Do you trust Google?

[Tar_Ni]

Hi,

I've seen a computer that is called ''Chromebook'', it is very inexpensive compared to the other models and as I understand it I can browser the web, access the nexflix streaming service and do some other basic things with it. It sounds good.

But I have never been much of a Google user. I am concerned about the privacy stuffs. Is it safe to hand over all my computer activies to a signle compagny?

So i guess my question is, do you trust Google?

[Cybernetic_Jazz]

We've been doing it with Microsoft and Apple for this long, they're perhaps a step removed from the internet server business so whoring out your files to advertisers would take rather awkward motions that would be hard to miss in the market. Google I can't say. I wouldn't touch their glasses, ie. they don't need to see what I'm seeing, just like Apple and the other smart phone providers probably don't need to know where I'm at every given moment of the day (though yeah - no reason to assume my flip is without that either). Might just be best I suppose to keep your world domination plans on a Linux device .

[magari]

The advantage of the services google and apple provide currently outweigh the rights we give up in regards to privacy over particular information provided to these companies. This is my opinion, some might debate this.

To me its not really a question of whether or not you trust google and other large corporations like them, but whether or not the corporations you choose are of a character that promotes the growth of human kind. Corporations that cannot satisfy the demand of the market in the first place, fail to exist, survive, grow, contribute. Corporations that cannot win the dollar of the consumer fail to survive. You have been contributing to this market since the moment you were born. You not only vote with the ballot, but also your money.

I share a perspective with modern media theorist Douglas Rushkoff; summarized:

Once reading was possible so was writing. Those who could do both had an advantage over those who couldn't. Your ability to use technology increases your ability to participate in the world. Those who don't know how to use the technology, are used by the technology. Program, or become programmed.

One of the biggest questions faced by people today are their choices in technology. Apple or Google? Windows or Mac? What cell phone will you get? What kind of computer should you buy? Playstation or Xbox? Tablet?

Personally I use Google. Almost every service they have I've at least tried. I have an android phone and an Asus transformer book that I do everything on. Thats 2 devices, that work seamlessly together and accomplish everything for under 7 lbs. With google's services, I could break either one and not lose a bit of data. Shared office apps like spreadsheets and docs allows me to work on group papers, presentations, and data sets with as many people as I want/need. My music is everywhere I need it to be.

I was never really a fan of apple's products. I can't really explain why. They seem to work great for everyone who uses them. I think the key is how you use it. Again, program or be programmed.

I used to be very familiar with Linux. I would recommend it if you were looking to become a software engineer, or internet/web developer. Almost all of the latest technology is based on Open Source Software (OSS). Apple and Google are some of the biggest users.

[Tar_Ni]

Very interesting pespectives. Thanks guys.

I have to say the advantages could very well counterbalance the privacy issues though. Chrome OS seems really nice, updates are painless, there is no viruses or malware to be had, I could use apps offline, watch movies and TV shows on netflix and amazon prime. It's a very interesting device for 189$. It's not a full blown Windows laptop but it seems to be in constant developpments and I've read on PCMag that Google is working on compatibility with Android apps.

I guess it's no easy to determine if Google is any worst than Microsoft, Apple, Facebook ect. when it comes to privacy. Would they not all make for a prime target by the NSA? Have they not all to comply to US's laws? Despite these concerns, I admit I feel drawn towards Google's ecosystem, it just seems so flexible and convenient, so as to make the best of this thing we call the 'internet'. [lol]

[Haelos]

Just to get my comment in, I say: absolutely not.
I use tor browser, which runs on Mozilla, my android is rooted and hacked inside out to require absolutely 0 dependence on google, and I have no accounts associated with any of their partners (except one gmail account for youtube.) In fact, I have very few accounts on the internet over-all.

You cannot trust anything on the internet, Ever. That is both a fact, and a rule. You are never safe when browsing the internet, and at any possible time, any number of people could have every last bit of your personal information without your knowledge of it.

My phone camera is shattered, my laptop webcam is taped over and disabled, I use a proxy or vpn service when browsing, and I'm still unsafe. Be concerned for the security of your personal information.
I take all of these drastic steps, and I've had my life ruined by what people are capable of doing over the internet. Just imagine how vulnerable you are, and even more so when linking every aspect of your life to your fucking search provider.

[magari]

Just to get my comment in, I say: absolutely not.
I use tor browser, which runs on Mozilla, my android is rooted and hacked inside out to require absolutely 0 dependence on google, and I have no accounts associated with any of their partners (except one gmail account for youtube.) In fact, I have very few accounts on the internet over-all.

You cannot trust anything on the internet, Ever. That is both a fact, and a rule. You are never safe when browsing the internet, and at any possible time, any number of people could have every last bit of your personal information without your knowledge of it.

