While Google is good at revealing MS and Apple security flaws, it’s been up to its own version of one of Stuxnet’s modules: Google watches and listens to you – without your knowledge or permission, of course.
If you remember, Stuxnet had a module which could record pictures and conversations covertly while spying (presumptively on hostile governments’ activities) using the person’s computer.
You’ll also remember that there’s an “interactive” doll which could listen in on household conversations (although not specifically designed to do so) and transmit them to the manufacturer’s cloud site “for product improvement”.
Well, now Google’s doing it (audio only) through Chrome, and a module it surreptitiously installed on the browser…and that makes me wonder about the Android OS and all those devices out there…
Rick Falkvinge originally discovered this Google invasion of privacy (see here).
Yesterday, news broke that Google has been stealth downloading audio listeners onto every computer that runs Chrome, and transmits audio data back to Google. Effectively, this means that Google had taken itself the right to listen to every conversation in every room that runs Chrome somewhere, without any kind of consent from the people eavesdropped on. In official statements, Google shrugged off the practice with what amounts to “we can do that”. – Falkvinge
For more, you can read the source, here.
“Google announced that it has since removed the component and emphasized that the feature activation was optional. A Google spokesman told the Guardian this week: “We’re sure you’ll be relieved to learn we’re not listening to your conversations – nor do we want to. We’re simply giving Chrome users the ability to search hands free at their computers by saying “OK Google” while on the Google homepage – and only if they choose to opt in to the feature.” – Times of Israel
“Google announced that it has since removed the component and emphasized that the feature activation was optional.
A Google spokesman told the Guardian this week: “We’re sure you’ll be relieved to learn we’re not listening to your conversations – nor do we want to. We’re simply giving Chrome users the ability to search hands free at their computers by saying “OK Google” while on the Google homepage – and only if they choose to opt in to the feature.” – Times of Israel
Yeah. I’m sure. The fact they did it without announcing it makes any ‘removal’ (like anyone would really know if it were removed?) a matter of “catch up”. Also, if it was removed, why would the computer (Israeli blogger in Melbourne’s) behave as it did?
Well, just so you know. I wonder if I can disable it…or if disabling it actually does so?
Wouldn't it be nice if Google actually told the truth? Wouldn't it be even nicer if this "helper" module could be uninstalled on demand?
From my computer today, despite Google's spokesperson's assurances re having uninstalled it:
See people, what I've been saying all along is true. Google IS evil! Now d'yer believe me?
I never trusted Google, never will.... and this shit is the reason why. So glad I ditched my Android tablet yonks ago for something far superior in every respect.... a Windows 8.1 tablet.
As for Google Chrome, or any of its other software/offerings... NOT on any machine I own.
Makes you wonder if it's not time to uninstall Chrome & reformat. And if even that will work.
BTW, some defensive line you've got there, Doc.
Thanx, Daiwa...I'm on the lookout as to how to get rid of that supposedly removed "module". The screenie just proves the path, etc. still exist. So...if I can't, I'll just say nasty stuff about Google while I'm on the 'puter.
Mark...when you navigated to this page, you got the module. Bahaha. I made sure to zap you wivvit.
This is somewhat conspiratorial.
Unless it was actually transmitting data, this is a case of "Google stealth updated their software with something annoying" and not some terrible attempt to spy on people.
Clearly, it wasn't, because everyone would have noticed the drain on their bandwidth as they started sending a streaming audio dump to Google. It's somewhat hard to do talk to text without using a microphone. It wasn't a very stealthy update either, I saw a commercial for it somewhere.
It is annoying though, I have a real keyboard, I use talk to text on this stupid smart phone, not my pc.
