Google Launches Encrypted Search

J

John_Keck

Limp Gawd
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May 3, 2010
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Simply by navigating to https://www.google.com you are now using encrypted search. This feature protects from eavesdroppers knowing what you are searching for and disables browser referrers.
The move brings the same web security system that protects online banking, website logins and shopping to search — a first for a major search engine.
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Am I the only one who thinks this should have been implemented years ago?

I dunno, just seems too obvious and simple.
 
Erb said:
Am I the only one who thinks this should have been implemented years ago?

I dunno, just seems too obvious and simple.
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How about too convenient, for Google that is. Now you searches are more private…between you and Google. They get more info and they can change encryption at will to keep others from reading cookies etc.

If the real concern is eavesdroppers Google just cornered the market.
 
Is there any disadvantage for us as users?

Since i assume google still gets all the date as they normally do?
 
Good idea for Google. While it means some extra overhead on their search platforms and some additional bandwidth usage, it also means more control over search data. If you are a company or organization which was previously getting Google's search data for free (via legitimate means or otherwise), now you have to go to Google directly for it and likely pay a fee.
 
It's only good for the searches, not for hitting the links once you actually get results, which in turn is going to defeat the purpose of the "secure search" in the first place, to be honest.

If someone is sniffing the traffic, and you do a search for something, it wouldn't take a Brainiac to figure out the keywords/search terms from the links you're going to after said "secure searches", that's why traffic analysis exists.

Nice idea, but impractical in the long run...
 
The problem here is that Google still has your search data and the only ones that can use that against you can still get it...
 
jbailey said:
New homepage
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Really? Did you even read the thread so far? :)

Sure, your "secure" search for "front fender replacement" is secure when you do the search, but when you click the first hit/link and you're taken to:

http://www.thepartsbin.com/sitemap/replacement~fender~parts.html

your search isn't secure anymore since traffic analysis would immediately flag the bolded words in the URL.

This in many respects is a seriously bad idea for Google - it's going to immediately give the impression that it's truly secure and safe, and it's not. It's not any safer than a regular search, but it can dramatically be a lot worse because people are going to start using it under a false assumption that they're "safe" now and can search for whatever they want without anybody ever knowing.

Consider my example if you're using a public Wi-Fi hotspot without any encryption at all. Again, people will think "Oh, it's ok that I'm at McDonalds using their free Wi-Fi to do searches, my searches are encrypted and secure with Google" and then never paying attention to the fact that as soon as they click a link they found using the "secure" search it will get sent out over the air (the unecrypted Wi-Fi) and wham... everything anyone would ever really need to know will be right there in the link, and if that's not the case then it'll be there on the page(s) the links actually bring up.

This is a bad idea... very bad idea.
 
I think it's a waste of time as well.

...unless they want to run an encrypted proxy server to go between you and the links you click on,but that would be an additional step and expense, both for you and google.
 
Bahamut said:
It's only good for the searches, not for hitting the links once you actually get results, which in turn is going to defeat the purpose of the "secure search" in the first place, to be honest.

If someone is sniffing the traffic, and you do a search for something, it wouldn't take a Brainiac to figure out the keywords/search terms from the links you're going to after said "secure searches", that's why traffic analysis exists.

Nice idea, but impractical in the long run...
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You are 50% right and 50% wrong.

While it's true that an approximation of the search terms can be synthesized, the exact search terms would take a significant amount of collection and comparison, and may still not be precise. Exact search terms are what is important to advertisers and the like.
 
Bahamut said:
going to defeat the purpose of the "secure search" in the first place, to be honest.
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QFT...
Solving a problem that doesn't really exist.

heatlesssun said:
What would be even more impressive is completely anonymous searches.
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The good old days...
Heck, if Microsoft wanted a huge amount of users almost instantly, stop logging personal info. Then create an advertizing campaign, "Tired of the all seeing eyes spying on you (cut to photo with the "oo" in "Google" being eyes looking around)? Here at Bing, we respect your privacy. Search privately!"

I bet Microsoft would have a metric shit ton of users within two days.
 
I dont see how this protects me from the ones most likely to keep my search terms and info forever...google themselves.
 
TexUs said:
QFT...
Solving a problem that doesn't really exist.


The good old days...
Heck, if Microsoft wanted a huge amount of users almost instantly, stop logging personal info. Then create an advertizing campaign, "Tired of the all seeing eyes spying on you (cut to photo with the "oo" in "Google" being eyes looking around)? Here at Bing, we respect your privacy. Search privately!"

I bet Microsoft would have a metric shit ton of users within two days.
Click to expand...

I bet you most people wouldn't notice, care, or even understand what that means.
 
That's true...

They might have to throw a checklist up of the kind of info Google collects from you, and say they don't do that. I dunno. Seems like a possible really good marketing ploy
 
I don't see the purpose. Instead of sniffing your internet, now "the man" has to get a subpoena for Google's records. They've still got you either way, this is just going to make the process take an extra few hours.
 
For stupid people maybe this is a problem (false sense of security) but for smart people it can help. If I'm in some China like place and just want to see if some rumored attack happend I can do the search and not click the results but just note the responses and see there are news stories about the attack or whatever. Eventually once more web sites use SSL, you can have a much safer experience.

it has to start somewhere
it has to start sometime
what better place than here
what better time than now

Next, if Google does https://webcache.googleusercontent.com or something then you could get cached versions of pages securely (ish).
 
the issue is that your searches cannot be intercepted and monitored by 3rd parties. Which might be useful in some nations, maybe the US in a few years.
 
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