More privacy attacks

[Dogwatcher]

http://www.psnews.com.au/Page_psn2183.html

Google caught
in privacy net
The Australian Privacy Commissioner has commenced an investigation into reports that Google Street View Cars have been unknowingly recording data from unsecured wireless networks as they travelled around Australia over the past four years.
Privacy Commissioner, Karen Curtis confirmed an investigation was underway, but said the Privacy Act prevented her from commenting on the specific details.
“Google has admitted that it inadvertently collected ‘payload’ information from unsecured WiFi networks in Australia,” Ms Curtis said.
Watchdog to investigate data capture “As we understand it at this stage, the data collected inadvertently has been encrypted and stored offline.”
In a statement on its blog, Google said payload data was information sent over the WiFi network and that it had been mistakenly collected and stored by the internet giant.
“The data protection authority in Hamburg, Germany asked to audit the WiFi data that our Street View cars collect for use in location-based products like Google Maps for mobile, which enables people to find local restaurants or get directions,” the blog statement said.
“It’s now clear that we have been mistakenly collecting samples of payload data from open (i.e. non-password-protected) WiFi networks, even though we never used that data in any Google products.”
Ms Curtis said the Assistant Privacy Commissioner met with Google representatives last week (17 May) to discuss the issue before deciding to launch an investigation.
“Google provided answers to a number of questions at that meeting and my Office has sought further information from Google as a result,” she said.
“Google advises it has not made that data available to others.”
The Commissioner warned members of the public to ensure their WiFi network had security settings enabled and was password protected.
“Unsecured networks are vulnerable to hackers and identity thieves,” Ms Curtis said.
Vice-Chair of Electronic Frontiers Australia, Geordie Guy said his organisation was concerned because the information captured by Google was private information about Australians.
Mr Guy said the information needed to be destroyed.
“It’s our belief that the organisation that should be responsible for that is the Australian Privacy Commissioner,” he said.
Google Street View Cars have accidently collected information from Wi-Fi networks from over 30 countries.

[Wedgie]

I don't see what they've done wrong in Australia.
I understand other countries have different laws where it may be an issue.

[tipper]

if people were worried about their privacy they should have had their wifi password protected to begin with...

[White Line Fever]

i hope no one saw my supercoach moves, could be the reason i'm not doing so well...