Beware Being Tracked When You Sign Into Public Wi-Fi at Malls

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Most of us breeze past the terms and conditions that come with free Wi-Fi networks and just hit yes so we can get online. When you sign into a mall’s Wi-Fi, though, you might be agreeing to allow them to track you.

The Wall Street Journal reports that many mall landlords use your location data to track things like where you eat, how long you spend in certain parts of the mall, and what stores you visit. They can also match that data with your social accounts or email for targeted ads.

This is nothing new, really—we’ve told you before that retail stores track you using your smartphone. However, you might be more likely to use a mall’s Wi-Fi as opposed to a standalone Nordstrom store, as signal strength is often garbage inside of malls. It’s something to be aware of next time you think about signing into their Wi-Fi. For more detail, head to the links below.

The Mall Is Following You While You Shop

Shopping Malls Are Tracking Your Every Move | Wall Street Journal via Consumerist

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