MakeUseOf: “When you set up your home Wi-Fi network, your router’s name—technically called the SSID (Service Set Identifier)—might seem like an innocent detail. After all, it’s just the name you see when looking for available networks, right? Not quite. That simple network name is actually a privacy minefield, and the information it reveals might shock you. Knowing how to identify a free Wi-Fi trap is one thing, but you should also be aware of the risks your own network can face…

The privacy implications get worse when you consider what happens with any captured data. There’s a publicly accessible database called WiGLE (Wireless Geographic Logging Engine) that has been collecting and mapping wireless network SSIDs since 2001. It now has over 350 million networks with their GPS coordinates. So if your SSID is remotely unique—say, you named it after your street name, a memorable phrase, or even your family surname—someone can search WiGLE, find that network’s location, and pinpoint your home address in minutes…”