I created an account while in the store with an email of [email protected] and a basic password and surprisingly didn’t have to verify the email. Then turned on a VPN to my house.
I plan on just creating a new account every time I go in just to fill up their database with nonsense.
Cool, is [email protected] still available?
It is not. You need to add a number at the end.
inhell.info is available and Postfix is a thing.
You do realize that they are actually tracking the device itself by the hardware MAC address and other device fingerprints.
The email is just a bonus to let them legally spam you. Anti-spam laws have an exemption. If there’s a prior business relationship like shopping in their stores, they can put you on their spam list unless you opt out.
Bogus email only helps for spam but doesn’t do anything about tracking.
EDIT: For Android when there’s a Captive Portal like the screen shot. devices will use Persistent randomization which while not the hardware MAC will remain the same for the same network where they can track your visits.
GrapheneOS let’s me do a per-connection randomized MAC.
I’m sure they do collect a lot more about my device, but there’s not much I can do about it short of wrapping my phone in tin foil.
Don’t forget to disable wifi and bluetooth before approaching the store, as those give off unique identifiers too.
Don’t forget to spoof your MAC address so they cant see who is making the fake accounts ;D
This is the way. Fuck them.
Literally 1984
NB4 VPN
In the EU they already had a complaint, because it violates GDPR, but in any case I would never use a public WiFi without a VPN, and even less in places with these conditions, there is also free WiFi in some Rstaurants (even in most McDonalds), public Libraries and others. Fuck surveillance advertising
There’s just no reason to unless you are really skimping on phone data. Random wifi hotspots are one of the most dangerous things for an average joe in terms of infosec.
I have seen it on Europe… maybe there was some way to circumvent it hidden away, not sure. But you could type a random email and that’s it, like they don’t send anything to confirm the email or anything once you submit you have access to internet.
Better to send a disposable mail, where yo can receive the log data before it expired.
eg
- https://maildrop.cc
- https://altmails.com
- https://www.disposablemail.com
- https://www.lazyinbox.com/#/
- https://www.guerrillamail.com
etc
anonbox from ccc
I was about to say… Isn’t using public wifi’s extremely dangerous?
Yes, because of this using an public WiFi without VPN is a no-go
They seem to explain pretty well how your data will be used, why would this violate GDPR?
No way to opt out?
Right, and this Walmart in Europe would be where exactly?
https://storelocator.asda.com/directory
Asda is Walmart
That’s England so no gdpr anyway
UK gdpr not withstanding, the question asked was: where in Europe. UK remains a part of Europe post brexit.
AFAIK it does not exist in Europe, but I meant that these conditions in the EU would not be tolerated. Maybe because of this there isn’t a Walmart in the EU, there are a lot of Malls from other companies and none of these use this practices in their restaurants, mostly with free WiFi for their visitors. Offering free WiFi is already enough of a benefit for them, because it attracts customers, they do not need to intrude on their privacy with an obvious attempt to spam them and make money with their data.
Fake email and vpn = Free private connection
You dont even have to type a real email it doesn’t verify anything. Just [email protected]
The amount of success I’ve had with [email protected] is unreal
I personally use [email protected] or [email protected] because it’s fast to type lol
I sincerely hope no one has the email
test@testtesttest.com
because ohhhhh boy have they been getting some emails.It was you!!
I usually do
thepresident@whitehouse.gov
Works most of the time.
deleted by creator
Next time try @@@@@@@@@@@ and see if it works
deleted by creator
@@@@@@@.@@@
Pedantic but
vpn free
Boy I hope not
I’d like to hope they mean the VPN they pay for for other… uses. So it’s no extra money, cuz they already are using it at home to download Overwatch VR Porn.
There was an equal sign in between those words. Idk if it’s visible on your end but I see it on mine. That being said, the only free vpn I would use is protonvpn. Downside is it’s slow and unstable due to using a free plan.
I use https://temp-mail.org/en/ when signing up for one time stuff
Yeah I use simplelogin but for stuff I don’t care about like this I’d probably use that or spam keyboard for fake email
Not sure about this Walmart case but most you can write any email like random letters [email protected] or not even the Gmail part as long as it’s a valid looking mail and then works like you don’t even have to confirm the email or anything.
this is incorrect for the walmart case, next step is the password for the account, so you need to login or create a Walmart account for access
Oh yeah I see I mis read the prompt, I thought it was going with a enter you mail as alternative to using an account.
it’s not like they weren’t doing this before
You do realize they were almost certainly doing this before, right?
More of shock value of them announcing it and requiring an email now.
I am so happy to live in Sweden. All open WiFi networks here are free to use and requires no email or account (VPN recommended as always, though). Even at grocery stores.
That’s generally true in the US as well. That’s why people are so outraged by this.
So Walmart has done it again, huh?
This might be anecdotal tbh. I am in the US and I run into captive portals all the freaking time. It’s so annoying.
Lol, I’m jealous. Pretty much all public WiFi requires login in the UK.
I always give some bs emails in those authentication forms. Mainly because as a client who tries to connect, I do not have internet access, so I cannot verify my email before they give me the access. And when they gave me access, there is no power in the world to make me do that 🤷
Sometimes these login portals accept any old bogus email or burner account. They were logging your IP anyway so realistically doesnt add any more compromised dafa
I’m gonna assume that by IP you mean MAC address because your IP is something that gets negotiated with the AP when you connect, changes every time you connect and can’t really be linked back to your device at a public AP. In that case, the right move is to enable MAC randomization and connect through a VPN if you need to hide who you’re talking to or just rely on TLS if you don’t care that they know who you’re talking to and only need to hide what was said.
Yup, meant MAC/other hardware info lol
I’ve never agreed to this, but I might be on Walmart Wi-Fi from a long time ago. Once recently shopping at Walmart in person I got an email to my account saying something really creepy like, “rate your in store purchases” and sent me pictures of each item I bought IN STORE with an invitation to rate each. Also included my real name. This isn’t even the email I use for my online pickup orders.
Don’t all stores do this, particularly those with membership cards? Isn’t one of the main reasons for these cards to track your purchases in exchange for discounts, besides fostering loyalty? All major stores in my area operate like this. If you use scan-and-pay with a smartphone or another device, joining their membership program is mandatory. They monitor what, when, and where you buy, and sometimes even why. I don’t understand why this surprises some people.
Walmart is not a membership store. I never scanned a membership card, or put in any code or anything. I walked in with my child, browsed around a little bit, ended up purchasing a water gun and some potted flowers, paid at the self-scan, and walked out. I did use a debit card, but that card shouldn’t even be connected with the old account that I got an email for, as the card is years newer than the account.
Oh, sorry, I misunderstood. My bad. I thought the outrage was about them collecting data, which is normal. ; but that’s very strange. How did they connect your purchase/receipt to your email? Have you found out yet?
Try luck with throwaway email + VPN. Although it’s possible they’ll still be able to identity you if you’re the only one using that VPN on your local Walmart. At least they won’t be able to see your traffic.
Please, think about the improved products and services before making any rash decisions.
deleted by creator
Don’t forget the 100 boxes of Sudafed.
It’s Walmart, don’t forget that they sell ammo there too.
Brilliant service and add a VON om top it will make it no sweat.