Comments on: Google Web Accelerator

By: sjhoward

sjhoward — Sun, 08 May 2005 08:56:36 +0000

Now that’s a bit of a worry – but, presumably, it would only affect sites whereby passwords are cached, which means it could only affect forums and the like, not banking accounts. However, I’ve removed it for the time being anyway, at least until I hear that this glitch has been fixed (though, in fairness, I think it may already have been fixed, since my version numbers appear to have increased).

By: Ethelred the Unready

Ethelred the Unready — Sun, 08 May 2005 01:49:51 +0000

Maybe you should read this article, and worry about who might be logging in as you on various accounts and forums –

http://www.neowin.net/comments.php?id=28240&category=main

Or there again, maybe you just do not really care, in which case you deserve whatever happens …

By: sjhoward

sjhoward — Sat, 07 May 2005 23:59:56 +0000

I could use software to trace the connection between my PC and the host servers, but I’m not that bothered. Which only goes to show that they could indeed be watching my secure connections without my knowledge. So you probably have a good point – but I’m not going to stop using it.

By: Pathologically Paranoid Coward

Pathologically Paranoid Coward — Sat, 07 May 2005 22:04:28 +0000

“it would be via a secure connection .. which does not pass through Google’s servers”

How can you be sure of that?

By: sjhoward

sjhoward — Sat, 07 May 2005 17:03:35 +0000

I don’t file a tax return – and if I did so online, it would be via a secure connection, as would shopping with a credit card, which does not pass through Google’s servers, whether the program is switched on or off.

By: Anon E Mouse

Anon E Mouse — Sat, 07 May 2005 14:20:36 +0000

“I don’t file a tax return… But that’s hardly the point.”

But that is the point!

If you do file a tax return online, as more and more people are doing, and as the IRS prefers people to do, are you (and all the other people) using this spy in the browswer, going to remember to turn off the Google spyware before connecting to the web site to file your tax return?

And when you buy goods and services through your browser, do you want Google to know what you are buying, and presumably your credit card details which will pass through their software?

By: sjhoward

sjhoward — Fri, 06 May 2005 10:17:56 +0000

As it happens, I don’t file a tax return… But that’s hardly the point. I don’t mind revealing to them information about the websites I visit – information which is already available to my ISP, and (on demand) to the police, not to mention university when I’m online there. It’s hardly secret stuff, and should I want to exclude Google from any of my web surfing, I’m free to do so – as is not the case with the other institutions. My tax return, on the other hand, is not public knowledge in the same way as my surfing habits are, and so I wouldn’t publicise it.

By: Anon E Mouse

Anon E Mouse — Fri, 06 May 2005 08:39:02 +0000

Have you thought about sending Google a copy of your tax return as well, since you appear not to care about your privacy?