FourSquare is already gaining steam amongst geeks and non-geeks alike. It’s a located-based service that allows users to check in at various locations using their cellphones, earn points and even become the “Mayor” of some locations. Back in July, Jennifer Van Grove at Mashable.com suggested that FourSquare could become the next Twitter and earlier this month Pete Cashmore said on CNN.com that located-based apps will rule 2010. FourSquare apps are already available for Android and iPhone. A Blackberry app is in the works. Rumor has it that SocialScope’s alpha now supports FourSquare. While it certainly looks promising for FourSquare…
…what will happen when some hacks the service to win a double porterhouse at the best steak place in town? That’s where I think this service could be heading… thus, ruining it for the folks who are simply looking for a way to integrate their online social networks with their real social networks and earn cool prizes at the same time.
FourSquare relies on a cellphone GPS capabilities to send location information. Spoofing your longitude and latitude from a cellphone probably isn’t that difficult. There were 290 FourSquare check-ins at the DEFCON Hacker Conference this year. Presumably, it’s on the hacker radar. No longer will it be about getting “root” access to a computer. It will be about chowing on the best double porterhouse.
Location can be reported a number of different ways. While GPS is one method, unique QR Codes could be generated at various locations that encode data (up to 2,953 bytes). The problem here is that someone could merely snap a photo of the QR Code and post it up to TwitPic for everyone else to enjoy. Perhaps RFID tags will be used when RFID reader cellphones are released. Rumors are swirling that the next-gen iPhone will sport RFID readers. Perhaps that would provide the highest level of security for located-based apps like FourSquare. Keep in mind that many corporations rely on RFID technology for swipe cards in the workplace. RFID tags could also be combined with GPS or QR Codes to even better protect the double porterhouse.
Maybe FourSquare (and whatever follows… some say Google’s QR Code system is a precursor to a competing product) knows what they’re doing and the system will be protected. But, keep in mind that as the prizes for Mayors improve, the likelihood that someone will cheat the system rises. I think the vast majority of FourSquarers are looking to simply have fun, locate friends and brag about being Mayor of their favorite haunts. Nonetheless, a few bad apples could destroy the rewards system unless FourSquare stays a step ahead.
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