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EFF Warns Not to Use Google Desktop

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the big-brother-is-listening dept.

neelm writes "The EFF is asking users not to use the new version of Google Desktop that has a 'search across computers' option. The option will store copies of documents on your hard drive on Google servers, where the government or anyone who wants to may subpoena (i.e. no search warrants) the information. Google says it is not yet scanning the files for advertising, but it hasn't ruled out the possibility."

3 of 562 comments (clear)

  1. Feature must be enabled first by mineavatar · · Score: 5, Informative

    The "search across computers" options is DISABLED by default. The user has to turn it on, and only then is any data stored on Google servers (and then it is only stored on the servers for no more than a month). CNN was repeating the same inaccurate statement this morning.

  2. Re:store copies? by NewKimAll · · Score: 5, Informative

    The actual facts are the following:

    Search Across Computers also has the following preferences, found on the Desktop Preferences page:

    * Name this computer: This name will be displayed on remote computers that are part of the same Google account group.
    * My other computers can search this computer's:
    o Documents and web history
    o Documents only
    o Web history only
    * Clear my files from Google: In order to share your indexed files between your computers, we first copy this content to Google Desktop servers located at Google. This is necessary, for example, if one of your computers is turned off or otherwise offline when new or updated items are indexed on another of your machines. We store this data temporarily on Google Desktop servers and automatically delete older flies, and your data is never accessible by anyone doing a Google search. You can learn more by reading the Google Desktop privacy policy.

    While your data is automatically deleted from our servers, you can use the Clear my Files from Google button to manually remove all your files from Google Desktop servers. Note that if these files haven't yet been copied to your other computers, clicking this button will prevent you from finding them when you search from your other computers. The files will, of course, still be searchable from their computer of origin.


    So it appears that your data will be on a Google Server temporarily. Also, is it really feasible that Google would even want to maintain a SAN Array capable of storing EVERY document for EVERY user of this thing? Why would they want to waste their money collecting everybody's garbage?
    --
    Want to share a file across the network between your computers? Just use FTP or PCAnywhere. I wish that VNC software would allow file transfers (hint, hint)

  3. Re:Double standards? by NetRAVEN5000 · · Score: 5, Informative
    Can someone please explain why information sharing (the Internet) is a good idea? Can someone please explain why making your files available to others (the Internet, file-sharing programs like BitTorrent) is a good idea?

    And can someone please explain to parent why it's a good idea to RTFA? It specifically says, "If a consumer chooses to use it, the new "Search Across Computers" feature will store copies of the user's Word documents, PDFs, spreadsheets and other text-based documents on Google's own servers".

    If you don't want Google searching your files, quit your bitching and select "No, thanks, don't upload my files" or whatever.

    --
    www.linuxpenguin.net