Have We Lost The Privacy War? 9
May 29th, 2010 by ComputerBob
Lately, there have been so many stories like this that sometimes, I get really tired of having to report them to you.
And I also get really tired of people who — every time something like this is discovered — claim that it’s nothing to worry about, try to triviaize its importance, and describe as “paranoid” anyone who is concerned about it.
I don’t see any good that could possibly come from people being cavalier about their personal privacy.
So, even though I know that a few of your are going to brand me as “paranoid,” I still have to tell you that I am definitely concerned about this latest barrage against personal privacy: “After mistakenly saying that it did not collect Wi-Fi payload data, Google had to reverse itself, saying ‘it’s now clear that we have been mistakenly collecting samples of payload data from open (i.e. non-password-protected) WiFi networks.’ OK, mistakes happen. But, as Seinfeld might ask, then what’s the deal with the pending Google patent that describes capturing wireless data packets by operating a device — which ‘may be placed in a vehicle’ — in a ’sniffer’ or ‘monitor’ mode and analyzing them on a server?”
As always, Slashdot’s readers have a lot to say about it.
To me, it’s just another example of our privacy rights being eroded, little by little, in a way that many people won’t notice or care about until it’s too late.
In fact, it may already be too late.
You’re not paranoid if they really are out to get you.
Update: Here’s more evidence that they really are out to get you.
Update: Here’s even more evidence.
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Consumer Info, Cybercrime, Ethics, Google, Internet, Law, Rights, Security