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Google To Encrypt All Keyword Searches

Posted by Soulskill on from the did-you-mean-*8ahd2$-#-I3oEf7? dept.

Hugh Pickens DOT Com writes "Danny Sullivan reports that in the past month, Google has quietly made a change aimed at encrypting all search activity to provide 'extra protection' for searchers, and possibly to block NSA spying activity. In October 2011, Google began encrypting searches for anyone who was logged into Google. The reason given was privacy. Now, Google has flipped on encryption for people who aren't even signed-in. In June, Google was accused of cooperating with the NSA to give the agency instant and direct access to its search data through the PRISM spying program, something the company has strongly denied. 'I suspect the increased encryption is related to Google's NSA-pushback,' writes Sullivan. 'It may also help ease pressure Google's feeling from tiny players like Duck Duck Go making a "secure search" growth pitch to the media.'"

5 of 224 comments (clear)

  1. Illusion of privacy by NoImNotNineVolt · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Encrypting the connection between Google and the users isn't going to accomplish anything when the NSA already has full access to Google's servers.
    Too little, too late. Way too late.

    --
    Chuuch. Preach. Tabernacle.
    1. Re:Illusion of privacy by geek · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Encrypting the connection between Google and the users isn't going to accomplish anything when the NSA already has full access to Google's servers.

      Too little, too late. Way too late.

      Google has been very adamant that the NSA does not have access to their servers. I don't know if I believe them or not but that is the premise Google is working off of.

      It also means nothing when they cowtow to the national security letters like they do.

  2. One down... by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Thing about DuckDuckGo is... they promise I'm anonymous to them. There's value in that, at least to me.

    Google's move is certainly welcome, but all it means is - going forward - only Google will be collecting my information as opposed to Google + NSA.

    --
    #DeleteChrome
  3. Bullshit PR is Bullshit by Guppy06 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Google has quietly made a change aimed at encrypting all search activity to provide 'extra protection' for searchers, and possibly to block NSA spying activity.

    What would encryption do when the NSA has access to the servers?

    'I suspect the increased encryption is related to Google's NSA-pushback,'

    Except that pushback itself is also pure political theater. Funny how these court challenges only started happening when stuff started to become public.

    Google has made their bed. Let them lie in it.

  4. Re:Power Implications by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    According to one of the head Google staffers responsible for their SSL/TLS operations, it's pretty much a non-issue: https://www.imperialviolet.org/2010/06/25/overclocking-ssl.html

    It basically ended up adding less than 1% to the CPU overhead for their servers, didn't require special hardware, and didn't involve any new systems.