About Scott Cleland
![]() |
|
You are hereGoogle's Rogue WiSpy Invasive Behavior Proliferates -- Security is Google's Achilles Heel -- Part XIII
Submitted by Scott Cleland on Fri, 2011-06-17 11:59
Evidence continues to mount that Google's management and supervision of its Android operating system is out-of-control when it comes to protecting privacy and security.
Consider the growing pattern of Google's default design and behavior that maximizes collection of private information, which inherently puts users at greater security risk.
First, and profoundly disturbing, is a new TechRepublic revelation in a post by security blogger Donovan Colbert.
In setting up his new Android-based tablet, Mr. Colbert discovered that the Android operating system by default, i.e. without permission, automatically collected and implemented encrytion key passcodes to automatically gain access to private networks without the permission of the user. In Mr. Colbert's own words:
Second, we learned from WSJ privacy reporting that Google Android tracked users location a thousand times a day without the users' meaningful permission.
Finally, how does this pattern involve the WiSpy scandal of Google being caught wardriving tens of millions of homes, in over thirty countries, for over three years, eavesdropping on unencrypted home WiFi routers and recording all signals including emails, and passwords.
As you may remember, Google said that systematic eavesdropping on citizens, was the mistake of one engineer, and not at all sanctioned by the company at large. Here is Google's 5-14-10 official story:
However if Google was being forthright that it's Android effort indeed did not want to by default to collect the maximum private information possible, why did Google mobile engineering manager Dave Burke tell the Guardian 1-29-08, the following that shows it was obviously Google's policy to collect the most WiFi information possible...
In sum, the pattern here is becoming more clear. Google's corporate ethos is at work here: "ask for forgiveness not permission." That ethos puts innovation, speed and efficiency, ahead of the privacy and security of users.
*** Previous parts of the "Security is Google's Achilles Heel" Series:
For even more information, see the Security section of PrecursorBlog's sister site: www.GoogleMonitor.com; or read the "Security is Google's Achilles Heel chapter of my Book: Search & Destroy Why You Can't Trust Google Inc. at www.SearchAndDestroyBook.com.
» |