I Was Right 3 Years Ago: Never Trust Google

[jayson]

I have never liked google... they always seemed hell bent on being evil, despite their company slogan: "Dont be evil". Let's face it, any corporation as large as google will always want more more more. Here is a perfect example of a quasi-capitalistic quasi-communist approach to big business:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12188577/

Again, here google will be gathering large amounts of data to store as they always do. I wouldn't trust google for a minute.

While I never would use free wifi internet offered by google, it just goes to show you how they are setting things up to essentially make people DEPEND on them like microsoft did... and not a lot of people like microsoft anymore.

[Rhino]

Uh, dude, there's nothing new about having to accept advertising in exchange for "free" service, and anyone can (and do) track wi-fi connections. Methinks you are under the mistaken impression that only Google will do this, when just about everyone does.

[jayson]

My point wasn't about the advertising, but I bet damned well that they will log where you go and what you do while on the internet, because to google, knowledge is power.

I am aware that an IP address on such a large network would be near impossible to track down to WHO EXACTLY it belongs to, but I bet they will have you use custom software to connect that will designate a static internal IP addy thats registered with your google account login name, which I believe you will have to create in order to gain access. This is all speculation of course, but the ramifications would be obvious. Google can now log where you have been, what you have done, what you have seen, and link it all back to your google account... and you cutely do it on your own recognisance.

That being said, I would rather take my laptop and a network sniffer and go find an open network, anyways. But thats me.. There are probably millions of people out there who wouldnt mind giving google all that information.

[Rhino]

My point wasn't about the advertising, but I bet damned well that they will log where you go and what you do while on the internet, because to google, knowledge is power.They could do that now, anywhere, and so could any ISP. My point is that the capability is nothing new.

I am aware that an IP address on such a large network would be near impossible to track down to WHO EXACTLY it belongs to, but I bet they will have you use custom software to connect that will designate a static internal IP addy thats registered with your google account login name, which I believe you will have to create in order to gain access. This is all speculation of course, but the ramifications would be obvious. Google can now log where you have been, what you have done, what you have seen, and link it all back to your google account... and you cutely do it on your own recognisance.I didn't interpret any of it as requiring a Google account. In fact, the SF desire is that anyone from anywhere would be able to access the system for free, presumably without registration. SF will 'own' the system. Google is only the winning bidder to install it.

As far as static IPs go, they can also do that already, as can any ISP, the point being that any ISP could track your activity now if they wanted to. Assuming Google isn't already doing that, and I seriously doubt they are, there's no reason to assume they suddenly would want to in SF. They merely want to tailor the advertising to the location just like many GPS units will announce the services and stores available at the nearest exit on a highway. I highly doubt they have any interest whatsoever in tracking the movements of individual people, nor any desire to. What you say they might do, they can already do. Why would they want to? I wouldn't put it past the city of SF though.

That being said, I would rather take my laptop and a network sniffer and go find an open network, anyways. But thats me.. There are probably millions of people out there who wouldnt mind giving google all that information.I doubt it. Millions probably wouldn't know, but they likely would care if they did, unless they felt there was an overriding need for it. I doubt many would consider advertising an overriding need.

I personally would like to see something like the Intel processor ID, the option of turning it on or off, with the default being off. They don't listen to me though.

[jayson]

1) They could do that now, anywhere, and so could any ISP. My point is that the capability is nothing new.

2)I didn't interpret any of it as requiring a Google account. In fact, the SF desire is that anyone from anywhere would be able to access the system for free, presumably without registration. SF will 'own' the system. Google is only the winning bidder to install it.

3)As far as static IPs go, they can also do that already, as can any ISP, the point being that any ISP could track your activity now if they wanted to. Assuming Google isn't already doing that, and I seriously doubt they are, there's no reason to assume they suddenly would want to in SF.

4)I personally would like to see something like the Intel processor ID, the option of turning it on or off, with the default being off. They don't listen to me though.
1) Never said it wasn't new.

2) I doubt that they will just let any person log on for free access anytime with solely the advert strings attached... And I bet those strings will be registration of some form.

3) Never said you couldn't already be assigned a static IP by your ISP. But here is the difference: you pay money for service with your ISP. If you get a static internal IP on the google wifi network that refers to your mac address or even intel ID, that's when things would start getting hairy for me. You see, earthlink will obviously log your activity. That's a given, since they are providing the backbone. But add google, which is nothing more than a name and a wallet for promotion, and I think you will see google dipping in and taking internet logs too, for whatever reason. You say its worthless to them. Why, then, does google keep every search query that has ever been searched in the last 5 years (I think it was 5 at least, I cant remember the exact number)? Why do they keep every newsgroup post ever submitted in the last 15 years?

Again, to google, who is in the business of storing, finding, retrieving and using information, what more of a goldmine could internet activity logs, search logs and every other log that can be generated while you are on the net, could there possibly be?

4) Agreed.