Forum Moderators: goodroi
At the time, Google said it only collected "fragments" of personal Web traffic as it passed by, because its Wi-Fi equipment automatically changes channels five times a second. However, with Wi-Fi networks operating at up to 54Mbps, it always seemed likely that those one-fifth of a second recordings would contain more than just "fragments" of personal data.
That has now been confirmed by CNIL, which since June 4 has been examining Wi-Fi traffic and other data provided by Google on two hard disks and over a secure data connection to its servers.
"It's still too early to say what will happen as a result of this investigation," CNIL said Thursday.
"However, we can already state that [...] Google did indeed record email access passwords [and] extracts of the content of email messages," CNIL said.
... according to the French National Commission on Computing and Liberty (CNIL)
[edited by: engine at 9:27 am (utc) on Jun 19, 2010]
[edit reason] extended quote [/edit]
“I want to build products that are so high in value to the users that this debate about privacy is important but not critical,” says Singhal. “I don’t want the best minds in the world to only think about privacy, I want them to think about the products the world needs.”
how Google feels about your privacy and your rights.
If someone is using an open wifi without any security, plain text passwords, no VPN or SSL, then they don't give two red cents about privacy or security and have no room to complain.
Those criminals purposely targeted him based on what he gave out.
Yeah, the same argument could be used for why it should be legal to listen in on, record, use a mobile phone conversation, because AFAIK it's unencrypted too
If you don't lock your front door I get to rob you and you have no room to complain? Hooray!
The double standards of the 'got what they deserved' argument are astounding
Dress to discourage unwanted attention from muggers. Some things that might make you a more likely target are:
Dressing like a tourist. If you're obviously not a local, you're more likely to be targeted, as tourists tend to be less aware and carry cash on them.
Wearing obvious, flashy jewelery or watches.
Carrying a large purse, briefcase or backpack. Anything that might contain valuables makes you a potentially more lucrative target.
2Stick to well-lighted and well populated areas. Muggers are far less likely to target people where there are others around or they are likely to be seen.
3Know where you are going. Muggers often prey on tourists or people who are lost. If you are in an unfamiliar place, learn the route you wish to take.
4Avoid dangerous parts of town. If possible, try not to walk through dangerous parts of town, especially at times of day when there are few others out. Bad neighborhoods with little foot traffic are especially risky. If you aren't sure, talk to locals to learn what places aren't safe.
5Walk with a sense of purpose. If you are wandering aimlessly or look lost you are more likely to become a target.
6Travel in groups. Muggers are much more likely to go after individuals than groups.
7Stay alert for possible dangers. You can minimize the likelihood of being surprised by doing the following:
Pay attention to your surroundings and avoid distractions. You become an easier target when do things like listen to music on headphones, talk on the phone, read a map or anything else that takes your attention away from your surroundings.
Walk near the curb, facing traffic. This gives you a better angle to see in doorways or alleys and a better path to escape if attacked.
8Take action if you sense danger or are attacked.
If you believe you are being followed, head directly toward a populated area, cafe, bar or other populated place.
Make noise or call for help. Don't be afraid to draw attention to yourself.
Consider defending yourself if you have the skills or a weapon. Pepper spray can be a very effective deterrent and is easily carried on your person. Fighting back does come with an increased risk of harm to your person, however.
You certainly wouldn't walk around with a t-shirt that says "MY ATM CODE IS 6432" so why would you broadcast your passwords in plain text?
See, there are steps that can be done to help prevent against being mugged.
One takes eyes to read, and the other takes quite a bit of sophistication. One takes time, skill, talent, or money to find someone to develop, the other takes eyes and the ability to read English, or access to someone who does, but it's totally justified in your mind, so whatever.
If someone is using an open wifi without any security, plain text passwords, no VPN or SSL, then they don't give two red cents about privacy or security and have no room to complain.
Just because I leave my window shades open, it does not give you permission to be a peeping tom.
[edited by: youfoundjake at 12:07 am (utc) on Jun 20, 2010]
[edited by: Sgt_Kickaxe at 12:21 am (utc) on Jun 20, 2010]
Sorry, very little of any of that.
criminals do it all the time
Google did far less, the whole thing is idiotic.
I'm not sure why people are arguing in favor of flawed insecure wifi technology because no matter how many arguments you make or laws you pass because...
IMO, Germany got it right when the German count ruled open wifi effectively illegal.
Data protection authorities in Spain and Germany have also asked Google for access to Wi-Fi traffic data intercepted in their countries...
Imagine that the transmissions you make on a wifi network to the sites you visit are like having a real-life conversation with someone on the porch of your house or the front yard.
As Google’s StreetView cars were like someone driving slowly down the street, recording all the front yard conversations that they could hear, as they went past.
Because the car is constantly moving, only a tiny bit of each conversation was being recorded. That’s the first thing that should be reassuring in all this — it’s not as if Google heard minutes or hours worth of what you were “saying” on the web.
Second, Google couldn’t understand all the conversations it was hearing. That’s because while the data was going out on an open wireless network, the conversation itself was encrypted. This is typically what happens if you go to a bank web site — a secure connection is established. It’s also what happens if you go to Google itself to read Gmail or use some other services.
In the metaphor, it’s as if some people were talking on the street were having a conversation in a language that only they and the other person could understand.
Third, there were some conversations that Google couldn’t understand at all, on wifi networks that had security running. In these cases, it’s as if Google could see that people were talking on their front lawn, but all they could hear was a mumble, nothing intelligible.
There’s no doubt Google has harvested a huge amount of data. Wifi “conversations” have been recorded since 2007, according to today’s blog post. But only snippets of those conversations have been stored, making the information fairly useless if it were to be mined — something Google doesn’t appear to have ever done nor plans to do, as it seeks to destroy the data.
Anyone here ever had your CC Info stolen when your card has been in your possession the entire time and woken up one day to find your bank account cleaned out?
Google did indeed record email access passwords
That's a non sequitur example because credit cards are separate from bank accounts.
saying open wifi is a good thing
