GOOGLE COPIES YOUR HARD DRIVE.

[chimper]

Google Copies Your Hard Drive - Government Smiles in Anticipation.
Consumers Should Not Use New Google Desktop.

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.

http://www.eff.org/press/archives/2006/02/09

[NewHampshireDem]

1. Uh, no offense

But did you happen to notice the dateline on the article? It's more than 2 years old.

[Adsos Letter]

2. D'oh!

[fascisthunter]

7. who cares How Old This is?

It's new info to me, and I'm glad it was posted, so now I know. I'm sure there are others who feel the same.

[chimper]

9. The date don't matter dude ...

Being better informed as to what's actually happening IS what's important.

[PeaceNikki]

3. Google Desktop Fears Overblown?

http://searchenginewatch.com/showPage.html?page=3585121

The EFF is to be lauded for alerting users to potential privacy concerns and risks in using the program. It's important to think carefully about your privacy and the potential risks you're taking when using something like the search between computers feature. And you should take steps to make sure that you've fully examined the options that allow you to keep your data private, and take advantage of them.

But the EFF has a broader agenda, and its over-the-top call for a boycott of Google Desktop 3 is both disingenuous and does a disservice to a genuinely useful program. Don't get me wrong—I agree with the EFF's broader mission, just not the way they're tarring Google in pursuit of their goals. Another quote from the aforementioned post:

"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 "Many Internet innovations involve storing personal files on a service provider's computer, but under outdated laws, consumers who want to use these new technologies have to surrender their privacy rights.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."

The EFF's efforts are commendable and worthy of support. But the EFF's less-than-balanced approach in slamming Google over an advanced feature that requires deliberate enabling to use diminishes its credibility on this issue.

There's no need to boycott Google Desktop 3. Think carefully before enabling the program's advanced features, but take disingenuous claims like "Google copies your hard drive" with a substantial block of salt.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

4. Aren't there services that promote this?

So if you ever lose your hard drive you can retrieve your files online?

[kestrel91316]

5. When I got this laptop in Jan I inadvertently installed the Google desktop

and it was causing ALL sorts of problems with my computer, the poor thing sounded like it was running at top speed all the time. I guess it was busy copying my hard drive for Google/Bushco to spy on. I was really suspicious and got rid of it, and the computer runs 10x faster now.

I can TOTALLY believe this.

[goodinuf]

6. From the Google Desktop website

This quote form the Google Desktop website:
"After you install it, Google Desktop starts indexing the email, files and web history stored on your computer..."
No thank you.

On the other hand, Google Apps in an interesting service. However read the "fine print" aka user agreement.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

8. They REALLY push one to install this app

There's an install option included within virtually every software setup routine these days, pre-checked to allow the install. If one isn't paying attention or simply clicks through the setup routine with their eyes closed it gets installed. That in itself makes me wonder what the hell is in it that makes it so bloody vital to have.

I will NOT have it on my computer, and I do not allow it to install on any computer I work on.

[marmar]

10. BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING....

The Total Information Awareness Society....

War is Peace....