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Google Admits To Collecting Emails and Passwords
wiredmikey writes "Alan Eustace, Google's Senior VP of Engineering & Research, just put up an interesting blog post on how Google will be creating stronger privacy controls. Right at the end is an interesting admission: that after Streetview WiFi Payload data was analyzed by regulators, their investigations revealed that some incredibly private information was harvested in some cases. Eustace noted that 'It's clear from those inspections that while most of the data is fragmentary, in some instances entire emails and URLs were captured, as well as passwords.'"
Google did not drive around for the purpose of harvesting passwords from unsecured WiFi connections. It inadvertently recorded some data that was broadcast and somewhere buried in it were some e-mail addresses and passwords.
If someone stands at their front door with bullhorn shouting out their social security numbers, salaries, sexual orientation and other private details, it isn't the responsibility of passers-by to cover their ears.
If I can be modded down for being a troll, can I be modded up for being an orc, or a balrog?
If you care, you have to encrypt a lot more than just your wifi. The guys at your ISP can see the stuff just the same as Google.
=~ s,(.*),<sarcasm>$1</sarcasm>,g if any_point_you_wish();
No. This is a case of lack of security on WIFI access points.
THERE is no reason why Google should be held accountable for DATA that is essentially floating in the middle of the street. NONE. The problem isn't GOOGLE doing anything wrong.
This is like the lady who dances naked in front of an open window and gets mad when people see her naked and start taking pictures. You want privacy, then close the shades and encrypt your data transmissions.
Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
Ok hang on a second. Let's slow down with the inflammatory headlines here, okay? The Google Street View cars picked up partial hashes of data from unsecured routers. And as far as Google "admitting" to collecting the data, that was something they announced last May. So put down your rape whistle, kdawson, there's nothing sinister going on here.
Basically, unencrypted wifi connections are like running around shouting your secrets to the world. If you care about privacy, it's up to you to encrypt your connection from end-to-end.
Google happened to listen in on this stuff due to a configuration change, but without malicious intent. Now think of how trivial it would be for your neighbor's kid to listen in on your communication, skim your login information, and mess up your life.
Don't attack Google. Educate wifi owners.
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