Geolocation software

Abstract: Research on training in knowledge related to geolocation with technologies shows the training potentials and limitations that these resources offer for teachers in training. This study examines the perceptions of the instructional effectiveness of mobile devices and geolocation software, by analyzing the performance in the TPACK skills dimensions of future teachers (n = 421). A mixed methodology has been implemented, with a descriptive cross-sectional approach as well as inferential analysis based on a questionnaire (α ≥ .918) and the tasks carried out by the sample. The results show a poor didactic use of technologies while confirming the acquisition of knowledge about geolocation. This corroborates the benefits of applying an improvement in the digital competence of teachers in training.

Abstract: A system for geolocation of social media posts, comprising a social search engine; a geolocation software module; and a network-attached database comprising at least a media storage and a metadata storage. The social search engine retrieves a plurality of social media content postings and stores them in the database; and the geolocation software module geolocates a first social media content posting by: extracting metadata from the posting; extracting embedded location data from the posting; identifying an author of the posting; determining if the metadata storage contains location-related data about the author, if one was identified; determining if author location data is available; identifying any known place names in the social media content posting; disambiguating a plurality of locations obtained; and geotagging the posting and storing the resulting geotagged posting in the metadata storage.

Abstract: How quickly can somebody convert an IP address of a target into a real-word street address? Law enforcement regularly has need to determine a suspect's exact location when investigating crimes on the Internet. They first use geolocation software and databases to determine the suspect's rough location. Recent research has been able to scope a targeted IP address to within a 690m (0.43 mile) radius circle, which is enough to determine the relevant law enforcement department that has jurisdiction. Unfortunately, investigators face a "last half mile" problem: their only mechanism to determine the exact address of the suspect is to subpoena the suspect's Internet Service Provider, a process that can take weeks. Instead, law enforcement would rather locate the suspect within the hour with the hope of catching the suspect while the crime is still on-going, which leads to stronger evidence and straightforward prosecution. Given these time constraints, we investigate how quickly an adversary can locate a target without any special law enforcement powers. Instead, we leverage the use of ubiquitous wireless networks and a mobile physical observer that performs wireless monitoring (akin to "wardriving," which seeks to search for wireless networks). We develop an approach that allows an adversary to send traffic to the target's address that can be detected by the observer, even if wireless encryption is in use. We evaluated the approach in two common real-world settings. In one of these, a residential neighborhood, we used a single-blind trial in which an observer located a target network to within three houses in less than 40 minutes (with potential for more exact results using hardware such as directional antennas). This approach had only a 0.38% false positive rate, despite 24,000 observed unrelated packets and many unrelated networks. These results show significant promise for the geolocation strategy and demonstrate that adversaries with multiple potential observation points, such as law enforcement personnel, could quickly locate a target.