Google’s in hot water after dropping binary code in Chromium for Linux

I don't expect Google to be ethical about privacy at all. Their business model negates it. It's extremely hard to sell social media, or any type of web based service; so you become the product. I wish there were more Apples in the world with vertically integrated products (horizontal business models don't work, IMO), at least they won't have to lean on selling ones data. This is why I will never use Google Photos, for example.

Damn you elop for destroying Nokia.
 
protocelt said:
As a side note, could a Moderator or Admin please remove wblock@'s post as I don't agree with it. ;) :beer:
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No way, @wblock might might not agree with such a moderator ;)

protocelt said:
An arms race is a good phrase to use. This could potentially turn into a very long winded discussion I suppose so I'm going to end my own 2 cents here. Oh, and I always have and still tape paper over my notebook webcams and still get confused looks from people when they see it. :) BTW, Microsoft's Xbox One still has and uses this "feature" to this day. I owned one... and sold it.
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Something completely unrelated comes to mind... Trust the computer, the computer is your friend.

But to the topic: History tells us that, if something is possible and there is a chance to weasel out when being caught with the hands, head, torso and bootlaces in the cookie jar - it will be done.
 
Beastie7 said:
I don't expect Google to be ethical about privacy at all.
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A lot of people get confused by statements like that as if Google watches your every move and reports it to some marketing agency with your name/address/phone/etc. which couldn't be further from the truth. In addition, Google doesn't do anything that any marketing agency/bank/credit card/grocery store/department store/TV station/restaurant/etc. hasn't done since time immemorial also including Microsoft/Apple/Nokia/Yahoo/etc.
 
Statler-Waldorf-computer.png
 
I thoroughly enjoyed wblock's dark, tongue in cheek post. It illustrates the stark reality of on-line life. I'm quite certain that a lot of what we do is tracked by our Google overlords, the NSA, CIA or whatever other nefarious entities collect information. Big Brother is watching and I behave accordingly with that knowledge in mind.
 
hitest said:
I'm quite certain that a lot of what we do is tracked by our Google overlords, the NSA, CIA or whatever other nefarious entities collect information.
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Then let's include Microsoft, Bing, Yahoo, British Mi6, Israeli Mossad, KGB, the Chinese, etc., cause they all do exactly the same thing and more.
 
drhowarddrfine said:
I'll one up all of you. I intentionally code in the nude to dissuade any camera snoopers.
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The forum uses flash, there is not only your avatar picture but also a still shot when you click "reply" and - well, yes, we know. We know you do this. We even know of the trick you do with that... well, never you mind.

Now without kidding around, all that listening and viewing is possible without or with little user error/sloppiness/whatever. Who thinks this will not be done? And since when was "everyone did this for eternity" a valid defense when caught in the cookie jar? I can only repeat, this can be done, it will be done wether you like it or not. This thread started about trust being broken, but we keep arguing if that was a bad thing. For me, there is no such discussion. Trust has been broken, it is not my part to mend it since I did not break it.
 
The thing is if a normal user like me can do something?

My first move will be moving to BSD - maybe a thread with info how to protect would be good?
 
Crivens said:
Who thinks this will not be done? And since when was "everyone did this for eternity" a valid defense when caught in the cookie jar?
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Now that's a question. If Microsoft started snooping, then all hell would break loose and the company would be driven into the ground and out of business in short order. That's why big companies won't. If you or I did this, we'd get arrested. So I can't think of any long term benefits.

My point about it going on for a long time already is that Windows, and other OSes, have had this capability since forever and you don't read about any issues other than the scandals of some rogue software someone installed on some college kid's laptop. If Microsoft of the government did that (why would they?!), to repeat myself, all hell would break loose; so they won't and, again to repeat myself, what is the benefit?
 
drhowarddrfine said:
If Microsoft started snooping, then all hell would break loose and the company would be driven into the ground and out of business in short order.
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Maybe not. Consider the recent example of Lenovo including a man-in-the-middle HTTPS exploit on their machines, presumably because the company that created the exploit paid them to include it "to assist customers with discovering products similar to what they are viewing". That is a serious breach of trust as far as I'm concerned, and the people involved should be facing legal problems. Lenovo said "oops, you caught us, oh well" and removed it. When I ask people how they could consider trusting Lenovo or using their systems now, the reaction has mostly been "Those were just the home systems. Their business systems don't have that."
 
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