Microsoft's Web map exposes phone, PC locations. Microsoft has collected the locations of millions of laptops, cell phones, and other Wi-Fi devices around the world and makes them available on the Web without taking the privacy precautions that competitors have, CNET has learned.
The vast database available through Live.com publishes the precise geographical location, which can point to a street address and sometimes even a corner of a building, of Android phones, Apple devices, and other Wi-Fi enabled gadgets. Unlike Google and Skyhook Wireless, which have compiled similar lists of these unique Wi-Fi addresses, Microsoft has not taken any measures to curb access to its database. Google tightened controls last month in response to a June 15 CNET article , and Skyhook uses a limited form of geolocation to protect privacy.
Bursztein recommended that Microsoft adopt some of the same limits that its competitors already have. Using the Microsoft Geolocalization API to retrace where a Windows laptop has been. EDIT (Tuesday 2nd August) Microsoft Statement is available from here EDIT (Sunday 31th July) The flaw is fixed: I had a phone call with some people from Microsoft yesterday (yes on a Saturday) and they told me they fixed the problem.
I will update this post with their response as soon as it is out. Anyone Can Access Microsoft's Massive Location Database and See Where Your Laptop and Smartphone Have Been.