Privacy Group Calls Google Latitude a Real 'Danger' 227
CWmike writes "Privacy International is calling Google's new mapping application an 'unnecessary danger' to users' security and privacy. The criticism follows the unveiling this week of Google Latitude, an upgrade to Google Maps that allows people to track the exact location of friends or family through their mobile devices. Google Latitude not only shows the location of friends, but it can also be used to contact them via SMS, Google Talk or Gmail. 'Many people will see Latitude as a cool product, but the reality is that Google has yet again failed to deliver strong privacy and security,' said Simon Davies, director of London-based Privacy International, in a statement. The group's chief concern is that Google Latitude lacks sufficient safeguards to keep someone from surreptitiously opting into the tracking feature on someone else's device."
Re:Everyone focuses on the negative (Score:5, Funny)
Ha, I just use their wireless network to open up word pad and type "TURN DOWN THE DAMN MUSIC" in 50 pt font.
Plenty of tin foil to spare (Score:5, Funny)
Solution (Score:1, Funny)
I have a solution. I have location off on my phone, and no intent of installing Google Latitude on it.
Plus, I have a Motorola W755 through Verizon with no data plan. :-)
Re:Everyone focuses on the negative (Score:3, Funny)
Since nowadays the music is almost always a MP3, just produce a blue screen or kernel panic, and that'll quiet 'em down for a few hours, while Vista tries to boot back up.
Re:Tell me again (Score:5, Funny)
If I had to guess, somewhere in Portland?
Putting two Google stories together... (Score:5, Funny)
up with
plus a little hacking and amaze your friends and family as you wander along the bottom of the Mariana Trench.
kiddy track (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Tell me again (Score:3, Funny)
If I had to guess, somewhere in Portland?
Oregon or Maine?
Re:Everyone focuses on the negative (Score:3, Funny)
Right now I'm one broke mofo. I pity the fool that tries to steal my ID. Now you have all my financial information that is relevant. Go for it. One way to protect against ID theft is to be cause the ID thief more harm by using your ID.
Re:Everyone focuses on the negative (Score:5, Funny)
I use my fiberglass handle 3" cable cutters, snip the conduit clean through right above the electric meter and the music will come down to acceptable levels. Warning, you will see really big sparks just before the fuses on the pole blow.
P.S.: If you use the wrong type cutter, you will simply die a very horrible death.
P.P.S: run fast afterwards and flip your main breaker to fake that you got hit as well. en flip it on saying it must have tripped your main when it happened.
Re:Everyone focuses on the negative (Score:5, Funny)
If its like the brand new Toshiba laptop I just purchased w/ Vista on it, just plug in a mouse.
Bam, instant BSOD.
When it happened to me, I was quite impressed as you can imagine.
But that would require actually going to the neighbor's house in the first place. At that point you might as well just _ask_ them to turn down the music.
My solution is Pantera. No matter what the neighbors are playing, Pantera is louder. "Fucking Hostile" is over in under three minutes, and by that time 12 other neighbors have already called the cops or taken up arms themselves.
Re:Everyone focuses on the negative (Score:3, Funny)
If the government agencies and large corporations already knew everything that Google Latitude reveals, and they do, then I didn't lose any privacy. Neither did any of you. You can't lose what you didn't have.
I don't care about the government knowing about my secret love affairs. I don't want my wife knowing, though.
Re:Everyone focuses on the negative (Score:3, Funny)
My solution is Pantera. No matter what the neighbors are playing, Pantera is louder. "Fucking Hostile" is over in under three minutes, and by that time 12 other neighbors have already called the cops or taken up arms themselves.
If you did that to me, I'd stop the music, join the torch-and-pitchfork mob and point them to your house.
Re:Everyone focuses on the negative (Score:2, Funny)
Homeland Security will be around shortly to confiscate them and ask you some very important questions. In accordance with the USA PATRIOT act you may be subject to criminal prosecution if you discuss this investigation.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation, citizen.
Re:Everyone focuses on the negative (Score:3, Funny)
That is why I have bullet proof glass and meter-thick walls, just in case you were wondering.
Re:Everyone focuses on the negative (Score:3, Funny)
Barrett Arms 50 cal Model 82A1 - Check
Ammonium Nitrate - Check
Diesel Fuel - Check
Detonator - Check
Iron pipe - Check
Glass bottle and rag - Check
I'm pretty sure it isn't a problem. :)