• Some users have recently had their accounts hijacked. It seems that the now defunct EVGA forums might have compromised your password there and seems many are using the same PW here. We would suggest you UPDATE YOUR PASSWORD and TURN ON 2FA for your account here to further secure it. None of the compromised accounts had 2FA turned on.
    Once you have enabled 2FA, your account will be updated soon to show a badge, letting other members know that you use 2FA to protect your account. This should be beneficial for everyone that uses FSFT.

Goggle Siphoned Personal Info Off Wi-Fi Networks

H

HardOCP News

[H] News
Joined
Dec 31, 1969
Messages
0
Exactly how did the Google Street View cars “accidentally” accumulate 600GB of personal data off of public Wi-Fi networks?

Google picked up fragments of e-mails and Web addresses while its cars were photographing neighborhoods for the "Street View" feature on its mapping service. The company says it only recently discovered it has accumulated about 600 gigabytes of data transmitted over public Wi-Fi networks in more than 30 countries. Google says none of the information has appeared in its search engine or other services.
Click to expand...
 
This isn't surprising. Its well known that they have been packet sniffing to match IP/MAC addresses with locations. While a bit creepy, I don't see anything wrong with it. That they also cached some (unencrypted) data in the process is plausibly benign.

The bigger point is that people should not trust their data on unencrypted networks. I mean, who sends plaintext email over unencrypted wifi? (or perhaps more appropriately -- what network admin LET them access email in plain text?)
 
Proneax said:
This isn't surprising. Its well known that they have been packet sniffing to match IP/MAC addresses with locations. While a bit creepy, I don't see anything wrong with it. That they also cached some (unencrypted) data in the process is plausibly benign.

The bigger point is that people should not trust their data on unencrypted networks. I mean, who sends plaintext email over unencrypted wifi? (or perhaps more appropriately -- what network admin LET them access email in plain text?)
Click to expand...

Because encrypted emails aren't always available. Heck just because it's encrypted between client and server, doesn't mean server to server is encrypted. Most emails are transmitted over port 25 -- THERE'S NO ENCRYPTION THERE -- Unless you're doing TLS/SSL. But I hardly ever see anyone doing this.
 
Right, they've been mapping WiFi locations -- I guess they sniffed and stored, and processed later. Use encryption.
 
Wow.... don't people get fined and or sued for logging into other peoples networks?

And this was on such a massive scale. :eek:
 
Kendrak said:
Wow.... don't people get fined and or sued for logging into other peoples networks?

And this was on such a massive scale. :eek:
Click to expand...

People should get fined and sued for having unsecured networks then complaining about people accessing them.
 
How does one accidentally intercept and store personal emails and whatnot? I thought this was hard enough to do purposely, let alone accidentally.
 
Disposed said:
People should get fined and sued for having unsecured networks then complaining about people accessing them.
Click to expand...

I love people who have unsecure networks, I drive by their house, park outside and check my email. I know a ton of local spots that I can get wifi at any time for free.
 
elite.mafia said:
I love people who have unsecure networks, I drive by their house, park outside and check my email. I know a ton of local spots that I can get wifi at any time for free.
Click to expand...

I believe I heard somewhere that people have been taken to court over this and been found guilty of criminal charges.
 
Crispy002 said:
I believe I heard somewhere that people have been taken to court over this and been found guilty of criminal charges.
Click to expand...

I dont think its happened with private people yet but i have read a couple cases of businesses going to court against wifi freeloaders.
 
Running open wifi is akin to standing in your front yard with a mega phone shouting all of your personal information.
 
CptTrips said:
How does one accidentally intercept and store personal emails and whatnot? I thought this was hard enough to do purposely, let alone accidentally.
Click to expand...

If you are running a wireless packet analyzer with channel hopping it will pickup everything broadcast within range. This can be done for a variety of reasons, such as locating public wifi spots.

Idiots running open wifi are broadcasting all their wireless network traffic in the clear. The sniffer just picks up whatever packets happen to be broadcast. If those packets happen to contain personal information because the owners were too dumb to turn on encryption, well its their own damn fault.
 
I'd say it's more like leaving your front door unlocked.

While I'd agree leaving your network unencrypted opens you up for someone to packet sniff and snoop,they have to make an effort to connect to your network in the first place. They also need to know what they're doing to get data beyond whatever someone has shared on their network.

I wouldn't liken it to shouting in a megaphone at all because the person would still need to connect to your network to even look around. Much like that someone would have to enter through the unlocked door to start looking for your valuables.
Posted via [H] Mobile Device
 
You don't need to connect to the network at all to see a packet sent over an open wireless network, it is sent over the air and anyone listening will see it.
 
Disposed said:
People should get fined and sued for having unsecured networks then complaining about people accessing them.
Click to expand...

Not true. The crime lays on the part of the criminal. It's like leaving yoru door unlocked...someone walks in and steals your stuff, they still entered illegally and committed theft.
 
VGplay said:
I'd say it's more like leaving your front door unlocked.

While I'd agree leaving your network unencrypted opens you up for someone to packet sniff and snoop,they have to make an effort to connect to your network in the first place. They also need to know what they're doing to get data beyond whatever someone has shared on their network.

I wouldn't liken it to shouting in a megaphone at all because the person would still need to connect to your network to even look around. Much like that someone would have to enter through the unlocked door to start looking for your valuables.
Posted via [H] Mobile Device
Click to expand...

Heh...I should have seen your response before I posted mine, so I guess it's a double effect message.
 
BBA said:
Not true. The crime lays on the part of the criminal. It's like leaving yoru door unlocked...someone walks in and steals your stuff, they still entered illegally and committed theft.
Click to expand...

Whoooooooooooooooooosh

Also whats not true? I made no claims and stated no facts to dispute.
 
BBA said:
Not true. The crime lays on the part of the criminal. It's like leaving yoru door unlocked...someone walks in and steals your stuff, they still entered illegally and committed theft.
Click to expand...

It's nothing like leaving your door unlocked and then someone stealing your stuff. Wireless is a broadcast medium, radio waves do not respect property lines.

If you really want to go the analogy route, it's more leaving all your personal information in the garbage can that is sitting out on the street then complaining when someone else combs through it.
 
darkpaw said:
If you really want to go the analogy route, it's more leaving all your personal information in the garbage can that is sitting out on the street then complaining when someone else combs through it.
Click to expand...

Which ironically is completely illegal. Its what the original identity thieves did before the digital age.
 
Actually its not illegal to sort through trash. If you use any information to commit a crime such as identity theft, that is illegal. In most places once something is thrown in the trash and put out to the curb, it is perfectly legitimate to take it.

My brother-in-law worked for a garbage company for quite some time, the stuff they would come across in the trash is quite surprising really.
 
Disposed said:
Whoooooooooooooooooosh

Also whats not true? I made no claims and stated no facts to dispute.
Click to expand...

Ok, I will give you credit for that much, on the technicality and semantics. The implication you made though, well, it speaks for itself.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top