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How to opt out of having your wi-fi access point used for big tech mapping services (support.google.com)
submitted 3 days ago by andioop@programming.dev to c/deshittification@thebrainbin.org
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cross-posted from: https://infosec.pub/post/51680303 where I suggest you check for more discussion on the topic.

cross-posted from: https://infosec.pub/post/51680197

Append “_nomap” to the end of your SSIDs to instruct Google not to use your wi-fi access point for their mapping services.

To do the same for Apple, add “_optout” to the end of your SSIDs¹.

To boycott both, the rumor is that Google’s “_nomap” must be last, but Apple’s “_optout” flag must be in the penultimate position if and only if Google’s token is at the end. So you might have an SSID like “boycottCloudflare_optout_nomap” to boycott the baddies, for example. But note that “boycottCloudflare” is merely symbolic, to raise awareness of the web’s most harmful enshitifier.

¹ sorry to say I have no reference to cite for the Apple rules. It’s just a rumor.

update

The Apple opt-out procedure has apparently changed to align with Google. Someone refers to this page for Apple.

update 2

Mapquest is suddenly gaining popularity.

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[-] bruh@nord.pub 2 points 3 days ago

can somebody explain how SSID are used for mapping? what if I change my SSID often, will that mess up google results?

[-] wr2623@midwest.social 3 points 3 days ago

There are probably millions of "Netgear" SSIDs across the globe so Google doesn't really use your network name to do the mapping. Every wifi radio also has a BSSID, which is the unique MAC address for your radio. This or the combination of both would be what they are using to do the lookup.

So adding the _nomap to your ssid is the only option you have to prevent your BSSID from being added to their database. If you don't trust Google to honor the _nomap you could regularly change your BSSID. Many consumer routers let you change your WAN MAC but almost none of them will let you change your BSSID.

this post was submitted on 02 Sep 2026
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