 |
fantalkback2talkhosts.myfreeforum.org
A multi-talk-host clearing house...
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
admin
Sternly Sacked, Savaged, and HanNUTized
Joined: 09 Nov 2005
Posts: 422
|
 Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 10:13 pm Post subject: New Google Desktop Spyware? |
 |
|
How would you know if Google had installed something on your computer?
| SternFanNetwork poster wrote: | Google Copies Your Hard Drive - Government Smiles in Anticipation
Consumers Should Not Use New Google Desktop
San Francisco - Google today announced a new "feature" of its Google Desktop software that greatly increases the risk to consumer privacy. 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, to enable searching from any one of the user's computers. EFF urges consumers not to use this feature, because it will make their personal data more vulnerable to subpoenas from the government and possibly private litigants, while providing a convenient one-stop-shop for hackers who've obtained a user's Google password.
"Coming on the heels of serious consumer concern about government snooping into Google's search logs, it's shocking that Google expects its users to now trust it with the contents of their personal computers," said EFF Staff Attorney Kevin Bankston. "If you use the Search Across Computers feature and don't configure Google Desktop very carefully—and most people won't—Google will have copies of your tax returns, love letters, business records, financial and medical files, and whatever other text-based documents the Desktop software can index. The government could then demand these personal files with only a subpoena rather than the search warrant it would need to seize the same things from your home or business, and in many cases you wouldn't even be notified in time to challenge it. Other litigants—your spouse, your business partners or rivals, whoever—could also try to cut out the middleman (you) and subpoena Google for your files."
The privacy problem arises because the Electronic Communication Privacy Act of 1986, or ECPA, gives only limited privacy protection to emails and other files that are stored with online service providers—much less privacy than the legal protections for the same information when it's on your computer at home. And even that lower level of legal protection could disappear if Google uses your data for marketing purposes. Google says it is not yet scanning the files it copies from your hard drive in order to serve targeted advertising, but it hasn't ruled out the possibility, and Google's current privacy policy appears to allow it.
"This Google product highlights a key privacy problem in the digital age," said Cindy Cohn, EFF's Legal Director. "Many Internet innovations involve storing personal files on a service provider's computer, but under outdated laws, consumers who want to use these new technologies have to surrender their privacy rights. If Google wants consumers to trust it to store copies of personal computer files, emails, search histories and chat logs, and still 'not be evil,' it should stand with EFF and demand that Congress update the privacy laws to better reflect life in the wired world."
For more on Google's data collection:
http://news.com.com/FAQ+When+Goog...d/2100-1025_3-6034666.html?tag=nl http://www.boston.com/news/nation.../21/google_subpoena_roils_the_web http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/art...rchive/2006/01/20/EDGEPGPHA61.DTL http://news.com.com/%20Bill+would...nal+info/2100-1028_3-6036951.html
Contact:
Kevin Bankston
Staff Attorney
Electronic Frontier Foundation
bankston@eff.org |
_________________
"We grow too soon old and too late smart..." quoted by Michael Savage... God Bless America CAN be a sincere prayer... God relieve me of my obsessions to always be right and to SHARE... |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
NewsGuy
VIP Pod Host
Joined: 29 Jan 2006
Posts: 399
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2006 12:52 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Yeah I smelled something bad when this product came out a while back, so I never used it... from what I can tell as long as you don't download and install it you don't have any problems. I'd be wary of G-Mail too.
_________________
 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
MajorMic
Faithful Listener
Joined: 21 Nov 2005
Posts: 147
|
| Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 10:07 am Post subject: |
|
|
It's the old convenience vs. perceived personal liberties question. But then if you're not doing anything, why worry.
I wouldn't want my financials and personal data archived online though. Is there a list of Google and other search engine related programs we need to look for and delete? The way things get packaged together now, it's hard to keep track of what is installed. I haven't felt comfortable with understanding the workings of Windows since Win 3.1.  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
NewsGuy
VIP Pod Host
Joined: 29 Jan 2006
Posts: 399
|
| Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 10:41 am Post subject: |
|
|
| MajorMic wrote: | | It's the old convenience vs. perceived personal liberties question. But then if you're not doing anything, why worry. |
I've never understood that rationale. That's like saying it's ok for a peeping tom to look at you while you're fully dressed, or giving up some of your rights to secure your freedom. Or war is peace. Get it?
_________________
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Join! (free) 
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
