Google developing eavesdropping software

[Syrinx]

The idea appeared in Technology Review citing Peter Norvig, director of research at Google, who says these ideas will show up eventually in real Google products - sooner rather than later.

The idea is to use the existing PC microphone to listen to whatever is heard in the background, be it music, your phone going off or the TV turned down. The PC then identifies it, using fingerprinting, and then shows you relevant content, whether that's adverts or search results, or a chat room on the subject.

And, of course, we wouldn’t put it past Google to store that information away, along with the search terms it keeps that you've used, and the web pages you have visited, to help it create a personalised profile that feeds you just the right kind of adverts/content. And given that it is trying to develop alternative approaches to TV advertising, it could go the extra step and help send "content relevant" advertising to your TV as well.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/09/03/google_eavesdropping_software/print.html

[Kutjara]

1. It's so comforting to have my raging paranoia confirmed.

For several years, I've kept my computer's mic switched off and webcam disconnected unless I'm using them, just in case they could be hijacked by someone with no-good in mind and used to spy on me. Now it looks like I finally have a good reason for doing so.

So, in a way, Google have cured me of this neurosis, by making it a valid concern. Praise the Lord and Sergey Brin! I'm healed!

[crikkett]

15. want some more? Every speaker is a microphone.

(Google _that_ and see what ads you get! muahaha)

Seriously, though, try this http://www.scroogle.org
I use it for almost all of my searches now and I have dis-allowed google cookies in my browser. Instructions at scroogle.org

[peacebird]

2. will it be able to override the "mute" setting on a computer?

just curious....

[Wonk]

3. So much for google's "don't be evil" motto

Related humor: http://www.wired.com/news/columns/0,71094-0.html?tw=wn_index_26

[Eric J in MN]

4. Will this only affect people who have a microphone plugged

...into their computers?

[Nutmegger]

5. This is sickening.

And it's only going to get worse. :scared:

[BadgerKid]

6. I've started proxied web searches

after the AOL incident sank in.

http://www.blackboxsearch.com/
http://blog.nemik.net/2006/08/21/dont-leave-traces/

[EFerrari]

7. I think I know what this means but am not sure. Could you say more

for the tech impaired?

You do searches that can't be traced to your machine by ?

[BadgerKid]

12. Basically....

it adds a layer of obfuscation of your real IP address. Your search is run as if it's coming from the proxy server, so that's the address the search engines see. The catch is that the proxy server knows your address.

There's the Wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proxy_server
There's also something called the Tor network here http://tor.eff.org

Instead of using proxies, you can also have your browser delete your cookies on quitting or block cookies from selected sites altogether. In these ways you disallow the search engines from recording a contiguous history of searches that could be used to build a profile on you.

I'm not trying to be hot sh!t here...just trying to exercise my rights :)

[EFerrari]

13. Thank you for that great explanation. I have no desire to make it

easy for what little privacy I have to be violated. :)

[DemInDistress]

8. wow..I just visited blackboxsearch and at the top

of the page were 3 search bars Google..Yahoo..and MSN so I clicked the Google search bar and the Google page
popped up so I entered a 911 search and got a page of assorted videos. Then I looked into my cookies file on IE
and I was pleasantly surprised NO GOOGLE COOKIE.
So I tried it again this time I Googled 911 photos and a page came up. then I looked again at my cookie file and again NO GOOGLE COOKIE. Prior to this trial run I always had a Google cookie put into my file.

Wow. no sign ins, no email address, no names. I think this site goes into my favorite list.

Did you have the same result?

Now to try Yahoo..

on edit.. false alarm maybe I'll try and download the program

[DemInDistress]

11. the service cost 1.99 $ per month.. nt

[Deja Q]

9. So if they hear people groaning in the background...

will they send me lots of ads for H&R Block? :shrug:

[sproutster]

10. This would constitute and invasion of privacy --

Now I realize the google will (hopefully) ask you for permission. The powers that be - will not. We need to find out how this works. laptops have a built in microphone.

[eleny]

16. Maybe it will be an "opt out" choice thing

[Swamp Rat]

14. I hope they like VERY LOUD PUNK ROCK!

"I AM THE ANTI-CHRIST!!!" :headbang: