Google logging wireless network info

Originally Posted by LockBox

I don't know about that. If I leave my safe open that doesn't mean you can inventory my contents and take what you want. If the front door is left unlocked it doesn't mean you're welcome to come right in. These intrusions by Google go beyond just "wardriving"... and it's unacceptable.

Right On!

[EncryptedBytes]

Unless more details have surfaced since last year that I am unaware of, I recall Google was only capturing SSID and MAC of the networks? This information is broadcasted in the clear on any WLAN encrypted or not, and you can even view the MACs of connected clients. If they were connecting to the unsecured networks and logging packet information that is one thing, though what they were logging is similar to writing down names and addresses from a phone book. Not to mention in terms of reliable information private networks are volatile, the BSSIDs and devices are always changing. I see very little harm if any being done with what they did in this case.

[Daveski17]

The Google engineer who wrote a program that collected personal data from wi-fi networks told at least two other colleagues, a report has revealed.

~ BBC News Technology

[JRViejo]

Merged Threads to Continue Same Topic.

[Hungry Man]

If I yell at my neighbor across the street about my day is it illegal for someone to write down what I'm saying?

Just curious as to what people ITT think. I mean, I'll say it's creepy. But... anyone here think it's illegal? Or that it should be?

[Wroll]

Unencrypted WiFi is not yelling. It's more like a very bad protected house where you would be able to get in at anytime. If you yell you can't expect people to cover their ears or to forget what were you talking about. To snoop a WiFi connection you need some tools to do it.

[PaulyDefran]

'Wrong' and 'illegal', aren't mutually exclusive. Doesn't anybody just not do something anymore, because it 'just wouldn't be right'? Hmmm...I guess we'll have to create laws covering 100% of everything a human could possibly do.

PD

[Daveski17]

Originally Posted by Hungry Man

If I yell at my neighbor across the street about my day is it illegal for someone to write down what I'm saying?

Just curious as to what people ITT think. I mean, I'll say it's creepy. But... anyone here think it's illegal? Or that it should be?

I don't think that analogy is particularly cogent. This may have not been illegal, but it is definitely deliberate eavesdropping. I honestly don't know why you keep defending Google's actions.

[Hungry Man]

If this were Microsoft I'd be defending them. If it were some single person I'd be defending them.

Wifi = waves of light traveling large distances. Just because you can't see them doesn't mean they're "secret." Every transmission over wifi is like screaming in a language no one can hear for fairly large range.

If they were cracking encrypted Wifi (even WEP) I'd say they're way out of line and it's absolutely illegal.

All they're doing is listening in on a very loud conversation.

Creepy, for sure. Maybe it should be illegal if the origin of the wifi is within a private home and not some cafe. But that's pretty strict. Many wifi cards are picking up those signals (if they're in the area) without software there to interpret it anyways.

'Wrong' and 'illegal', aren't mutually exclusive. Doesn't anybody just not do something anymore, because it 'just wouldn't be right'? Hmmm...I guess we'll have to create laws covering 100% of everything a human could possibly do.

I hope this is never the case, as it will only lead to laws like SOPA and CISPA, that are restricting freedom because some people think downloading a movie is akin to murder.

Is what Google is doing wrong? Sure, arguably. It's definitely a bit creepy and I'm not that comfortable with it. But... should everything that I'm creeped out by be illegal? Hell no.

Unencrypted WiFi is not yelling. It's more like a very bad protected house where you would be able to get in at anytime. If you yell you can't expect people to cover their ears or to forget what were you talking about. To snoop a WiFi connection you need some tools to do it.

It's nothing like a house. You aren't entering their home, which would be outright illegal. You are not trespassing. You are on the street and they're broadcasting information far beyond where you are as if they're blasting their radio or something. If I'm on the street with unencrypted Wifi with my commputer my wifi card is probably picking it up (and subsequently dropping the packets) regardless of tools. The only thing you need is a program to interpret it. It's less like someone yelling and more like someone yelling in German or something, I'm hearing it regardless, I just need one of those little translating books.

[JRViejo]

In the case of FCC vs Google Street View that’s been going on for some weeks, months, and even years now, a “lone engineer” has been identified and called out on his role in the so-called scandal. This fellow is being called “Engineer Doe” by the FCC but has been discovered this week as being a software engineer by the name of Marius Milner by the New York Times. The importance of this man’s name is a whole lot less important than his activities before the event at hand, including two separate instances where he warned Google about the capabilities and actions of his own “Wardriving” software working with Google’s Street View cars.

Street View engineer warned Google in 2007 by Chris Burns.

[Daveski17]

Originally Posted by Hungry Man

If this were Microsoft I'd be defending them. If it were some single person I'd be defending them.

I think, if you were honest with yourself, you couldn't really justify these actions by Google. It was snooping/eavesdropping, whichever way you look at it. It's not unlike spying on your neighbours using a camera fitted with a telescopic lens & claiming that it is their own fault for not drawing their curtains or closing the blinds. That's my defence anyway LOL!

[JRViejo]

The controversy surrounding Google’s Street View initiative collecting of personal data from unprotected private WiFi networks is not dying out, fueled by revelations that a company engineer told colleagues about the private information that was being gathered.

A consumer advocacy group in the United States on May 2 filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the Federal Communications Commission asking for all the documents connected with the agency’s investigation into the incident.

At the same time, the New York Times is reporting that regulators in Europe are considering reopening their investigations after learning that the Google engineer who developed the code that enabled the Street View vehicles to collect the personal information—referred to as “payload data”—had told two colleagues, including a supervising manager, that the data was being captured.

Google Street View Controversy Continues to Roil by Jeffrey Burt.

[EncryptedBytes]

Originally Posted by JRViejo

Google Street View Controversy Continues to Roil by Jeffrey Burt.

Well that changes my opinion on the matter a bit. If they engineer Joe was capturing packet streams which would mean the software used was actively associating and sniffing networks as it drove past. I have no sympathy for users who use unencrypted access without protection, but at least in this case the employee(s) who sniffed networks should be prosecuted.

[funkydude]

Google has admitted that it had not deleted users' personal data gathered during surveys for its Street View service.

The data should have been wiped almost 18 months ago as part of a deal signed by the firm in November 2010.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19014206#

[JRViejo]

Merged Threads to Continue Related Topic.

[Dermot7]

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has issued the following statement today in response to information received from Google about the retention of payload data collected by its Street View vehicles.

http://www.ico.gov.uk/news/latest_ne...-27072012.aspx

[TheQuest]

Hi Dermot7

Originally Posted by Dermot7

http://www.ico.gov.uk/news/latest_ne...-27072012.aspx

The ICO say they now want to see, the said wrongfully collected data before it is deleted by Google.

It a joke, that in doing so there will yet another party, with the said wrongfully collected data.

Which you can be sure that the ICO will immediately delete.

It is hard to make it up.

Take Care
TheQuest

[JRViejo]

Summary: French data protection authorities want to examine Wi-Fi payload data that was harvested by Google Street View cars and recently unearthed by the search giant.

Google must turn over Street View data to French authorities by Tom Espiner.