EFF Warns: Google Desktop Major Security Threat
Posted by Sean Fallon on February 11, 2006
Filed Under Misc. Gadgets | Stumble This
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has issued a warning not to use a new feature of the Google Desktop because it “greatly reduces consumer privacy.”
According to an EFF spokesperson, the new “Search Across Computers” feature can store copies of the user’s Word documents, PDFs, spreadsheets and other text-based documents on Google’s own servers.”
The press release writes:
“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. “If you use the Search Across Computers feature and don’t configure Google Desktop very carefully—and most people won’t—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, and in many cases you wouldn’t even be notified in time to challenge it. Other litigants—your spouse, your business partners or rivals, whoever—could also try to cut out the middleman (you) and subpoena Google for your files.”
For more information check out the EFF website.
For more information on the new Google Desktop, check out this Nerd Approved article.
Source: The Inquirer
Posted by Sean
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