Google launches SECURE Search22 May 2010
While Google already provides secure (SSL) socket layer to it’s gMail and Google Docs, today they have launched a beta secure search engine.
Why secure search? Lots of reasons…a good example would be:
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Interlopers can see what you do by the information you send out of your computer. [Interlopers can mean a person or a bot monitoring traffic on any network]. Standard web activity is not encrypted data. So, if you type in “Iron Man 2″ in a search box, if your provider has bots monitoring the traffic on your network, or if you have some 14 year old who thinks it’s cool to monitor your unsecured Wi-Fi network traffic, then they see you are doing a search for “Iron Man 2″.
By using an SSL (https://) for Google Search – just like the banks and other websites do, they now would see **** *** * instead.
It evolves privacy to the search level, making it harder for someone with bad intentions to act on them – which is nice. While t first you just may not see the importance f it, Just think of examples you probably wouldn’t want others to see, then you “get” the reason for this move on Google’s part.
A good example would be a small business owner doing research on a business idea they have. If someone or something is monitoring your search and Internet use, it’s not a long shot to think they could figure out what you are doing – especially if they are monitoring your email as well….yes, email is also NOT FULLY encrypted and is never to be a trusted environment for ANY sensitive information unless you purchase a highly encrypted email service [which usually requires that the end recipient have a digital ID to open it].
I applaud Google for this extension of security – and privacy. It’s a step in the right direction. In my opinion, it is going to be a great tool for them to go head to head with Facebook – who at this writing, is busy spreading our information all over the Internet without our permission and making it increasingly more difficult for those of us wanting privacy to block their efforts.
As Google brings this live, simply type in: https://www.google.com to use it. (https) being the important part to make sure it’s secure.
Facebook poised to “take over” the Internet?22 April 2010
Big Brother? Terminator??
Business Insider had a great article today on Facebook’s new Open Graph Initiative. According to Facebook’s Founder, Mark Zuckerberg stated that “the power of the open graph is that it helps to create a smarter, personalized web that gets better with every action taken.”
To it’s opponents that means that Facebook now has the ability to “connect the dots” where developers lay the groundwork for it to do so. Thus, if you are on one of the “early adopter” sites like Orkut or FriendConnect, what you do there will be ‘added’ to your Facebook activity. The more and more sites that sign on for this graph initiative, the more you are tracked for what Facebook calls “actionable intelligence”. That is a marketing term for “hey we know what you are doing, when and where, and now we can deliver ads and information that reflect your interests even better!”
This is behavioral targeting at it’s finest, IF it works according to Facebook’s plan. This article claims that Facebook may have just found a way to surpass Google. I would put the brakes on that thought. Think a little harder and you will recall that Google is poised to bring FTTH (fiber to the home) in the U.S.. In the U.S., I would say that Google definitely holds the trump card. Facebook may be able to get ‘actionable intelligence” from it’s users from all over the Internet via this new initiative; but Google can “own them” at their home. Touche!
Second, as Facebook begins this effort, they have International Privacy Laws to contend with that will have a direct effect on any global ability. Just because you have it in your EULA or Terms of Service doesn’t mean that it will be upheld around the world as approved. It also doesn’t mean that countries like China will permit you to do this, or won’t want the information for their own use. Trust me, there is more to come on this subject! Just ask Google.
The closing thought in this article was the most funny one: ”Bonus conspiracy theory: former Facebook Chief Privacy Officer (and genuine, great guy) Chris Kelly is running for California Attorney General.
California’s Governor is Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Ahnold was The Terminator.
Circle. Complete.”