Think about this scenario
Is there a way to have semi-private APRS data? I can let some people know where I'm at, but not the whole world? I can imagine a situation where I'm going on a long trip, want my family to know where I'm at, but not let everyone know I'm a long way from home.
Seems to me that once you make your radio ID public, anybody can track you any time you have the unit sending data.
As a corollary question, why are the FAA records public? The public APRS info wouldn't be a problem if the aircraft registration records weren't online.
Dave, I am with you on concerns about giving the public too much information about my where abouts. However, I would like to interject some thoughts that I am not sure everyone is considering. Perhaps this has crossed your mind and would be the reason you bring this question up. Whether this is so or not, I will say it is the reason I would be concerned about that information being public.
So here is my concerns about the public tracking of my where abouts for every second of time I am out and about flying, or driving, or hiking, or generally just enjoying the **** out of my freedom to roam. Lets say I and the wife decide to take a long leisurely week long vacation in my fast flying RV. We travel across several states over the span of 7 days where we visit friends or relatives hundreds and even thousands of miles away.
All the time doing so we have our fancy dancy APRS tracking software broadcasting every move we make along the way. Now this seems like a good idea lest we find ourselves in dire need of being rescued because we put down unexpectedly in some remote area of the country. Hooray, we are saved in very short order because someone out there was watching us, noticed our predicament and came to our rescue.
Now however, I cannot help but think about the negative side to all of that public attention my tracking system brings to my travels. You see, not only is that good Samaritan out there looking out for us, just in case, but also there is that savvy bad guy who is watching my every move also. You see he just happens to also know all about these tracking devices. He has discovered that they make wonderful tools for spying out for potential marks. So he finds out from the public records of my ham operators registration along with my airplane registration where I live. And, since my tracking system is also on a public website for anyone to observe he can log on from anywhere he chooses to follow my every move.
Now since Mr. Bad Guy can easily pull up a website and follow my every move, he instantly knows I am no where near my house, and for sure am not going to be back there anytime soon. So, viola! He has an instant and cheap mechanism for making sure he is not going to be interrupted while he makes his way to my house and helps himself to all of my wonderful tools, my wife's prized necklace and any other thing he might deem of value I own.
That makes me just a bit nervous about the instant public information I am going to be openly giving out to anyone and everyone. It would only take a minuscule amount of effort for someone to discover that I am on an extended vacation! Come one, come all! The party is at Steve's house!
Now this may sound a bit too paranoid for some but I am not sure I am ready to have everyone in the world know instantly where I am at any given moment.
Just my .02 worth.
Live Long and Prosper!