Gmail users - be careful
 

Went to get some info on Gmail and came across the following thread in the
Gmail discussion group at Yahoo:

http://tinyurl.com/hofoe

Definitely gives me second thoughts about subscribing. I think I'll just
stick with Cox and Yahoo.

I also came across this line in the info section on Gmail:

"There are no pop-ups or untargeted banner ads in Gmail, only small text
ads. Ads and related information are relevant to your messages, so instead
of being obtrusive, they may even be useful for once."

In order to target the 'ads and related information' it would seem as
though something is paying more attention to messages than I would desire.

http://mail.google.com/mail/help/about.html

Any thoughts?

Gmail users - be careful
 

JohnH wrote:
Went to get some info on Gmail and came across the following thread in the
Gmail discussion group at Yahoo:

http://tinyurl.com/hofoe

Definitely gives me second thoughts about subscribing. I think I'll just
stick with Cox and Yahoo.

I also came across this line in the info section on Gmail:

"There are no pop-ups or untargeted banner ads in Gmail, only small text
ads. Ads and related information are relevant to your messages, so instead
of being obtrusive, they may even be useful for once."

In order to target the 'ads and related information' it would seem as
though something is paying more attention to messages than I would desire.

http://mail.google.com/mail/help/about.html

Any thoughts?


I have no issues with them so long as they declare upfront what the
price of the free service is. The mail gets machine scanned for key
words & the side ads are targeted accordingly??

Most mail is pretty innocuous, family, friends etc however I don't think
I'd conduct actual "business" via gmail, although spoofed addresses etc
are a risk on other mail systems also.

If it really is an issue; then ask for your money back & don't use it

They do offer a safe repository for my stuff once it's in an attached
zipped tarball.

Google are about the only ones at least trying to offer alternatives to
MS based stuff so I support them.

K

Gmail users - be careful
 

"JohnH" wrote in message
...
Went to get some info on Gmail and came across the following thread in the
Gmail discussion group at Yahoo:

http://tinyurl.com/hofoe

Definitely gives me second thoughts about subscribing. I think I'll just
stick with Cox and Yahoo.

I also came across this line in the info section on Gmail:

"There are no pop-ups or untargeted banner ads in Gmail, only small text
ads. Ads and related information are relevant to your messages, so instead
of being obtrusive, they may even be useful for once."

In order to target the 'ads and related information' it would seem as
though something is paying more attention to messages than I would desire.

http://mail.google.com/mail/help/about.html

Any thoughts?



Gmail comes from the same company that gave us Google desktop, which carried
some major security risks. You have to be pretty flaky to use any product
from Google other than their basic search engine.

February 09, 2006
Google Copies Your Hard Drive - Government Smiles in Anticipation
Consumers Should Not Use New Google Desktop

San Francisco - Google today announced a new "feature" of its Google Desktop
software that greatly increases the risk to consumer privacy. If a consumer
chooses to use it, the new "Search Across Computers" feature will store
copies of the user's Word documents, PDFs, spreadsheets and other text-based
documents on Google's own servers, to enable searching from any one of the
user's computers. EFF urges consumers not to use this feature, because it
will make their personal data more vulnerable to subpoenas from the
government and possibly private litigants, while providing a convenient
one-stop-shop for hackers who've obtained a user's Google password.

"Coming on the heels of serious consumer concern about government snooping
into Google's search logs, it's shocking that Google expects its users to
now trust it with the contents of their personal computers," said EFF Staff
Attorney Kevin Bankston. "If you use the Search Across Computers feature and
don't configure Google Desktop very carefully-and most people won't-Google
will have copies of your tax returns, love letters, business records,
financial and medical files, and whatever other text-based documents the
Desktop software can index. The government could then demand these personal
files with only a subpoena rather than the search warrant it would need to
seize the same things from your home or business, and in many cases you
wouldn't even be notified in time to challenge it. Other litigants-your
spouse, your business partners or rivals, whoever-could also try to cut out
the middleman (you) and subpoena Google for your files."

The privacy problem arises because the Electronic Communication Privacy Act
of 1986, or ECPA, gives only limited privacy protection to emails and other
files that are stored with online service providers-much less privacy than
the legal protections for the same information when it's on your computer at
home. And even that lower level of legal protection could disappear if
Google uses your data for marketing purposes. Google says it is not yet
scanning the files it copies from your hard drive in order to serve targeted
advertising, but it hasn't ruled out the possibility, and Google's current
privacy policy appears to allow it.

