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Google Releases Wi-Fi Sniffing Audit

Posted by Soulskill on from the no-harm-no-foul-right-guys dept.

adeelarshad82 writes "In the wake of the controversy surrounding its Street View data collection processes, Google has published an independent audit of its practices, prompting a London-based privacy group to accuse Google of a 'criminal act.' The report provided some more in-depth, technical details (PDF) about what Google has already admitted to doing: storing wireless data packet information that was collected over unencrypted networks. According to the report, Street View cars collect data sent over wireless networks, and associate this information with data from a GPS unit in the vehicles. The technology used, known as gslite, then parses and stores certain identifying information about these wireless networks to a hard drive. That information includes the MAC address and the SSID amongst other things like e-mails addresses and browser history." Google also sent a letter to House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders acknowledging their mistake and claiming they have not "conducted an analysis of the payload data in a way that allows us to know exactly what was collected."

3 of 198 comments (clear)

  1. I could protest, I suppose... by ibsteve2u · · Score: 3, Interesting

    ...or I could congratulate Google for making more people aware that just because they cannot visualize their wireless traffic does not mean that car or truck that is sitting outside isn't recording their "innocent" online chat with that hot babe they'd just as soon their spouse doesn't know about.

    Then again, perhaps I'm jaded because my very first job out of high school involved...eavesdropping. I know it is possible; I know it happens; I know encryption is your only friend.

    --
    Orwell: "In a Time of Universal Deceit, telling the Truth is a Revolutionary Act"
  2. Re:don't broadcast that stuff by mukund · · Score: 3, Interesting

    So if I were to set up a radio transmitter that transmitted certain info, can I then accuse whoever looks at that info of being a criminal?

    Yes, if you can prove malice.

    You have a private conversation about your MP3 collection with your friend in the park. A 3rd party picks it up with a mic. Don't broadcast that stuff?

    You route your data through your ISP. Your ISP records whatever it wants. Don't broadcast that stuff?

    You post a comment on Facebook. It's forever in Facebook's database. Don't broadcast that stuff?

    Your phone calls are recorded by your phone provider, who gives you a "convenient web-based interface to replay conversations whenever, wherever you want." (Gosh, all email is like this, and people are fine with it.). Don't broadcast that stuff?

    No, the data is really private to you and whoever you intended it for. Anyone who thinks otherwise is either stupid or malicious.

    --
    Banu
  3. Should be by spleen_blender · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Falsely accusing or indicating someone has committed a criminal act should be grounds for libel or slander.