Comments on: Google Paranoia and the Tin Foil Hat Club http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/google-paranoia/ Excel(lent) Stuff Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:12:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: James http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/google-paranoia/comment-page-1/#comment-225010 James Fri, 02 Apr 2010 12:59:04 +0000 http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/google-paranoia/#comment-225010 It made me nervous when they started censoring the web... not necessarily in a free speech way. But in an economic way. That's scary. Any move they make can have devastating effect on particular businesses on the internet. They can also have a really powerful positive effect. However, a single company which is followed so blindly for no real reason what-so-ever is mind boggling. There are plenty of alternatives. I would much rather forgo convenience and bling and rest slightly more assured that I have ownership or a little more control, or a little more privacy over what happens on the web. It made me nervous when they started censoring the web… not necessarily in a free speech way.

But in an economic way.

That’s scary. Any move they make can have devastating effect on particular businesses on the internet.

They can also have a really powerful positive effect.

However, a single company which is followed so blindly for no real reason what-so-ever is mind boggling.

There are plenty of alternatives. I would much rather forgo convenience and bling and rest slightly more assured that I have ownership or a little more control, or a little more privacy over what happens on the web.

]]> By: Play Games http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/google-paranoia/comment-page-1/#comment-100313 Play Games Sat, 16 Aug 2008 14:11:08 +0000 http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/google-paranoia/#comment-100313 Because Google is a tit? They can use this data against us. Because Google is a tit? They can use this data against us.

]]> By: Brad K. http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/google-paranoia/comment-page-1/#comment-71888 Brad K. Tue, 13 May 2008 14:54:03 +0000 http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/google-paranoia/#comment-71888 I have to agree with the concern that as Google acquires data, it becomes a bigger target for action by government investigations looking for information about suspects and targets. Governments of all sizes. From New York City to China to Washington, D.C. And Google will always be one of the 'big guns' - targets for amateur and experienced hackers, ready to dismantle, annoy, or loot anything about Google.com they can. While I still pretty much trust Google, the days when there data could be expected to remain secure are nearly over. Anything the FBI, CIA, etc. secures will eventually turn up in public records - or criminal hands. I have to agree with the concern that as Google acquires data, it becomes a bigger target for action by government investigations looking for information about suspects and targets. Governments of all sizes. From New York City to China to Washington, D.C.

And Google will always be one of the ‘big guns’ – targets for amateur and experienced hackers, ready to dismantle, annoy, or loot anything about Google.com they can.

While I still pretty much trust Google, the days when there data could be expected to remain secure are nearly over. Anything the FBI, CIA, etc. secures will eventually turn up in public records – or criminal hands.

]]> By: Chris Garrett http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/google-paranoia/comment-page-1/#comment-71876 Chris Garrett Tue, 13 May 2008 11:39:26 +0000 http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/google-paranoia/#comment-71876 @ted - Yes it could be spyware but I think people willingly put a LOT worse on their computers @rick - Thing is there is credit cards, finance, banks, tax, etc databases that are far more invasive. I do get a little creeped out but I can't blame Google for it. @Yoav - Exactly, on a day to day basis I see far more good from the Google tentacles than bad. Course I might regret saying this in a few years but right now I think I will keep my foil hat off :) @ted – Yes it could be spyware but I think people willingly put a LOT worse on their computers

@rick – Thing is there is credit cards, finance, banks, tax, etc databases that are far more invasive. I do get a little creeped out but I can’t blame Google for it.

@Yoav – Exactly, on a day to day basis I see far more good from the Google tentacles than bad. Course I might regret saying this in a few years but right now I think I will keep my foil hat off :)

]]> By: Yoav http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/google-paranoia/comment-page-1/#comment-71869 Yoav Tue, 13 May 2008 11:01:41 +0000 http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/google-paranoia/#comment-71869 Hi Chris, I totally agree with you. For starters, Google knows much less about me than lets say... the government. And while google's future depends on ethically and carefully using the information they gather about me, The government has no such obligation. On top of that I trust the 180 I.Q. engineers and marketers at google to resist the urge of reselling my private information much more than I trust the average government official. And last...Google is using the little information they have about me to improve my web experience. For me, this is a good thing. Hi Chris,

I totally agree with you.

For starters, Google knows much less about me than lets say… the government. And while google’s future depends on ethically and carefully using the information they gather about me, The government has no such obligation.

On top of that I trust the 180 I.Q. engineers and marketers at google to resist the urge of reselling my private information much more than I trust the average government official.

And last…Google is using the little information they have about me to improve my web experience. For me, this is a good thing.

]]> By: Rick Wolff http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/google-paranoia/comment-page-1/#comment-71868 Rick Wolff Tue, 13 May 2008 10:56:45 +0000 http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/google-paranoia/#comment-71868 Here's the recipe: • A Federal government that's trying to phase out the specific search warrant required by the Fourth Amendment. And no major presidential candidate objecting strongly to this trend. • A legislature that, during the time you and I spend working, writes new laws making more and more of what you and I do now illegal. • Consolidation and centralization of information about us, for free. Potential one-stop shopping of all our "papers and effects" for unshackled investigators. Surely it's enough to give you a little creepy feeling, isn't it? Just a little? Here’s the recipe:
• A Federal government that’s trying to phase out the specific search warrant required by the Fourth Amendment. And no major presidential candidate objecting strongly to this trend.
• A legislature that, during the time you and I spend working, writes new laws making more and more of what you and I do now illegal.
• Consolidation and centralization of information about us, for free. Potential one-stop shopping of all our “papers and effects” for unshackled investigators.
Surely it’s enough to give you a little creepy feeling, isn’t it? Just a little?

]]> By: Ted Demopoulos, Blogging for Business http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/google-paranoia/comment-page-1/#comment-71866 Ted Demopoulos, Blogging for Business Tue, 13 May 2008 10:40:12 +0000 http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/google-paranoia/#comment-71866 When I spoke to the Department of Homeland Security a coiple of months ago they almost were rolling on the floor when I spoke about "Big Brother ---- Google." They understood that Google is a classic example of an organization that got too powerful too quickly, and that makes many of us uneasy. I may be uneasy, but I like Google and use many things Google. I do draw the line at Google Toolbar though -- it fits the classic definition of spyware, and quite honestly it's not their business what I google When I spoke to the Department of Homeland Security a coiple of months ago they almost were rolling on the floor when I spoke about “Big Brother —- Google.” They understood that Google is a classic example of an organization that got too powerful too quickly, and that makes many of us uneasy.

I may be uneasy, but I like Google and use many things Google.

I do draw the line at Google Toolbar though — it fits the classic definition of spyware, and quite honestly it’s not their business what I google

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