Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments
Search

News for nerds, stuff that matters

Slashdot Log In

Log In

Create Account  |  Retrieve Password

Sending Secret Messages Via Google's SearchWiki

Posted by kdawson on Wed Nov 26, 2008 12:23 AM
from the your-mission-should-you-choose-to-accept-it dept.
Businesses Google The Internet Encryption Privacy Security
We discussed the advent of Google's SearchWiki when it was introduced a few days back. Now Lauren Weinstein offers a thought experiment in transmitting coded messages using SearchWiki, with a working example encoded into the results of this Google search.
+ -
story

Related Stories

[+] Google Turns On User-Tweakable Search Wiki 161 comments
Barence writes "Google has launched a new service that allows users to tailor to their own search results. Called SearchWiki, the service allows Google account holders to move results up or off the rankings, or even add their own choice of site to the top of the search results. Google claims that any changes a user makes will only affect their results, and not those of fellow surfers, although it's difficult to believe that some of the feedback generated from the SearchWiki won't be used to fine tune the Google search algorithm. Is this a cunning way to encourage people to sign in while they search, thus providing Google with a richer set of data that can be mapped to specific user accounts?"
Submission: Sending Secret Messages Via Google's SearchWiki by Anonymous Coward
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.

Sending Secret Messages Via Google's SearchWiki 50 Comments More /

 Full
 Abbreviated
 Hidden
More
Loading... please wait.

  • the message (Score:5, Informative)

    by deander2 (26173) * <public@NOspaM.kered.org> on Wednesday November 26 2008, @12:23AM (#25896099) Homepage

    "3 - Will more information about this be available later?"
    "4 - Self vs. others is always a major philosophical question."
    "5 - Destruct and destroy is not the best of attitudes, my friends."
    "6 - In any case, this list looks very useful."
    "7 - Five more entries could be added to that list."
    "8 - Seconds or thirds or even more helpings could add a lot of calories."
    "9 - Good entry. Very fine."
    "10 - Luck has nothing to do with these issues."

  • STOP MESSING WITH SLASHDOT (Score:4, Insightful)

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 26 2008, @12:24AM (#25896103)

    Seriously, I'm all for change but this is FUCKING RIDICULOUS!

    The main page is now TITLES ONLY? WTF?

    The more you try to "upgrade" Slashdot, the more useless it becomes. Morons.

    • Re:STOP MESSING WITH SLASHDOT (Score:5, Informative)

      by 0100010001010011 (652467) on Wednesday November 26 2008, @12:27AM (#25896125)

      Indeed, What the fuck. STOP. If I wanted Digg I'd go there.

      1) I only go to my profile to see if I've been modded. I don't care about some pseudo fire hose.
      2) WHAT THE FUCK have you done to the main page. I actually want to read TFS.

      • Re:STOP MESSING WITH SLASHDOT (Score:5, Informative)

        by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 26 2008, @12:45AM (#25896211)

        Heh, I switched to classic view ages ago, and it looks like this is part of that because my view hasn't been affected. I tried out the new system for about 10 mins, decided it sucked, and switched back. You can change the settings here [slashdot.org] (at least, you can in classic mode).

        AC to avoid off-topic mods.

        • Yes. I refreshed when I got off work today and it was titles only. Turned off beta index and it's all good again.

        • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

          by kemorgan (714702)
          Use this [slashdot.org] to get back to classic mode.

        • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

          by roman_mir (125474)

          there are no user preferences to get rid of firehose BS. I used to be able to see comments by going to http://slashdot.org/~roman_mir [slashdot.org] now I see firehose there and instead I have to go to http://slashdot.org/~roman_mir/comments [slashdot.org] and this is really annoying.

        • Re:STOP MESSING WITH SLASHDOT (Score:5, Insightful)

          by [HooL] (155038) on Wednesday November 26 2008, @04:07AM (#25897263)

          Actually you have to switch off the "Use Beta" checkbox that is in the "Index" preferences. I did not find it quickly, but it certainly pays off. The old school Slashdot homepage will greet you in the morning!

          Slashdot folks, what the fuck do you think you are doing?! If you will ever remove classic mode I will personally travel to the states and punch you in the nuts!

