Tuesday, November 19, 2013


In 2010 when Google disclosed that it had collected Wi-Fi data from unsecured wireless networks as its “Street View” vehicles crawled major cities worldwide, photographing buildings for a ground-level view on Google Maps.  Big Internet companies like Google and Facebook frequently push the boundaries of user privacy. But the “Wi-Spy” case was particularly alarming to consumer advocates, because it raised the specter of Google’s “Street View” cars — which had already raised privacy concerns — roaming around major cities vacuuming up personal data, including snippets of browser activity, email traffic, and even medical and financial records, from the Wi-Fi networks of unsuspecting users. Although Google insisted that it never used any of the data in its products, the episode struck many as creepy — and inspired many consumers to encrypt their Wi-Fi networks.

What if you are in a coffee shop and while you are login on you 49er account somebody is stealing your login, password and some of your information? Well, this happen in Washington DC while the mapping and camera car from Google was passing by Washington they weren’t only recording the street but they were also stealing a lot of private information such as password. We are not secure anywhere, there is not privacy. This is why you always have to secure yourself and your information. Secure our information it’s really difficult when technology is advancing so fast. We can't trust anyone with our information.

[JR1] http://business.time.com/2013/03/13/did-google-get-off-easy-with-7-million-wi-spy-settlement/

http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2013/09/11/google_wi_fi_snooping_case_shows_company_s_contradictory_views_on_privacy.html

 


4 comments:

  1. What is a good way to "secure" your information? I have to admit I don't think twice before sitting in starbucks on their network and enter in my passwords, is this putting me at risk of someone stealing my information?

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  2. Big data equals big dollars and unfortunately that means that the boundaries of individual privacy are going to constantly be pushed to the limit. Maybe, in the absence of laws that protect us from this type of invasion into our personal data, we should invest in a service like "Lifelock". That way if someone does get their hands on our personal information, at least we have a service in our corner that will help us repair any damage that is done.

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  3. I never actually think about it either. I naturally assume if I'm in a business. I'll be okay. Especially with advances in technology it is making it easier than ever to be hacked.

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  4. Its hard to be so worried about keeping information private. People have gotten much better at protecting their own WIFI over the year but is there any precaution we can take at a Starbucks, for example? Also, does anyone know why Google was collecting that information?

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