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aiolos

Sat 11 Feb, 2006


Be carefull with Google Desktop

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Google today announced a new <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"feature"<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> of its Google Desktop software that greatly increases the risk to consumer privacy.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> If a consumer chooses to use it,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> the new <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"Search Across Computers"<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> feature will store copies of the user's Word documents,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> PDFs,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> spreadsheets and other text-based documents on Google's own servers,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> to enable searching from any one of the user's computers.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> EFF urges consumers not to use this feature,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> because it will make their personal data more vulnerable to subpoenas from the government and possibly private litigants,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> while providing a convenient one-stop-shop for hackers who've obtained a user's Google password.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"Coming on the heels of serious consumer concern about government snooping into Google's search logs,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> it's shocking that Google expects its users to now trust it with the contents of their personal computers,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> said EFF Staff Attorney Kevin Bankston.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"Unless you configure Google Desktop very carefully,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> and few people will,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> Google will have copies of your tax returns,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> love letters,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> business records,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> financial and medical files,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> and whatever other text-based documents the Desktop software can index.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> 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,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> and in many cases you wouldn't even be notified in time to challenge it.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> Other litigants-<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>-your spouse,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> your business partners or rivals,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> whomever-<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>-could also try to cut out the middleman <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>(you)<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> and subpoena Google for your files.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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The privacy problem arises because the Electronic Communication Privacy Act of 1986,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> or ECPA,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> gives only limited privacy protection to emails and other files that are stored with online service providers-<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>-much less privacy than the legal protections for the same information when it's on your computer at home.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> And even that lower level of legal protection could disappear if Google uses your data for marketing purposes.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> Google says it is not yet scanning the files it copies from your hard drive in order to serve targeted advertising,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> but it hasn't ruled out the possibility,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> and Google's current privacy policy appears to allow it.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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source <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>:<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> h__p:<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>/<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>/www.hackinthebox.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=19309