Disturbing Tech Startup Seeks to Track Gun Owners

[Grumpyoldretiredcop]

Were I to find out that the software in the OP exists (no sign of it in a search, perhaps my search fu is lacking today), the following steps would seem to be in order:

Obtain pre-paid phone.

Register under favorite anti-gunner's name and info.

Add this app.

Place in front of TV and play every movie with a shootout that you can think of at maximum volume to ensure that app picks up "gunshots".

Hilarity ensues.

Once enough people do so, the app is useless.

[avu3]

Related,
For anyone who hasn't thought about the problems with "Free" apps (or apps in general), take a look at this article

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/the-hidden-privacy-threat-of-flashlight-apps-100586520044.html

Its the same vein as what the original poster was talking about (as described in post #45 by The Gleam).

The challenge I think in the creation of an app like what this thread started on would be specifically discerning a bullet being fired from other noise. I think you'd quickly saturate the mic because they're not tuned for the frequency ranges and pitches of a weapon being fired, but rather the human voice - but my audio experience is going on 20 years old now and I may be wrong. The running in the background, tracking your location, reporting back - that's all academic. Apps do it all the time. I'd be smart and load all the locations of ranges and "non urban areas" so it only opened the mic then, so as not to overly drain the battery. Which, too, is very possible.

But the case stands. There is precedent for apps enabling things you don't expect and accessing/scanning your data.

For example, I was a little worried when the Facebook app started recommending I post photos I'd taken WITH THE APP CLOSED whenever I launched it. I quickly realized Facebook was uploading ALL my photos to their servers and then "Suggesting" I post things they already had! That got uninstalled real quick. The LinkedIN App mined all my contacts and started suggesting I send them invitations. The Path app had a huge issue back in Feb. http://mclov.in/2012/02/08/path-uplo...r-servers.html - I wasn't a victim of that one.

Point being, you should ALWAYS be suspicious of Apps you install, free or not.

Scott

[1st Generation Gun Owner]

http://gunssavelives.net/blog/new-an...-to-all-users/ Now here 's an app to get upset about. It's already at Googleplay for download. Give it a catchy name and a misleading statement to report irresponsible gun owners and if you would be dumb enough to fall for it you most likely need watched. The danger comes from these watchdogs putting in other owners location without their knowledge. This is something that the NRA needs to get removed and protest Google until it's gone. I neglected to check the Apple site for iPhones.

That article is a over year old. The app was deliberate bait. A bunch of people predictably flooded it with false reports to make the data useless. The app maker called that "hacking", refers to everyone who doesn't like it as "anti-gun-safety", and has posted selected responses.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=edu.ucsd.visarts.walkingtools.gungeomarker

http://gungeomarker.org/about/

http://gungeomarker.org/x-flares/

Everyone who has sent in an "upset" response has been had.

[Steve_In_29]

I think they are used to find the location of mortar teams. Im sure there are other applications but thats the only one Ive ever heard from directly

The military does both but not the same way. Mortar shells are tracked by counter-battery radar while gunshots are tracked by sound.

[Noonanda]

We had a HMMWV with the shot detection equipment on my 07-08 deployment. It worked sometimes, it would give a rough direction. It had like 9 microphones mounted on a mast on the back of the truck

[DisgruntledReaper]

I think by the time the developers hear and triangulate the origin location of the shots..... it is too late anyway.......

[durandal]

"Shotspotter" already in use in SF/OAK


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[RR.44]

More people with more time than brains to get into other people's business.