The new procedure was perfected by Stanford University in collaboration with the Israeli defense research group Rafael.
Unlike the data provided by the GPS or Wi-Fi location detection, this information is available on any terminal without explicit permission from the user.
PowerSpy is able to determine the path taken by the user with an accuracy of 90%. The technique is based on a simple principle: transmissions between mobile phones and service towers take place with different power and speed, depending on the distance and obstacles between the user and the tower. The correlation between the use of the battery and the variables, such as the environmental conditions and the tower / cellular distance is quite indicative to provide information on the user's position.
To date, PowerSpy only works on predefined routes, but the concept is valid.
The tests carried out have shown that by repeating the same route and analyzing the consumption data of the cell phone battery, it turns out that the peaks are always the same. These values, calculated on the basis of the ratio between signal and power profiles, shown on a map, would indicate the user's position. The goal of the researchers is to improve the accuracy of PowerSpy on each type of path and for each terminal.
Franco Iacch
(Photo: Online Defense)
