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Online Search Engines Lift Cover Of Privacy

Rican writes "MSNBC has an interesting article about how 'Googledorks' are using the powerful search engine to do searches across the web for sensitive and/or private information. Some of this information includes 'Medical records, bank account numbers, students' grades, and the docking locations of 804 U.S. Navy ships, submarines and destroyers.'"

3 of 460 comments (clear)

  1. Google threatens privacy and national security by ObviousGuy · · Score: 0, Troll

    If it is true that the locations of military deployments can be traced using a search engine like Google, the possibility exists that terrorists are using this information to plot further attacks. The USS Cole, which was blown up in the Port of Aden, was tracked in a similar manner by Al Queda bombers.

    Likewise, sites like Mapblast now provide aerial photographs of the entire United States and parts of Mexico and Canada, all available with the click of a button. How can we not hold Mapblast (how's that name for irony!) partially responsible for the Two Towers tragedy when several aerial photographs from the site were found in Atta's car?

    Search engines have an important part to play. I use Google every day to find information related to my job and for my own personal amusement. However, my job isn't to find ways to circumvent and undermine the U.S. government, so I'm a safe customer. How many people out there aren't as safe as I? Shouldn't Google take precautions to make sure that sensitive data doesn't fall into the wrong hands?

    --
    I have been pwned because my /. password was too easy to guess.
  2. All the news that MSNBC reports... by klubar · · Score: 0, Troll

    Is slashdot just becoming a MSNBC news highligher? This is the second story today reporting on an MSNBC report. Why not just read MSNBC?

  3. Re:Kazaa and Gnutella are cooler by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    The parent poster is proof that Linux users are terrorist deviants. For those who don't know nmap, the command will scan random hosts and try to find Windows machines with port 445 open. This is the port that Windows file sharing (SMB) uses. The history of the creator of nmap, fyodor, is also cause for concern. He committed a federal offense by hacking into SumDeusExMachina's box. Sir, have you considered that using nmap means that you condone criminal acts?