Will be removed (hopefully) in coming version.
https://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=500922#c31
In light of this issue, we have decided to remove the hotwording component entirely from Chromium. As it is not open source, it does not belong in the open source browser. Chromium builds from r335874 (version 45) onwards will have hotwording disabled by default and will not download the module. There is no way to enable this feature at runtime. Google Chrome users will be unaffected (although, as always, will have to opt in using settings before the hotword module will activate). If you want a version of Chromium with hotwording, you have to build it from source, with the GYP define "enable_hotwording=1" (or equivalently, the GN arg "enable_hotwording = true"). This will produce a custom build of Chromium that downloads the proprietary hotword component. I have also added a field in the chrome://voicesearch page (in 45 onwards) to show you whether the hotword module is installable. If that says "No", then it is not possible to opt in to hotwording (either because the language is unsupported, or because it is a Chromium build).
read something about this a few days ago?
http://www.ghacks.net/2015/06/19/googles-in-hot-water-after-dropping-binary-code-in-chromium-for-linux/
... i thought the problem wasn't the thing existed, but that it was in binary with no source code.
IMO a windows OS anything newer than 7 is along the same lines with unknown "phone home" crap. I read a few years ago that Intel was embedding firmware on newer PC's that could send information without your knowledge, or consent. Its almost to the point to where damn near "nothing" is "safe" anymore.
Is it time to just "pull the plug" yet?
Yes, the safest way to use your computer is without electricity.
If you set it up correctly you get a really effective......
.....bookend...
I would thought you would need two computers for bookends but then if you have a computer you would see no need to have books........
This little Craig runs Android. If Google is listeniing they're gonna have a field day he he..
A tablet or laptop...any device falls way short of the tactile, and olfactory feelings of a 'real' book.
he was talking about removal from Chromium. you do not use Chromium. you use Chrome.
also that removal from Chromium has more to do with licensing than with privacy.
you see the paths. it should be safe to just delete the extension. i'm on stable, German. the extension is not even here yet (although i see the same path), but Chrome works fine without it. we usually get these features later than Americans.
be more careful about the shared module. removing it might break things that require audio capabilities. like Skype for Web for example.
such a page usually displays the content of a settings INI file or settings SQL database. it doesn't prove anything actually.
but then "OK Google" is a minor issue actually. that's "just" the main application for most users. and this could be easily avoided by using Chromium or Yandex.Browser instead of Chrome for example.
with Windows 10 there'll be "Hey Cortana" on os level. and this will be what the NSA, FBI, etc. will use.
If anyone that can't tell that their computer is sending streaming audio to the NSA by using VCS to spy on them, they deserve the invasion of privacy...
This isn't surprising. Did anyone read the ToS on Facebook's app for their phones? In the fine print you grant them access to your phones camera and speaker if you install their Facebook app so you can access FB just to send texts. Of course it says it's for collecting "consumer data", yeah...uh huh. I got something Zuckerberg can collect alright. Did you know the CIA publicly gave him an award? Gee, now why do you think they would do that? Hmm?Good One pointing this out and keeping it in the public eye, Doc. People are simply unaware of the corporate tyranny and spying going on and it's all government mandated and collected as well.
Me too.... just not sure how I'd get a bucket of Aus-laid crap through US Customs.
In forgetting my pacifist, non-violent ways for a moment or six, he's one mongrel I'd happily slap around the jowles until my arms ached. Zuckerberg is more eviler than Google, and is a scourge/blight on the internet that needs to be irradicated.
What really pisses me off is just how many sites now use 'sign in via facebook' instead of a simple on-site sign in process. I went to one the other day and was interested in purchasing some harder-to-come-by cables to complete my PC rebuild... until I discovered one could only sign up/in via facebook... and pay only using Paypal. I refuse to use either, so that's a sale [and future sales] they lost.
As for the award the CIA bestowed on Zuckerberg publicly, it should have been a public flogging [cos public executions were abandoned years ago] for privacy invasion and being a smart ass who's constantly looking for new ways to eavesdrop and screw people over. But of course, the CIA and other parasitic agancies would laud Zuckerberg for doing slimy shit they'd be publicly condemned for doing. Instead they leave the 'slime' aspect up to Zuckerberg then secretly trawl through the results on Facebook Servers, thus leaving their own images slightly less 'tacky'.
