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Monday, September 16, 2013

Your E-ZPass Might Be Tracking You Everywhere, Not Just Tollbooths

When you get a toll-paying transponder like the E-ZPass, you assume that it just sort of sits there until you drive through a toll booth. That’s not true. Maybe, according to a recent presentation at DEFCON, you should put your E-ZPass away unless you’re actually paying a toll right now.

Toll transponders usually come with a little foil pouch. You’re to use this when you don’t want the tollbooth to pick up your signal: say, when a friend is paying tolls in cash for you or when you’re cheating on your partner with someone a few highway exits away and don’t want to leave a record of your whereabouts. (Note: the latter use is not endorsed by the E-ZPass Inter-agency Group.)

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

So what? Your cell phone reports where your at all the time.

Anonymous said...

2:13pm Your submissive post is not productive. Think beyond yourself for once. Maybe other people actually care about this information.

Thanks Joe.

Anonymous said...

3:17 PM Sorry, let me rephrase it. If your cell is telling every move you make, and you continue to use it. Your e-z pass info doesn't matter.

Anonymous said...

Agree with 2:13. Who cares? If you don't want to be tracked, don't get an EZ Pass. And lose your cell phone. What exactly are you doing that you don't want to be tracked anyway?

Anonymous said...

You would think that using EZ Pass data outside of the established TOS would be illegal. But they will probably argue that it only records stuff in the public view (ie, your presence).

Still, I leave mine at home if I don't need it. Haven't figured out what to do from the state police capturing all the license plates they drive by.

Daddio said...

EZ-Pass provides a foil-lined pouch to put it in when you want to block it from being scanned.

USE IT. Only take it out when approaching a toll plaza where you want to pay electronically.

Lost the bag? Simply use an empty, single-serving foil-lined potato chip bag as an alternative. Just as effective....(ever watch "Enemy of the State"?)

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
2:13pm Your submissive post is not productive. Think beyond yourself for once. Maybe other people actually care about this information.

Thanks Joe.

September 16, 2013 at 3:17 PM

BINGO

Anonymous said...

The last place on earth to NOT have a camera turned in on you is in your own home... that is if you own it and are not renting... that is if you don't live near a walmart or shopping center, that is if you don't live near anything or rent cable or.. Oh wait.. was that the Google map vehicle that just rolled by.

Anonymous said...

Strange how they know our every move until something goes wrong or someone is missing.It's all overrated fear tactics designed to fill in the technology gaps.They aren't there yet.They just want us to think they are.