquisitive young man named Tyler Reber has been doing some research into those seemingly innocent GPS devices that help us get from Point A to Point B.
Reber's research focuses on the following question: "If you sell your old GPS navigation device and you have taken the precaution to reset it to factory settings, does it really delete all your old contacts and data?" To find out, Reber is working with with computer forensics programs such as Access Data: Forensic Tool Kit (FTK) and Technology Pathways ProDiscover, which are used by top computer forensics agencies for recovery and analysis of computer hardware and accessories.
The short answer to Reber's question, worryingly, is no. He connected his TomTom to his computer and had ProDiscover capture an image of it; his results showed that the information was still recoverable.
According to Reber:
"I waited about 30 minutes until the imaging process was complete and what I found was not really too surprising, though maybe at the least a bit alarming. Even after the device had been reset, I could still find instances of both my home address and my school address in deleted files on the TomTom device. Granted, I did have to search for them specifically, but they were still there."
Probably not much of an issue unless your day job involves organized crime, but still. Not cool.
From TechConsumer
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
JJ said 11:41AM on 3-06-2008
Never program your home or office address. Always use an address a block or two away. It won't change directions, and I am sure you can find your way the last two blocks.
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Big D said 2:42PM on 3-06-2008
Why do you care if someone has directions to your house? You could have criminal neighbors and they know exactly where you live. What difference does it make if a crook drives to your house using a Tom Tom that you just sold. As long as you don't put credit card info into the device, why worry?
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Alex said 2:48PM on 3-06-2008
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Jenna said 2:48PM on 3-06-2008
I learned this the hard way: My gps got stolen out of my car. It was only then that I realized the perp now had all three of my addresses and everywhere I'd been for the past 10 or so locations. I agree with commenter #1, never program your real address into the gps. Always use one a ways from your house. I've got a fake address number that does not exist programmed into mine as home; a real street but a non-existant number.
Also, take your gps down with you when you leave your car to prevent it being stolen. I know this article is about selling your gps, but this seems a pertinent slight deviation.
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KathyBimmr said 2:52PM on 3-06-2008
I changed our Garmin's home address to a nearby convenience store. Here is another precaution. If you're traveling, and you have your GPS with you, and you LOSE it, someone knows your home address and knows you're away!!! Just something to think about.
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Robert Wayne said 11:18AM on 3-07-2008
More crap for either criminals or the govt. (oh, I forgot, politicians are criminals) to keep up with you.
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Walt said 3:21PM on 3-06-2008
The other side of that is based on the loss of a hand held device. I found one in the woods once and was abble to return it to its owner by tracking down the "Home" waypoint. OK, you're right. Not many folks would do that.
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Birdteen285 said 3:32PM on 3-06-2008
I'm not buying GPS becuz I dont need it. And now with this alaqrm out, I'm nopt gonna buy even one GPS for anyone.
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rgorres said 3:37PM on 3-06-2008
use the address of your neighbor 2 doors down...that way it's their house not yours...lol just invest in a security system for your home...buy a loud dog...and live like a hermit crab...that way you will not need a gps and won't have to worry about anything
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bh rucker said 3:47PM on 3-06-2008
wouldn't it be quicker for crooks to look up your address in the phone book?
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m.s.king said 6:33PM on 3-06-2008
It is a shame that the article title grossly misrepresents the contents, on second thought, it is the point that no one would bother reading it if it did.
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this is me said 4:04PM on 3-06-2008
Well I look at it this way...if they steal it from your house, THEY ALREADY KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE.
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M K said 6:35PM on 3-06-2008
It is a shame that the article title grossly misrepresents the contents, on second thought, it is the point that no one would bother reading it if it did.
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brown said 4:22PM on 3-06-2008
Some of these commentaries are rather comical...almost ridiculous in some cases. A common sense reaction should be to remove the device from the car when not in use. If a thief breaks into your car and truly wants to reach you at home, more often than not your address is in the glove compartment with your insurance information and registration. The thief can always do a MapQuest if he/she thinks you are worth the effort.
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Phil said 4:33PM on 3-06-2008
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mary said 5:03PM on 3-06-2008
WELL I HATE TO TELL YOU ALL THIS BUT IF SOMEONE GETS YOUR PHONE NO ALLS THEY HAVE TO DO IS TYPE YOUR PHONE NO IN ON GOOOGLE IT TELLS THEM YOUR ADDRESS AND HOW TO GET TO YOUR HOME. SO IF YOU DON'T BELIVE ME TRY IT. I DID AND MAN WHAT A SHOCK THAT IS!!!!!!!!!! SO WHY NOT PUT IT ON YOUR GPS?????????
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Linda said 5:04PM on 3-06-2008
Um, let's see, if you MAIL what you are selling, you have a return address on the package anyway - if you have the person pick it up, they are already AT your house......I don't see the big deal here, especially if normal people do not know how to uncover this deleted data in the GPS unit. By the way - when we sent out 3 garmin units back to the factory to change the batteries (yes only THEY can do it), they returned 3 refurbished units of the same model to us. I know because I scratched initials in the bottom of each so we knew which one belonged to each of us. The initials were not there when they sent the units back. So our units went to someone else. They told me they factory reset the units when they do that. Now, THAT pissed me off because I had to reprogram everything into someone else's used unit. I hope their factory reset wipes out the deleted records completely.
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Barbara said 5:08PM on 3-06-2008
If you leave a fake address to a residence, they'll just target that person and who wants to be the victim of kharma? Just put the street down with NO address number. Who are they gonna target now, everyone on that street? Highly unlikely! Take down the suction cup if you think it might be wise to leave no clue. Don't take it with you because you might definitely lose it. Stick it under a seat or in the trunk. If its winter or summer, definitely bring it into the house. Electronics doesn't like extreme temperatures. With a small bit of wisdom you will lower the chances of theft and manage your worries and bring them down to the bottom of your list of priorities to make time for higher priorities.
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charles said 5:16PM on 3-06-2008
Out dated and not "with it", but I use a map for travel. But still can't fold one. I don't worry if someone finds my map...maybe they can fold it.
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gerry said 5:23PM on 3-06-2008
This is soooo odd. Do you really believe the the crooks never heard of the yellow pages or mapquest? If they steal your GPS form your car, are you worried they will go to your house to make fun of you??? So they know where you went the last 10 times you went out, big deal... Enter your phone name in Google. Check the results, then click on map. You will see a map showing were you live:-)
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