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:
So the missus is okay with you having a mistress who takes care of 'almost' you every need?
Come to think of it, which I do, Cortana does have one of those sexy voices that fantasies [read wet dreams] are made of. If the last thing I heard before going to sleep was Cortana's voice, who knows what I'd dream of? I'd sure as heck wake up with my hand on my.... er, alarm clock, repeatedly pressing snooze and thinking "just five minutes more... just ten minutes more... just fifteen minutes ......".
In the end I'd probably turn off the alarm so's I could stay in bed with Cortana all day.
Now that has me wondering... for all those wife-less blokes out there... and there'd be lots of 'em.... is if Cortana could be installed in a blow-up doll.
three weeks? ok, then i'll take that back. Cortana isn't much of a privacy problem if she's that slow.
Google Now knew that instantly.
But, has she stopped with the "You left the toilet seat up, again!" thing?
Betcha Cortana doesn't say that to you!
Cortana would be so confused talking to me, a person who makes sense on an irregular basis.
Thing is, with the constant reminders... read nagging, he doesn't lift the seat up anymore.
Ya just gotta wonder what his next course of action will be when gets tired of hearing: "You've pissed on the damned seat.... AGAIN!!!!!"
Yeah, she'd be going: "That does not compute, that does not compute......"
Warning...warning...
Oh I'm not saying she didn't know that right away..........she just let me in on the fact that SHE knew a bit later.......you know seems less creepy that way!
Actually that has never been an issue in our house........yes....<cough cough> I am one of those guys who has always sat his ass down. The only time I stand to pee is at a urinal.
@ Doc
I am sorry to have caused such a horrible hijack of your thread.......
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........
not true i have close to two thousand real books and that number keeps increasing nothing beats the feeling or smell of a book and i will never use an e reader or computer to read a book because it removes any immersion you get
Not to worry...however my girl and Cortana are on their way to the ladies room together.
I figure you're doomed.
Staying in touch with yer feminine side, eh! Thing is, seriously, more blokes oughta do it, given how so many leave puddles in front of [and beside] the bowl.
More toilets should have the sign: "Men, please stand closer... it may be alot shorter than you think."
You'll have no secrets by the time they're done... like I've been told women tend to gossip while on the throne.
Oh, and if you talk in your sleep, I advise not to take Cortana to bed with you. Yeah, she can repeat stuff at the most inopportune times.... like, "who farted" while you're in the supermarket surrounded by a multitude of middle-class/upper-class housewives. Now I'm tellin' ya, you don't walk away from a situation like that without a red face... and of course there's other bedroom activities/conversations you'd rather didn't become publc knowledge: "Oh darling, you forgot to take your little blue pill again, didn't you !!!!!"
And Google is listening !!!
Continuing the hijack.....
We have 132 lineal feet of bookshelf....if you say 1/2" per book that's 3168 'real' books... but Terry has since moved to Kindles...and has a further 2000- odd electrical books.
The REAL difference is the price....nothing to dust...and no need to build more bloody bookcases....
What is an "electrical book", pray tell and what makes them odd?
Well it's one that delivers a jolt if yer stay on the rude bits too long.
Um, you haven't figured that out yet? Should be obvious!!!!!
Google is a known NSA front. However, if you have nothing to hide, there is no reason for fear
Hmmm, hearing a lot of this 'nothing to hide' thing.... must be contagious or something.
I have nothing to hide... in my mind's eye, that is, but that doesn't mean to say that various authorities and agencies see it the same way.
For all I know, the authorities got a red flag on me because I unknowingly made contact with terrorist/criminal on a forum someplace.
Or law enforcement needs to fit somebody up to take the fall for a crime they didn't commit. It happens!
So, these days, 'nothing to hide' is a state of mind, not necessarily a fact.
The only way to have nothing to hide is to have nothing to begin with. Then its true.
And to not have a brain/any lucid thought at all... cos if you can think, 'well you must be guilty of something'
I must be the odd person out then because I'm not guilty of anything, must be because of all the napping I do.
Oh, wait a minute, I guess I'm guilty of...........wait for it.........it will come to me.......damn, can't remember.
It has nothing to do with napping.... no siree.
Fact is, we're all born guilty, cos of our parents and their parents before them. That's right, we inherited the guilt and evil from our ancestors and theirs before them.
It probably dates back to pre-Stone Age times and troglodytes, so we're pretty likely ingrained and napping is our best defense.
Oh look, it's time for 40 winks.
Now I know that is not true, you want to know how, my parents told me so. Seems some religious person took their sins all away. No quilt or evil in this family tree, not too much smarts either. Oh well.
No quilt? How do you keep warm? And as for the "not too much smarts" part, typos happen to smart people too.
With all the typos I make on this dinky machine with a cursor that has a mind of its own, going this and that, jumping to the beginning of a sentence like it just did......never mind. Lol
Never fear, if you have nothing to hide, they will find out eventually.
Of course, they won't believe you at first, after all, everyone has something to hide.
So they will invite you politely to a secret military base somewhere on an undisclosed location for a bit of torture sessions, just a few years really, and they won't bother you with stuff like trials and sentencing, because hey, that's just bureaucracy, right? We all know who are the good guys, and if the good guys say you are a bad guy, then you must be at least a bit bad. Especially, if they say so in TV and newspapers.
It won't even hurt... much, and you could be always comforted that others have endured it, and so you will surely too, especially when you have no choice. Always a comforting thought.
And when those ten, fifteen years pass and the authorities will finally admit you probably really don't know anything, or when there will be demand for your cell, they will finally let you go, you will find out the world has changed. Your friends won't recognize you, some of them because of bad memory, some of them just in case, you know, to be sure that the stain of suspicion won't smear on them by talking to you, for example.
And maybe you won't recognize them either, who knows, maybe you won't even remember your name, and your past.
Isn't such a transformation... liberating? It's as if they have given you a whole new life to life.
Something to be grateful for, for sure...
Jafo, I no longer allow Google on my PC because even if you uninstall their software, their update app (update.exe?) remains on your system in several places. The only way to get it completely off one's system is via regedit. To me, that makes Google spyware. It's rather sad as they make a great browser but It needs to be clean and not so invasive.
My SIL is a super geek with a major defense company and he doesn't like Google either - and I thought it was just me. Remember all of those street cameras Google has/had? That was to develop facial recognition software. Those self driving vehicles they are working on could also be used to deliver just about any payload one could think of. Google has an NSA contract along with Microsoft so they're not alone. Just look at what we had to turn off with Windows 10. I'm not paranoid but I resent being spied upon and lately, it seems to be getting worse. I am seriously considering a switch to Linux but will bide my time and see how Windows 10 turns out.
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