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ddtaylor
> If you're adamant about protecting your privacy, this will prevent your Wi-Fi network and its location from being saved to Google and Microsoft servers

It does not prevent that. It's an indicator that asks these companies nicely to not save the data - there is no prevention mechanism.

lern_too_spel
Right. Apple doesn't respect it and has given no indication it ever will.
notRobot
TL;DR:

> Just add "_nomap" to your network's name to opt out from Google's service.

> Microsoft requires you to include "_optout" somewhere in your SSID.

> So you'd need to create an ID such as "1234_optout_nomap" to reject both services.

––––

Ugh, this seems really annoying, because SSIDs are limited to 32 chars, and you give up 13 just opting out of these services

justusthane
Right. Why can't Microsoft just respect _nomap as well as _optout? It's clear what the user's intent is. Also, according to the article, Google requires _nomap to be at the end. Apparently Microsoft doesn't require the same for _optout, but what if they did?
jnieminen
_nomap works also for Mozilla's location tracking thing.
user7629
This is Do Not Track for WiFi
xg15
So, how long until Apple joins in and requires "_dontmapme" as the suffix?
diego_moita
> which the company maps via crowdsourcing and Street View cars

So, if I hide my SSID then they wouldn't be able to find it?

SeriousM
Hiding an SSID is just a feature to not show it to the user. The device already know of its existence.
SeriousM
Opt-out is kinda pointless in "crowded" places. They just take the other 10 wifi near you.