Gmail Reveals the Names of All Users 438
ihatespam writes "Have you ever wanted to know the name of admin@gmail.com? Now you can. Through a bug in Google calendars the names of all registered Gmail accounts are now readily available. All you need to find out the names of any gmail address is a Google calendar account yourself. Depending on your view this ranges from a harmless "feature" to a rather serious privacy violation. According to some reports, spammers are already exploiting this "feature"/bug to send personalized spam messages."
Re:This only punishes the foolish (Score:5, Funny)
This bug really doesn't affect me as my email address is my real name.
Re:This only punishes the foolish (Score:4, Funny)
D'Oh (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Ut Oh (Score:2, Funny)
Re:This only punishes the foolish (Score:5, Funny)
ahah! But now the spammers KNOW FOR SURE that there isn't an underscore/dash/whatever between your first and last name! You're so screwed!
I can't believe Google would do this! (Score:5, Funny)
Really, now everyone will know my name is John Smith? I am outraged and will see my lawyer immediately!
-- john.smith@gmail.com
Re:D'Oh (Score:5, Funny)
Fortunately for Homer Simpson, that's @aol.com
Re:This only punishes the foolish (Score:5, Funny)
Someone should get an ass-kicking for this.
Agreed. I'll certainly be asking for my money back...
Re:This only punishes the foolish (Score:2, Funny)
Just how personal is this new spam (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Ouf (Score:5, Funny)
...after which exercise balls (in lieu of the usual chair) will be thrown in a fit of unbridled anger (several tech websites will report a mysterious colorful stream of balls spilling out the Google offices).
Re:This only punishes the foolish (Score:5, Funny)
Then they'll know what part is your first and last name regardless of capitalization! THIS IS HUGE!
Oh that tears it. (Score:5, Funny)
This is horrible. This is an outrage! I'm writing Google a letter telling them how awful this is an how they need to work on the Q/A. I mean my GMail address *IS* my full name, but I'm not going to let that fact stop me from acting like an emotionally charged idiot!
Re:This only punishes the foolish (Score:5, Funny)
Bugs are to be expected... (Score:5, Funny)
It's a good thing they caught this in beta, before it affects a large number of people!
Finally Sean Penn will have justice (Score:5, Funny)
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/44460 [theonion.com]
Re:This only punishes the foolish (Score:5, Funny)
So yeah, this is a pretty big deal -- not so much for spammers, but as a privacy violation. You can't do a name lookup for an arbitrary e-mail address, and you shouldn't be able to do it for a GMail address. Someone should get an ass-kicking for this.
You know what else... Someone left a thick softcover book on my doorstep the other day that listed the names, addresses, and phone numbers of everyone in my region. Hundreds of thousands of people, maybe millions. I called the police about this, but they seemed unconcerned.
Testing this (Score:3, Funny)
So how do I go about testing this on myself? (as 100 posts reply with my real name.... Scrooge McDuck)
Re:This only punishes the foolish (Score:3, Funny)
Re:This only punishes the foolish (Score:3, Funny)
Posting to clear moderation because I was brainless and didn't get the joke.
Real info? (Score:5, Funny)
Really, I wonder how many times people have used bugs like this to steal an identity, only to find that it's all fake info anyhow.
Personally, every few years, I Re-invent someone... Use a fake(completely fake, not false) identity for everything from Cellphones to gmail.
I google my real name, nothing, google my 'fake' like 20 pages. My 'fake' identity is WAY more famous than I am... I'm kinda jealous.
Re:Just how personal is this new spam (Score:5, Funny)
At least change the 'your' to 'his'. That might even get you more sales than sending it to the men.
Re:This only punishes the foolish (Score:5, Funny)
No, her parents named her Moon Unit. What kind of fucking name would "Quantum G" be?!?!
How to cause spammers pain: (Score:1, Funny)
Enter your name as the following:
'); DROP TABLE addresses --
Re:This only punishes the foolish (Score:5, Funny)
Re:This only punishes the foolish (Score:4, Funny)
Whooosh.
Re:This only punishes the foolish (Score:5, Funny)
There are two X's in Rolexx.
Re:This only punishes the foolish (Score:3, Funny)
Posting to say that I moderated you Funny, then realized that "[I've] already posted something in this discussion."
Re:Is This Evil? (Score:3, Funny)
About time you caught on
Re:This only punishes the foolish (Score:5, Funny)
Where 'firstname' and 'lastname' are my actual names.
Damn! Some nasty name you got there! Perhaps I'll name my son 'firstname' too!
Re:This only punishes the foolish (Score:5, Funny)
Gaping security hole reveals same info I send out (Score:4, Funny)
I was like, really concerned for a minute. I thought spammers had managed to access something *important* or something.
So, this is about someone that already knows my email address accessing the "name" that I show on every email I send out?
To quote "The Whole Nine Yards" -
*Oh* *My* *Gawd*!
Pug
Re:I can't believe Google would do this! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Spam doesn't worry me, it's privacy. (Score:4, Funny)
But... What if were to tell you that my real Gmail address is "ToddDavis@gmail.com" AND I AM Protected With "LifeLock"!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zuom4j3-dGY [youtube.com]
That's why my gmail address... (Score:5, Funny)
is just my Social Security number.
Re:This only punishes the foolish (Score:5, Funny)
Hmmm... (Score:3, Funny)
However, there exists one and only one of me.
I wouldn't be so sure of that. I've run into many people in my time who were "Motherfucking Shit"s.
Re:This only punishes the foolish (Score:3, Funny)
I'll stick with my tiny, anonymized 3rd party free web based (and solar hosted) email provider, thanks.
I'll stick to earth-based email providers, thank you very much. Though off-planet backups are helpful in case of catastrophe.
Re:Is This Evil? (Score:3, Funny)
A motto that, by its own grammar, violates itself? Brilliant!
Re:This only punishes the foolish (Score:4, Funny)
Re:D'Oh (Score:5, Funny)
Re:This only punishes the foolish (Score:5, Funny)
mine goes to thirteen...
Re:I can't believe Google would do this! (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Ouf (Score:3, Funny)
The person(s) responsible for this bug is going to have a nice and very uncomfy meeting with their supervisor very soon...
But who was responsible? Let the Ginquisition begin!
Google has persistently pursued innovation and pushed the limits of existing technology to provide a fast, accurate and easy-to-use torture room that can be accessed from anywhere.
Re:Ut Oh (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Why would anyone give Google honest information (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Ut Oh (Score:2, Funny)
Re:This only punishes the foolish (Score:3, Funny)
I'm going to name my kid 'lastname' instead.
So's mine. (Score:5, Funny)
I wondered why all the spam was suddenly titled, "Hey Satanic!" and "Dear Mr. Puppy"
Re:This only punishes the foolish (Score:2, Funny)
....
The category is Therapists. Not The Rapists, Mr. Connery.
Re:This only punishes the foolish (Score:2, Funny)
Re:This only punishes the foolish (Score:2, Funny)