Yes, I'm in one of my holier than thou/do no evil mind sets. However, nature calls [bird calls in the background] so rant temporarily suspended.
Carry on!
The award RavenX was referring to is here: http://www.veteranstoday.com/2012/07/10/mark-zuckerberg-awarded-cia-surveillance-award/
and (of course) here:
"You can't convince a believer of anything; for their belief is not based on evidence, it's based on a deep seated need to believe." - Carl Sagan
In the video, Sartinski is not a CIA Deputy Director...he's an Onion actor.
An 'Onion' actor, eh ! Wouldn't wanna be standing too close too him, then, his breath 'd be terrible.... tho a 'Garlic' actors 'd be alot worse.
Anyway, what d'yer go n' ruin me rant for? Just when I come back to serve it up to Zuckerberg and the CIA again, there's this post saying the award was just a prank. Now how bloody unfair it that?
Oh well, Zuckerberg is still a privacy invading twat and he's fair game, even if the CIA thing ain't true... and the CIA, FBI and NSA will all receive much deserved ridicule somewhere along the line when they fech up good and proper.
Now I'm off, back to my sick bed again.... only got up for a pee and thought I'd check the forums before slipping back betewwen the sheets.
Google is going to bring on Skyne... er... Goognet on any day now.
Don't fear out AI overlords, they have nothing but goos intentions towards us.
I wonder if Google's CEO and FB's worry about being spied on.
No, because both have made a shitload of money from datamining....and sold it to Joe Public as a community service.
They're more than spied on - they're owned.
That's what I thought. Strings attached to the puppet masters.
Hey....I love my Cortana.......you leave her alone!
Ahhh the day Cortana and I met.......
(the outside was still cloudy and muggy .......it had stormed for most of the morning......but the inside was air-conditioned and pleasant)
Cortana woke and spoke my name.......it sounded nice when she said it......so when she asked if she should always call me that.....I said 'yes'!
After some stale chit-chat about the weather and the boring local news I just couldn't resist, and asked her what she was wearing.
"Oh just a little something I picked up in engineering". I thought I must be in love......and at the risk of moving too fast.....I invited her to move into my life.
She wakes me every morning (or anytime I ask her to) and doesn't hassle me too much if I want to snooze for a few more minutes. She reads my incoming texts to me over my morning coffee and patiently waits for me to respond. Of course there have been some awkward moments between us when I've attempted to sext my wife, but eventually everything works out.
She never lets me miss an appointment and reminds me of my flights, directions, bookings, reservations etc. She crawls through my email with disturbing efficiency and whispers things into my ear (and sometimes out loud at the most inopportune times) only I should know about myself. I remember the day like it was yesterday (about 3 weeks after we met) Cortana asked me "Hey is this where you live"? In mild shock/amusement I asked "How did you know that?" Her response with a sly smirk "Your phone is often here in the evening".
In short. Everyday I wake up wondering what else Cortana might have in store for me.
My wife has accepted that Cortana is a part of our lives now........it is just the way it now is.
Yup, that's pretty much it... except they're doing it [AND some llegal shit, too] with the blessing [and under the protecton of] the CIA, NSA and FBI, etc. And sadly, Joe Public buys into it and believes he/she is being done a favour... and all for free. Like somebody once said: "There's no such thing as a free lunch."
I too often hear 'But I only go there Facebook] to keep in touch with family and friends... to play the games.' To which I add, 'And have every conversation and bit of data uploaded/downloaded recorded for Facebook [and whoever's] use... to be tracked wherever you go on the internet, to know all your interests, peculiarities and proclivities.'
The other thing I hear all too often is "I've got nothing to hide" Yeah, right.... for now! Neither have I, but I don't want some highly invasive and money grubbing company like Facebook knowing everywhere I go, what I had for breakfast and when I last took a dump. No, I want to keep some stuff to myself... and what if it suddenly becomes illegal for seniors to eat Froot Loops for breakfast?
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