"This Google product highlights a key privacy problem in the digital age,"
said Cindy Cohn, EFF's Legal Director. "Many Internet innovations involve
storing personal files on a service provider's computer, but under outdated
laws, consumers who want to use these new technologies have to surrender
their privacy rights. If Google wants consumers to trust it to store copies
of personal computer files, emails, search histories and chat logs, and
still 'not be evil,' it should stand with EFF and demand that Congress
update the privacy laws to better reflect life in the wired world."

For more on Google's data collection:
http://news.com.com/FAQ+When+Google+...66.html?tag=nl
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/ar..._roils_the_web
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...DGEPGPHA61.DTL
http://news.com.com/%20Bill+would+fo...3-6036951.html

Contact:

Kevin Bankston
Staff Attorney
Electronic Frontier Foundation


Posted at 11:04 AM

Gmail users - be careful
 

JohnH writes:

http://tinyurl.com/hofoe

Definitely gives me second thoughts about subscribing. I think I'll just
stick with Cox and Yahoo.

You're confused. Any email address can be spoofed. This has nothing to do
with Gmail. It can happen with any compliant mail server, including the
alternatives you mention. It is in the nature of the Internet email
standards.

*Nothing* in an email message (neither body nor headers) can be trusted
except the topmost "Received:" header and the "From" timestamp (*not* the
"From" email address, nor the "From:" header)..

Gmail users - be careful
 

JohnH wrote:
Went to get some info on Gmail and came across the following thread in the
Gmail discussion group at Yahoo:

http://tinyurl.com/hofoe

Definitely gives me second thoughts about subscribing. I think I'll just
stick with Cox and Yahoo.

I also came across this line in the info section on Gmail:

"There are no pop-ups or untargeted banner ads in Gmail, only small text
ads. Ads and related information are relevant to your messages, so instead
of being obtrusive, they may even be useful for once."

In order to target the 'ads and related information' it would seem as
though something is paying more attention to messages than I would desire.

http://mail.google.com/mail/help/about.html

Any thoughts?


You should not treat any unencrypted email you send or receive as if it
was any more private than a postcard. Whatever provider you use. It's
not that my tinfoil hat is too tight today, I administer email here at
work - believe my t-shirt that says "I read your email"

As for google, some of the text ads are absolutely hilarious. My friend
and I were discussing a possible new Nasa mission to Earth's sister
planet when the ad offered me "Best Prices on Hotels in Venus".

As for spoofed spams, I get about 1000 bounces a day of spams spoofed
from the business domain. Every domain owner in the world does (if you
don't have a collect-all postmaster type account they just turn to
digital dust). That doesn't send up alarm bells either.

Gmail users - be careful
 

I've had Google for a while, and I haven't experianced any of those
types of problems. I can pretty well detect SPAM seeing that I don't
really get much mail from there anyhow. . and if I saw that I sent one
to myself, I wouldn't open it . I'd junk it.

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
"JohnH" wrote in message
...
Went to get some info on Gmail and came across the following thread in the
Gmail discussion group at Yahoo:

http://tinyurl.com/hofoe

Definitely gives me second thoughts about subscribing. I think I'll just
stick with Cox and Yahoo.

I also came across this line in the info section on Gmail:

"There are no pop-ups or untargeted banner ads in Gmail, only small text
ads. Ads and related information are relevant to your messages, so instead
of being obtrusive, they may even be useful for once."

In order to target the 'ads and related information' it would seem as
though something is paying more attention to messages than I would desire.

http://mail.google.com/mail/help/about.html

Any thoughts?



Gmail comes from the same company that gave us Google desktop, which carried
some major security risks. You have to be pretty flaky to use any product
from Google other than their basic search engine.

February 09, 2006
Google Copies Your Hard Drive - Government Smiles in Anticipation
Consumers Should Not Use New Google Desktop

San Francisco - Google today announced a new "feature" of its Google Desktop
software that greatly increases the risk to consumer privacy. If a consumer
chooses to use it, the new "Search Across Computers" feature will store
copies of the user's Word documents, PDFs, spreadsheets and other text-based
documents on Google's own servers, to enable searching from any one of the
user's computers. EFF urges consumers not to use this feature, because it
will make their personal data more vulnerable to subpoenas from the
government and possibly private litigants, while providing a convenient
one-stop-shop for hackers who've obtained a user's Google password.

