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Post by Alanović on Jan 10, 2020 12:55:33 GMT
I just received an email notification from Google about my Google Maps Timeline - i.e. the places I've been over the past year. I don't mind having this switched on, I find it quite interesting, even though it's pretty useless and I know a lot of people don't like being "tracked". Personally I'm not bothered.
Well I wasn't. Until now.
The timeline shows up three locations in Germany, which I am pretty sure I've never visited in my life, apart from possibly passing through in either 2004 or 1995/6, both of which are before the existence of, or at least my possession of, a Google maps app or account.
Clicking on these location dots doesn't show any information about when I am alleged to have been there. Similarly strangely is a lack of locations I know I have visited.
So it's getting it wrong in both directions.
Now the latter doesn't worry me too much, but the former? Hmm. Has someone/thing accessed my Google account in these places in Germany at some time? What other explanation could there be? Although thinking about it, it would probably be best to know if something nefarious was going on.
I'm a bit puzzled.
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Post by bromptonaut on Jan 10, 2020 13:18:04 GMT
Must have been a mass mailing, I've had one too. Although it mentions the last year it's apparent on further exploration that it goes back to 2014. All are places I recognise having been except for a solitary dot near Berchtesgaden in Austria. Never been nearer to that country than a night in Vaduz (Lichtenstein) in 1983. Equally it misses a whole load of places I have been, particularly in France.
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Post by Hofmeister on Jan 10, 2020 13:24:19 GMT
I just received an email notification from Google about my Google Maps Timeline - i.e. the places I've been over the past year. I don't mind having this switched on, I find it quite interesting, even though it's pretty useless and I know a lot of people don't like being "tracked". Personally I'm not bothered. Well I wasn't. Until now. The timeline shows up three locations in Germany, which I am pretty sure I've never visited in my life, apart from possibly passing through in either 2004 or 1995/6, both of which are before the existence of, or at least my possession of, a Google maps app or account. Clicking on these location dots doesn't show any information about when I am alleged to have been there. Similarly strangely is a lack of locations I know I have visited. So it's getting it wrong in both directions. Now the latter doesn't worry me too much, but the former? Hmm. Has someone/thing accessed my Google account in these places in Germany at some time? What other explanation could there be? Although thinking about it, it would probably be best to know if something nefarious was going on. I'm a bit puzzled. The google maps timeline takes all the locations where your account has been accessed, not just your device. So that could be an internet cafe, but the kicker is that location services will try and grab any clue about where you are, including your internet point of presence. Sometimes for example, if you use a VPN with a server in another country, google will grab that as a location. Location services is notoriously inaccurate unless backed up with GPS. Oh and that also includes any company or service that was not previously google (or Alphabet) but has since been bought up. |
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Post by tyrednexited on Jan 10, 2020 13:28:42 GMT
All are places I recognise having been except for a solitary dot near Berchtesgaden in Austria...... ...have you been to Berchtesgaden in Germany, though.......?  |
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Post by Alanović on Jan 10, 2020 13:30:29 GMT
Ah. Now then. Two of my mystery German dots are near to Berchtesgaden - but over the border in Germany. One near Fronau, labelled as Microsoft Technical Support (HUH?), and one up a mountain in the middle of nowhere south of Ruhpolding, labelled as Top Gear Tyres. Which is the tyre shop I use in Reading.
How queer.
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Post by Alanović on Jan 10, 2020 13:32:50 GMT
I just received an email notification from Google about my Google Maps Timeline - i.e. the places I've been over the past year. I don't mind having this switched on, I find it quite interesting, even though it's pretty useless and I know a lot of people don't like being "tracked". Personally I'm not bothered. Well I wasn't. Until now. The timeline shows up three locations in Germany, which I am pretty sure I've never visited in my life, apart from possibly passing through in either 2004 or 1995/6, both of which are before the existence of, or at least my possession of, a Google maps app or account. Clicking on these location dots doesn't show any information about when I am alleged to have been there. Similarly strangely is a lack of locations I know I have visited. So it's getting it wrong in both directions. Now the latter doesn't worry me too much, but the former? Hmm. Has someone/thing accessed my Google account in these places in Germany at some time? What other explanation could there be? Although thinking about it, it would probably be best to know if something nefarious was going on. I'm a bit puzzled. The google maps timeline takes all the locations where your account has been accessed, not just your device. So that could be an internet cafe, but the kicker is that location services will try and grab any clue about where you are, including your internet point of presence. Sometimes for example, if you use a VPN with a server in another country, google will grab that as a location. Location services is notoriously inaccurate unless backed up with GPS. Oh and that also includes any company or service that was not previously google (or Alphabet) but has since been bought up. Ah, must be my work VPN then. That might explain it. I was thinking only in terms of my mobile phone, but of course I access Google maps on my work computer. Funny how it doesn't show places where I know I've been since 2014 though. |
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Post by Alanović on Jan 10, 2020 13:33:38 GMT
All are places I recognise having been except for a solitary dot near Berchtesgaden in Austria...... ...have you been to Berchtesgaden in Germany, though.......? Oh yeah. He's right. BG is in Deutschland. |
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Post by Alanović on Jan 10, 2020 13:36:05 GMT
Just noticed a place called Reit im Winkl. Must be twinned with Kiek in de Kok.
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Post by tyrednexited on Jan 10, 2020 13:36:52 GMT
Ah. Now then. Two of my mystery German dots are near to Berchtesgaden - but over the border in Germany. - no, it's not "over the border". One near Fronau, labelled as Microsoft Technical Support (HUH?) - quite surprised that one isn't in India, really.  |
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Post by tyrednexited on Jan 10, 2020 13:47:22 GMT
Just noticed a place called Reit im Winkl. Must be twinned with Kiek in de Kok. ...I've stayed in the 'van on the Stellplatz at Reit im Winkl. I remember it for a fairly hairy 4WD minibus lift up into the mountains to the Hindenburghutte and beyond. (TBH, around there and Berchtesgaden is a beautiful area, I've had a few enjoyable times in the vicinity). |
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Post by Alanović on Jan 10, 2020 13:47:47 GMT
See correction above. It's in a little kink in Germany (quite common I understand), kind of looks like it's in Austria if you don't zoom in enough. Not quite an enclave/excalve though. I like those.
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Post by Alanović on Jan 10, 2020 13:48:32 GMT
Just noticed a place called Reit im Winkl. Must be twinned with Kiek in de Kok. ...I've stayed in the 'van on the Stellplatz at Reit im Winkl. I remember it for a fairly hairy 4WD minibus lift up into the mountains to the Hindenburghutte and beyond. (TBH, around there and Berchtesgaden is a beautiful area, I've had a few enjoyable times in the vicinity). Kiek in de Kok? |
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Post by tyrednexited on Jan 10, 2020 13:52:00 GMT
...no, I've always walked like this.... |
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Post by Alanović on Jan 10, 2020 13:54:20 GMT
Just looking at the timeline of my trip to Australia, up and down the East coast, Canberra to Hervey Bay and back. Good job I went in the winter, going by the looks of that entire coast now.  |
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Post by bromptonaut on Jan 10, 2020 16:26:40 GMT
Ah. Now then. Two of my mystery German dots are near to Berchtesgaden - but over the border in Germany. One near Fronau, labelled as Microsoft Technical Support (HUH?), and one up a mountain in the middle of nowhere south of Ruhpolding, labelled as Top Gear Tyres. Which is the tyre shop I use in Reading. How queer. Ruhpolding also features on mine. The timeline map isn't showing borders that clearly but exploring on other maps I can see that there's a German 'promontory' into Austria around that point. |
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