Google Snooped Emails & Passwords From Cars
They got away with more than just a view of your street.
Canadian privacy watchdogs last week confirmed that Google had stopped collecting wireless data in its Street View cars. The issue was of much debate as the cars were previously sponges for wireless data.
While Google is no longer tapping into wireless signals, the company admitted that the information collected was more detailed that originally thought. Google wrote in a blog post that it had also collected entire emails, URLs, and even passwords that were flying around the Wi-Fi networks.
Alan Eustace, Senior VP, Engineering & Research at Google wrote:
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to update one point in my May blog post. When I wrote it, no one inside Google had analyzed in detail the data we had mistakenly collected, so we did not know for sure what the disks contained. Since then a number of external regulators have inspected the data as part of their investigations (seven of which have now been concluded). 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. We want to delete this data as soon as possible, and I would like to apologize again for the fact that we collected it in the first place. We are mortified by what happened, but confident that these changes to our processes and structure will significantly improve our internal privacy and security practices for the benefit of all our users.
This admission could have privacy folks even more skeptical of what happens at Google.
"We work hard at Google to earn your trust, and we’re acutely aware that we failed badly here," Eustace said.
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They don't need to get this info from my WIFI, they already have it.
"This admission could have privacy folks even more skeptical of what happens at Google."
And yet these "privacy folks" have nothing to say about these "victims" operating unencrypted WiFi networks?
"We work hard at Google to earn your trust, and we’re acutely aware that we failed badly here," Eustace said.
Typo
I think Google is up to no good but they are smart enough to cover their tracks and are good liars! as are any major company seeking to gain an advantage over the rest.
^ there is no typo. its Acutely, adverb of acute
i prefer that a company apologizes for a mistake rather than calling it a "feature" ...*cough* apple...
FAIL!
How do you mistakenly collect data of this kind? Google couldn't figure out that they were capturing and storing data from wireless signals? That's default behavior for the metal in the cars they were using? It just happened, somehow,unknown? What????
If steve jobs was the culprit it would be as followed:
"It's not the google vans that are the problem, people are just (metaphorically) holding their wifi networks the wrong way. It's the consumers fault"
Hey wait that's actually a valid response...oh shi
I heard about this back in August/September on NPR...apparently it started in Germany and an investigation was done which led to the US.
p.s. Lol at the clever phrase at the top.
Meh...they get your info the minute you go to google.com so it doesnt really matter anyway
why would anyone send password openly to everyone?
Google knew what they were getting and in my opinion should have been straight forward about it and fixed the issue as soon as possible. It is also a wake up call for those who run unsecured wireless networks where anyone with a more sinister scheme could have wrecked havock.
I'm still waiting for a "Do not log my searches" button and maybe a"do not log my IP button"
I can't see how someone who values their privacy can use an unencrypted network.
I can't see how someone who values their privacy can use an unencrypted network.
The www is unencrypted as well. Let's argue ethics instead.
What's with all this spam?
Anyways, Google also works hard to dodge taxes and yet some on this site still think MS are they bad guys. WTF?
Holy crap that's one freakingly long spam. Am I the only one noticing decrease in comments? I'm sure this spam ain't stranger to that phenomenon...
Someone's entire life has just been translated into spam.
Yes, the spam is getting horrible here... TOMS, you better fix it, or your viewers will go elsewhere. I stopped watching tv because of the commercials, and I will certainly stop visiting these articles because of the spam.
Makes me worry about what Android is harvesting
What's with all this spam?Anyways, Google also works hard to dodge taxes and yet some on this site still think MS are they bad guys. WTF?
Aren't we all? Seriously, every company on the planet works for that
I don't understand what Google did wrong. They drove down public streets collecting pictures and wireless data that anyone could run around doing. Is it Google's fault that we haven't made our wireless networks more secure? No...
Why hasn't anyone discussed this issue from that angle? Considering Google is surprised by the data they collected I think everyone else should be surprised as well and someone needs to do something about it. There's no reason it should be so easy for someone to just drive around and collect data like that.
If all the collected data is from unsecured networks then that's a different story I guess...but it seems like the data collected is from networks that were properly secured as well? I really don't know....
@kezix_69 : I completely agree with you. The only thing that doesn't make sense is how they could have "accidently" gathered such data. They must have had equipment and custom software to gather data without intervention from the driver, so that software probably had code designed for this purpose. It's fishy at best, but not illegal.
Oh noes, I just realized that when I go outside and yell, people can HEAR ME! This is really going to mess up my "shouting people's medical records at them over the phone while standing under a tree" business!
Makes me worry about what Android is harvesting
Brains. Androids are harvesting brains.
"This admission could have privacy folks even more skeptical of what happens at Google."And yet these "privacy folks" have nothing to say about these "victims" operating unencrypted WiFi networks?
Exactly. Any one who's running an open network or WEP based Wii deserve to get hacked imo.
Seriously... you use a wireless network, which by its definition is sending information through the air where its available for other people who have standard, off-the-shelf wireless equipment, and you don't do anything at all to secure your wireless network and you complain because someone was able to get your information? No malicious intent was needed, you broadcast your information to the world.
"Don't be evil" Ironyyyyyy!
They don't need to get this info from my WIFI, they already have it.
nailed it!
The www is unencrypted as well. Let's argue ethics instead.
That is not actually correct I am guessing you meant http:// is unencrypted https://www can be encrypted.
I don't believe Google decrypted encrypted communications. I would think of this as if your neighbor was in a rock band and practiced out of his garage and had the door open and you recorded them with your video camera which was able to record them playing as well as the music, however if they had just closed their door you might have heard some of the music but wouldn't known what they where doing behind the closed door.
These people that had there data harvested are blaring it out into the world for everyone to see and its not muffled at all and Google drove around with the record button on and caught whatever stupid thing people where doing.
I've never bought into the whole "Don't be Evil" propaganda. I've always seen google as just another company whose main purpose is simple: to make money. That being said, I actually think it's kind' a cool to see someone step up and admit they screwed up. The world can't get enough of two things Corporate responsibility and accountability. So in a sense I see this as something positive.