Google admits wi-fi data collection blunder

Discussion in 'News and Current Events' started by doctorie, May 14, 2010.

  1. doctorie
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    Im not so sure it was a blunder...more the case of deniabilty
    Oh ,if we get caught, we can just say it was a blunder!!!

    my bold and outline ...what i find to be..less than convincing


    00:29 GMT, Saturday, 15 May 2010 01:29 UK

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8684110.stm

     
  2. Saffaya
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    W ... T ... F ....

    Why the hell do the google cars have WiFi receivers in the first place ???
     
  3. Seven
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    I wouldn't expect them not to. Meh, when it comes down to it, it's all out there, go to a public place and use Wi-fi unsecured and expect the worst. If Google trashes this stuff it's over, if they don't and it gets out, massive lawsuits. Pretty much their choice ATM.
     
  4. doctorie
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    more shit hits the fan for google over this...europe..especialy germany..is very upset.

    this quote from an article also raises my suspicions this is not so innocent..germany is not so convinced either..

    http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/16/technology/16google.html

     
  5. Saffaya
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    What was their motto again ?
    Do no evil ?
     
  6. doctorie
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    for real..this will be the most serious blow yet to thier rep....they are in massive spin control now.
     
  7. Saffaya
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    It was already my policy to block cookies from google.com, but this will make me look for another search engine entirely.
     
  8. decoyninja
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    is that a common thing? to mistakenly gather data? :eek:
     
  9. Awordofcaution
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    i dont see how this makes google bad?

    this would be like me yelling to a friend "im a little attracted to pat sharp" at the top of my voice across a crowded room, then raging at anyone who heard me for listening in on a private conversation...

    common sense... encrypt your data or you forfeit the right to bitch when someone "listens in"
     
  10. Saffaya
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    You've got a problem.
     
  11. Awordofcaution
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    did you even read the rest of my post?

    anything you do on an unsecured network is no longer private, so no breach of privacy occured.

    id be pretty offended if google had spied on what i was doing over my secured network, but if i had actively openend my routers config page and removed the wpa encryption (which you would have to do, routers supplyed by isps are encrypted by default, and any router you buy will have setup instructions detailing wpa setup) then i would understand than im effectively sat on my doorstep with my laptop yelling to the population at large, my internet activities.
     
    Last edited: Jun 1, 2010
  12. Brownmccoy
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    If you use a free program/site, expect them to collect data. Its what I've always accepted.

    And he doesn't have a problem... he simply has a different view than you. He seems to be among the "doesn't give a shit" easily persuasion (like I am), and you seem to be offended/get uppity over a fair amount of stuff. Its simply a opinion on stuff.
     
  13. Awordofcaution
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    merged with above post
     
    Last edited: Jun 1, 2010
  14. No_Smoking
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    I'm kinda with Awordofcaution on this one.

    open networks are just that... open. if you leave it open, expect the worst. it could be seen a little different than a conversation in a crowded room.. being that, not only words are being exchanged. still though, if you use an open network, you know full well it can be snatched.
    or like leaving your curtains open... peeps will be looking in. if you don't like it, close them =P

    do I think its wrong for someone to go randomly collecting this information? nah, its like someone randomly snapping pictures from a moving car.. which is done quite often. and would seem wrong in its self to prevent someone from doing so.
     
    Last edited: Jun 1, 2010
  15. Vandiego
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    I agree with your statement completely. Nothing on the web or in the world should be free. If your using a free pg/website your data is how you pay for the service. If you put The information out there it's your job to control where it goes.