My phone camera is shattered, my laptop webcam is taped over and disabled, I use a proxy or vpn service when browsing, and I'm still unsafe. Be concerned for the security of your personal information.
I take all of these drastic steps, and I've had my life ruined by what people are capable of doing over the internet. Just imagine how vulnerable you are, and even more so when linking every aspect of your life to your fucking search provider.

This perspective and behavior is not only preventing you from "playing ball" with the rest of the world, but making you a target.

When you consider the endless sea of data created by the billions of users, its really easy to single out those who's behavior is suspect. Tor traffic is not entirely anonymous and stands out like a sore thumb when you look at the raw packets traveling across the wire. Anonymous services on the tor network like the silk road are constantly getting shut down by the fed.

The resources utilized by the fed give them the ability to crack almost every encryption algorithm out there with enough time. Once you're a target there really is no hope unless you go the route of snowden and seek political asylum with an enemy of NATO.

Meanwhile the world continues to progress and mature online without you and I highly doubt you are capable of becoming an enemy of the state. Based on what I know about you, thats not exactly your goal either way so who are you hiding from?

You attract what you fear which is why I like to say "Paranoia, will destroya".

Before I joined the military I went to school for computer information systems and worked for 2 years at a SAS70 datacenter in the DTC. At any point in time we had ~3gb/sec of data coming in and out of the 4 billion dollar facility. It was my job to support the entire network, the servers of our shared/dedicated/virtual hosting customers and colocation customers who installed their own servers into our racks and on our network.

Part of my job was to recognize suspicious and blatantly aggressive behavior on the wire and snuff it before any additional information regarding the infrastructure was gleaned. I even developed my own filters for Snort, an Intrusion Detection System which was incredibly powerful and nowhere near the technology developed and maintained by the government.

In short, you already lost the battle for your privacy. Sorry. The reality is that your privacy really isn't that valuable. No one really cares. Those who do care about what you do online are only attempting to provide you with better services and products. If you don't like that then don't spend your money with them, its that simple. Even Facebook is forced to redesign their systems proactively to improve their image and service for the general public. Google and Apple do the same.

Trust me, you're a lot better off hiding in the masses. Life is a lot better here. Plug in, join the party or get left in the past.

No matter what your opinion, your post above is typical of what we in the security industry call FUD. Fear Uncertainty and Doubt.

FUD is dangerous stuff. Its propaganda that is highly prone to self duplication through individuals such as yourself. FUD was used to promote the Global War on Terror and puts individuals into a perspective similar to a "conspiracy theorist" which makes their behavior incredibly predictable and easy influence and control.

You should ask yourself not only what you're afraid of, but who might gain from that fear.

[Haelos]

My simple point is, the internet is not, and has never been safe.
Regardless of whether any government or agency wants a hold of your personal information, plenty of average people certainly do. This is something to be more concerned about.
I have plenty of interaction over the internet, but it doesn't need to involve plastering my face, location, family and friends all over the place, as so much of the populace is involved in these days. Sure, I might be a target for being extra concerned, but I'm also well protected should anyone get ahold of something important.

I don't screw with any onion sites, and the only reason Silk Road got shut down was because the old owner took out a hit on someone using Bitcoin.
It's only *ever* been shut down once. And it was up again within a week.

I don't post this to showcase my own fear, but to attempt to make people see why they should have their own, and then to master it by making smart choices. I'm here, so pray tell of my fearfulness.
You worked for a government so I expect you to have nothing but sympathy for them. Otherwise, you wouldn't have been a very good soldier.
I personally don't trust what you have to say, nor will I of any person who's worked in a position such as yours. I'm always looking over my shoulder, whether anyone is there or not. It's called complete situational awareness. Read a book.
That doesn't mean I don't let things slip, of course. No one is perfect.
But seriously, you can keep going over some of that stuff about how you used to unknowingly rape the personal info of your fellow citizens. That's cool info, and I'm always interested to learn about that.

[magari]

But seriously, you can keep going over some of that stuff about how you used to unknowingly rape the personal info of your fellow citizens. That's cool info, and I'm always interested to learn about that.

I don't think you understand what's happening behind the scenes in IT. I wouldn't trust the media.

The world has been and never will be safe, but we do what we can.

[Haelos]

Don't worry, my friend.. I don't trust anything.

[cyberdemon]

I actually don't see the problem with letting internet corporations have enough details to give me a personalized experience of their products. It's not like they go through each individual person with a human operator, they use programs instead and algorithms to put 2 and 2 together. In fact, the only time you need to be worrying about internet safety is if you're doing illegal things. That's the only time I'll turn my VPN on, and when I say illegal I mean very illegal.

I trust Google to provide extremely professional service and they've never failed me. Neither has Microsoft, and I doubt Apple will if I give their stylish-childish-pop-culture market aimed products a try.

More than a lack of security is a lack of common sense in people, really. You're untouchable if you're smart. Sadly, not enough people are smart enough to protect themselves adequately, even though it's not as complicated as people make it seem.