See other Science/Tech Articles
Title: Privacy fears hit Google search
Source:
BBC
URL Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4700002.stm
Published: Feb 11, 2006
Author: BBC
Post Date: 2006-02-11 18:19:34 by Zipporah
Keywords: Privacy, Google, search
Views: 522
Comments: 46
A leading US digital rights campaign group has warned against using Google software which lets people organise and find information on their computers. The Electronic Frontier Foundation said the latest version of Google Desktop posed a risk to privacy. This is because a feature in the software lets Google keep personal data on its servers for up to 30 days. Google says it plans to encrypt all data transferred from users' hard drives and restrict access. Government snooping The new version of its desktop search software comes as Google is battling efforts by the US Department of Justice to force it to hand over data about what people are looking for. Some of Google's main competitors have already complied with the request for details about people's search habits. The case has focused attention on the issue of personal information held by internet companies. "Coming on the heels of serious consumer concern about government snooping into Google's search logs, it's shocking that Google expects its users to now trust it with the contents of their personal computers," said EFF staff attorney Kevin Bankston. "Unless you configure Google Desktop very carefully, and few people will, Google will have copies of your tax returns, love letters, business records, financial and medical files, and whatever other text-based documents the desktop software can index. "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," he said. 'Useful tool' The EFF is concerned about a feature in Google Desktop 3 that lets users search their content on multiple computers. To do this, people have to let Google transfer the files to its own servers. The feature is optional and only works with certain types of files, such as Microsoft Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations and PDF files. The search giant has sought to reassure privacy advocates, saying it will not keep the information for more than 30 days and strictly limit who has access to the data. "We think this will be a very useful tool, but you will have to give up some of your privacy," said Marissa Mayer, Google's vice president of search products and user experience. "For many of us, that trade off will make a lot of sense." The software package is widely seen as posing a challenge to Microsoft's dominance of the way people interact with computers. It is not known how many users there are of Google Desktop but it is thought to be a fraction of the hundreds of millions that use the search engine every day. As well as making data on a hard drive accessible on any computer, the software also lets people set up mini programs to keep track of information such as weather or news stories. Google Desktop 3 is currently only available for Windows XP or Windows 2000.
(6 images) 
We think this will be a very useful tool, but you will have to give up some of your privacy 
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 11.
#3. To: Zipporah (#0)
I've always liked the google search engine but I've been hearing stories such as this that makes me want to not use google anymore. I need to find another search engine that does not snoop.
If you look on the main page here, latest posts, there are links to several search engines.. another is dogpile.com
I like nekkid pictures of abramoff
Well you could use some of Gannon's photos.. and paste in Abramoff's face.. :P
There are no replies to Comment # 11. End Trace Mode for Comment # 11.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#5. To: Diana (#3)
#8. To: Zipporah (#5)
#11. To: Dakmar (#8)
I like nekkid pictures of abramoff
Replies to Comment # 11.