            • What about meta-moderation ? (Score:5, Insightful)

              by dargaud (518470) <slashdot AT gdargaud DOT net> on Wednesday November 26 2008, @11:42AM (#25900669) Homepage
              Since we are complaining about /. recent changes, I want to pipe about the metamoderation: I don't understand how it runs anymore. On the firehose (and now main) page you click [+] if the articles are good. Also on the moderation page, if you see a comment moderated insightful and it is so, you click [+]. OK. Now what if it's flaimebait or troll and moderated as such ? Do I click [+] to indicate that the moderation is accurate or do I click [-] to imply that it sucks and the comment should go to the pit of hell ?

      • Re:STOP MESSING WITH SLASHDOT (Score:5, Insightful)

        by girlintraining (1395911) on Wednesday November 26 2008, @12:51AM (#25896241)

        I would mod you +1, Informative, if I had the points. Sadly, some purveyors of online forums believe that because they created it, they aren't answerable to the users -- they do first and ask forgiveness later. Of course, there's the flip--one of the earlier posters in your thread mentioned Digg; Despite it being a really crappy feed, it listens to its userbase. Which is probably the reason why it's so crappy. -_- In days of old, Slashdot would make 'meta' posts about upcoming features or changes to the main page, thus allowing for feedback while still tipping the hat to the authors. Maybe we should petition to bring back that bit of forward thinking...

        • Since Slashreaders have a YRO section (and hence hew to principles of "I'm in control"). I recommend we have a basic XML feed from the server and everyone running Greasemonkey on their end can pick the features and layout they can live with. Slashdot may even offer a few premades to get things started.

      • Re:STOP MESSING WITH SLASHDOT (Score:5, Insightful)

        by djupedal (584558) on Wednesday November 26 2008, @12:51AM (#25896243)
        The main page stacked w/titles is discouraging to use (not enough information thwarts scanning and forces click-thru...or is that the marketing plan now?) and visually distracting via misuse, or lack of, white space -- the rework to the comments page/list is confusing. Please stop messing with the layout, thanks.

      • My review: Shit Sandwich.

      • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

        by Anonymous Coward

        This is not good. I dont want to log in, I just want to browse and pick the articles I read in my limited surfing time. Please return slashdot to the useful site it was, or the casual browser will be gone.

      • WTF is that "pseudo fire hose" anyway? I can't see any pattern or sense in the posts on it. I'd rather not see it one way or the other.

        The Karma Whores have spoken /.!

    • Weird, I don't see the main page that way.

      The upgrade that bothers me is my profile -- I now have one extra click to get to "comments" in the old style. But you know, I'm really not going to bitch about one extra bookmark-able click.

      • Except the comments are surrounded by a bunch of extra noise, and they don't seem to be consistently bundled into articles.

        • That's what I mean -- by default. Click on the "comments" tab and it's back the way it was -- simple comment headlines, consistently bundled into articles.

          • "Click on the "comments" tab and it's back the way it was

            Except where has the "last X out of Y comments" header gone?

            Where are my Freaks, Fans and Foes?

            I don't understand the motivation. The feedback on the "idle" layout was an overwhelming "it sucks", why extend the suckiness to the rest of the site?

            • Dude, on the very few things we have ever agreed on, I need to say give them hell. Your spot on and I wasn't even going to say anything until I realized who was saying it.

              It two people who are usually at extreme opposite opinions can unite on this one thing, then the truth really is that it sucks and should be gone.

    • Website layout changes like this have never made any sense to me.

      Firstly, this is a technical website. We aren't impressed by idiotic 2 year old CSS trends. The ability to collapse or expand stories doesn't wow us anymore and it probably never did.

      Second, if this is somehow easier on the database, or faster (which i really really highly doubt), TELL US! Explain it to use! WHYYY are you changing the default layout?

    • I also dislike how they got rid "old news", though I'm sure I can reenable it somewhere in my profile (which assume I'm logged in). Now, reading things I missed from yesterday requires another click, another wait, and is harder to skim.

      • It almost seems like some pranksters did it. When articles get voted down a lot they turn into "just" the title like that. It seems like someone went through and did it to all of them a lot.

        Something like that, perhaps. You see the black bars next to the article titles? That's the article score, and black is the lowest possible, lower than even newly-submitted articles.

  • Not very stenographic (Score:5, Interesting)

    by girlintraining (1395911) on Wednesday November 26 2008, @12:34AM (#25896163)

    It's a nice idea, but the messages are still being sent in the clear, and anyone monitoring your internet traffic would be able to readily identify which sites were visited and in which order. If you're trying to hide something, this is a poor way of doing so. Especially since it's likely there would be a need for repeated communication, and there's still the problem of "key exchange" as it were. In short, it might fool a casual observer, but I doubt it would get past someone with training -- this is something even an FBI field agent would likely pick up on (note the sarcasm). A proper stenographic technique should perform even under close surveillance.

