Why Google's Not Wrong in Sniffing Wi-Fi Data

Google admitted to sniffing wi-fi data with their streetview cars.  The NYT thinks "Google could be accused of intercepting private communications and violating wiretap laws in the United States".  The flaw with the thought lies in the same article: "nonpassword (sic) protected Wi-Fi networks".

The flaw with the thought of Google violating wiretap laws is that they didn't break into a closed network.  The telephone network is closed (physically).  A wired computer network is closed.  A password protected wi-fi network is closed.  An open wi-fi network is NOT.  This is akin to Google walking down the street with a recorder listening to everyone SHOUTING.

The moral of this is to lock down your wireless network.  The really scary thing for those affected is that even a light-weight hacker could do all kinds of damage to a computer on an open wi-fi network.  In fact, most could do a few things that could be criminally damaging and put someone in jail for years..  The manufacturers of most of the wireless access point or wireless router devices have done a darn good job of making it easy to set encryption on their devices.  The last three I've had any experience with (all from different manufacturers, Apple, Linksys, and Netgear) have idiot-proof instructions.

Google Buzz... Good or Bad?

I've been reading a lot about Google Buzz.  I've heard more than I've tried, but it sounds like a replacement for Twitter, just integrated with GMail.

I haven't considered using it.  I just dropped MySpace (which is crap anyway), and I am active on Facebook and Twitter, and semi-active on LinkedIn and Flickr.

My concern with it is that based on some posts on Lifehacker (see this post and this post)that the security settings are difficult and not always intuitive - there was a post that likened Buzz to a megaphone.  Reading the comments, it sounds like Buzz is doing some stuff that it shouldn't (posting tweets in conversations)... the comments on the two posts are quite interesting and worth a read as much as the articles.

Me?  I'm not passing judgement, but I've turned it off.

Turning off Buzz: log into GMail, scroll to the bottom, and click on the link in dinky print that says "turn off buzz".

Should I back up data stored in the cloud?

The reference link is below, but I can tell you the answer in a word: YES.

We need to learn from the Microsoft "Danger" Debacle (or the T-Mobile Sidekick Debacle, if you will), and the Amazon Kindle disaster.  Don't expect companies or people to give a damn about you when they mess up.  Sometimes, it isn't even the companies, it is some ignorant fool behind the scenes with a score to settle with the company.  Sometimes it is a disaster (whether Cyber or real).

Even worse, don't even ask the question when the data in Google Docs is pretty easy to back up.  Take a look at http://1st-soft.net/gdd/ and see TWO ways to backup you docs on Google Docs.  They're both pretty simple... Okay, I guess the Python one isn't that simple for most people, but the GreaseMonkey/DownThemAll one is!  With tools so simple to use to backup that data, why would you not periodically do that?

Reference: Should I back up data stored in the cloud? | Adventures in IT - InfoWorld.

Twisted Legal: Google reveals identity of Cohen 'skank' blogger | ZDNet Government | ZDNet.com

Can you say "whiner"?

Someone calls this person names, and she fights Google in court over the "attack".

First off, three words: FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.  The person in question had the right to their speech.  It was dirty words, but in the end, that appears to be all it was (now if it was giving away privileged information, like model Cohen's home address or phone number, I stand corrected).

Second off, bloggers must be aware of the ramifications of what they post.  If it can be backed up, it is fair game.  If it can't, it is probably better left untyped.

Google reveals identity of Cohen 'skank' blogger | ZDNet Government | ZDNet.com.

Google Don't Know Cincinnati

Okay, I know I don't live in New York, NY or anything, but I don't live in Podunk, either.

Click on image to see what I am talking about.

Roadrunner Can't Find Google

Despite Google having servers across the world, RoadRunner (which likely has fiber across the country) couldn't get to any one of them.  Now I did notice that the search bar (see this image, which is the entire screen capture), is powered by Yahoo, so maybe they have some strategy increase their paltry share value by forcibly swinging people away from Google.