"Coming on the heels of serious consumer concern about government snooping
into Google's search logs, it's shocking that Google expects its users to
now trust it with the contents of their personal computers," said EFF Staff
Attorney Kevin Bankston. "If you use the Search Across Computers feature and
don't configure Google Desktop very carefully-and most people won't-Google
will have copies of your tax returns, love letters, business records,
financial and medical files, and whatever other text-based documents the
Desktop software can index. The government could then demand these personal
files with only a subpoena rather than the search warrant it would need to
seize the same things from your home or business, and in many cases you
wouldn't even be notified in time to challenge it. Other litigants-your
spouse, your business partners or rivals, whoever-could also try to cut out
the middleman (you) and subpoena Google for your files."

The privacy problem arises because the Electronic Communication Privacy Act
of 1986, or ECPA, gives only limited privacy protection to emails and other
files that are stored with online service providers-much less privacy than
the legal protections for the same information when it's on your computer at
home. And even that lower level of legal protection could disappear if
Google uses your data for marketing purposes. Google says it is not yet
scanning the files it copies from your hard drive in order to serve targeted
advertising, but it hasn't ruled out the possibility, and Google's current
privacy policy appears to allow it.

"This Google product highlights a key privacy problem in the digital age,"
said Cindy Cohn, EFF's Legal Director. "Many Internet innovations involve
storing personal files on a service provider's computer, but under outdated
laws, consumers who want to use these new technologies have to surrender
their privacy rights. If Google wants consumers to trust it to store copies
of personal computer files, emails, search histories and chat logs, and
still 'not be evil,' it should stand with EFF and demand that Congress
update the privacy laws to better reflect life in the wired world."

For more on Google's data collection:
http://news.com.com/FAQ+When+Google+...66.html?tag=nl
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/ar..._roils_the_web
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...DGEPGPHA61.DTL
http://news.com.com/%20Bill+would+fo...3-6036951.html

Contact:

Kevin Bankston
Staff Attorney
Electronic Frontier Foundation


Posted at 11:04 AM

Gmail users - be careful
 

wrote in message
ups.com...
I've had Google for a while, and I haven't experianced any of those
types of problems. I can pretty well detect SPAM seeing that I don't
really get much mail from there anyhow. . and if I saw that I sent one
to myself, I wouldn't open it . I'd junk it.


You've had Google WHAT? Which product are you referring to?

Gmail users - be careful
 

pardon me, "G-mail"


JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com...
I've had Google for a while, and I haven't experianced any of those
types of problems. I can pretty well detect SPAM seeing that I don't
really get much mail from there anyhow. . and if I saw that I sent one
to myself, I wouldn't open it . I'd junk it.


You've had Google WHAT? Which product are you referring to?

Gmail users - be careful
 

wrote in message
ps.com...
JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com...
I've had Google for a while, and I haven't experianced any of those
types of problems. I can pretty well detect SPAM seeing that I don't
really get much mail from there anyhow. . and if I saw that I sent one
to myself, I wouldn't open it . I'd junk it.


You've had Google WHAT? Which product are you referring to?



pardon me, "G-mail"



Well, I think it's odd that a for-profit company uses the content of your
email to generate income. All email is potentially subject to surveillance,
but Google's routine is odd, to say the least. I wonder how many people
don't even notice.

Gmail users - be careful
 

On Fri, 16 Jun 2006 12:16:54 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

wrote in message
ups.com...
JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com...
I've had Google for a while, and I haven't experianced any of those
types of problems. I can pretty well detect SPAM seeing that I don't
really get much mail from there anyhow. . and if I saw that I sent one
to myself, I wouldn't open it . I'd junk it.


You've had Google WHAT? Which product are you referring to?



pardon me, "G-mail"



Well, I think it's odd that a for-profit company uses the content of your
email to generate income. All email is potentially subject to surveillance,
but Google's routine is odd, to say the least. I wonder how many people
don't even notice.


That was the point of my original post. I agree with all the folks that say
email is subject to being intercepted, read, etc. But, I don't know of any
email providers who scan every message looking for key words which will be
used for targeted advertising (or for anything else the company wishes).

Thanks, but no thanks.
--
John H

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