    • Stenography is what happens in court rooms, stenanography is the hiding of messages in plain sight.

    • Re:Not very stenographic (Score:5, Funny)

      by Java Pimp (98454) <(moc.oohay) (ta) (pmip_avaj)> on Wednesday November 26 2008, @10:56AM (#25900141) Homepage

      It's a nice iDea, but the messages aRe stIll beiNg sent in the clear, and anyone monitoring your internet traffic would be able to readily identify which sites were visited and in which order. If you're trying to hide something, this is a poor way of doing so. Especially since it's liKely there would be a need for repeated coMmunicatiOn, and theR E's still the prOblem of "key exchange" as it were. In short, it might fool a casual obserVer, but I doubt it would get pAst someone with training -- this is something even an FBI fieLd agenT would lIkely pick up on (NotE the sarcasm). A proper stenographic technique should perform even under close surveillance.

      I see what you did there!

      • Well, sort of. Until someone spills the beans that your doing it in a certain way and the home office or homeland security end up using the alternate IP's to associate you with other links to criminals and builds a conspiracy case or something out of it.

        Seriously, think about this. Lets say you send a secrete message from 5 different IPs. Now assuming they aren't bots, then that means you had computer access at five different places. Now, the feds take down one of the people who received the messages, they

  • kdawson (Score:3, Funny)

    by ActionDesignStudios (877390) on Wednesday November 26 2008, @12:40AM (#25896185)
    Seriously, where did you find this kdawson guy and how exactly did he manage to become an 'editor'?

  • WTF the internet can be used for communication?

    Who'd of thunk it?

    Seriously though, how the fuck is this news and why the fuck was it posted on the main page?

  • "on the internet". I can has patent?

  • It Works!!! (Score:3, Funny)

    by PPH (736903) on Wednesday November 26 2008, @01:21AM (#25896429)
    If I want communicate my desire to receive p0rn, I enter the term 'p0rn' into Google and someone out there on the interweb sends me links to p0rn.
  • but only obvious if you manage to find all 10 comments. When I did the Google search, I didn't see comments 8, 9, or 10. I had to combine my results with numbers 3-10 listed in the first post to actually get the entire list. Did anybody else notice this? Can wiki comments be removed or bumped out of the search?

    Anyway, for completeness:
    "1 - This article looks good to me."
    "2 - Tape this article to the door of your office!"
    "3 - Will more information about this be available later?"
    "4 - Self vs. others is

  • who gives a rats behind. (Score:5, Insightful)

    by EdelFactor19 (732765) <adam.edelstein@NOSPaM.alum.rpi.edu> on Wednesday November 26 2008, @01:54AM (#25896599)

    complaining about the potential for abuse is like complaining your search could pull up a porn site. its retarted. if you dont like it then a. keep them minimized and dont read them, or b. go use a different search engine. honestly after reading this lady's page i think she's a paranoid nut who thinks its her job to police everyone.

    in short she's a moronic douche.

  • Slashdot (Score:4, Insightful)

    by Randle_Revar (229304) <kelly.clowers@gmail.com> on Wednesday November 26 2008, @01:59AM (#25896645) Homepage Journal

    What the hell? I cant see anything but the headlines!

    What happened to the articles and tags?!

  • That was fast (Score:5, Funny)

    by declain (1338567) on Wednesday November 26 2008, @03:02AM (#25896929)
    Top 10 google trends:

    Today's Hot Trends (USA)
    1. dancing with the stars 2008 winner
    2. orthogonal terwilliger accordion
    3. siri pinter
    4. chelsea handler playboy
    5. brooke burke
    6. who won dancing with the stars season 7
    7. the shield finale
    8. the shield forum
    9. melioidosis
    10. callies biscuits

    It seems that a lot of people are suddenly interested in orthogonal terwilliger accordion. I wonder why?

  • "Be sure to drink your Ovaltine."

    • <bot-order>
      <attack>
              <site>digg.com</site>
              <type>DDOS</type>
              <prejudice>extreme</prejudice>
      </attack>
      </bot-order>

All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective owners. Comments are owned by the Poster. The Rest © 1997-2010 Geeknet, Inc.