Google: Oops, We Spied on Your Wi-Fi

By: Marguerite Reardon
Topics: Tech Talk

A Google Street View car makes its rounds in Singapore in 2008.

(Credit: CNET Asia)

Google admitted in a blog post Friday that it has been snooping on Wi-Fi users as its Street View cars have been riding around neighborhoods throughout the world collecting data for its mapping service.

In a blog post, the company said it has parked its Street View cars and stopped collecting data after it realized that it has been inadvertently collecting data about people's online activities from unsecured Wi-Fi networks over the past four years. The disclosure could not come at a worse time for Google, following strident criticism over its Google Buzz launch from privacy experts and a growing unease among consumers regarding the amount of data it collects.

Google had apparently told German authorities last month that it had been collecting "publicly broadcast SSID information (the Wi-Fi network name) and MAC addresses (the unique number given to a device like a Wi-Fi router) using Street View cars." But it said that it did not collect payload data or information sent over the network.

Google now says that information was incorrect.

"It's now clear that we have been mistakenly collecting samples of payload data from open (i.e. non-password-protected) Wi-Fi networks, even though we never used that data in any Google products," Alan Eustace, senior vice president for engineering and research, wrote in the blog post.

Read the rest of this article on CNET News.com.

Marguerite Reardon has been a CNET News reporter since 2004, covering cell phone services, broadband, citywide Wi-Fi, the Net neutrality debate, as well as the ongoing consolidation of the phone companies.
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by IndiasWorstTechSupport May 16, 2010 1:11 PM EDT: Huh, who would've known it was Google that would be doing the spying. Of course, denial has always been the most responible answer. Honestly, I thought it would have been the Red Army to have a first crack at it but I guess I was wrong. Maybe not. Probably they already had a clue that Google was up to it's no good deeds that's why they kept their curtain up.

Also, you should change your SSID once every two months. As it identifies you or your location. The significance to changing it is as significant as changing your passwords routinely on all your email accounts. Better to be safe than sorry.; Reply to this comment


by rwsmith29456 May 15, 2010 5:42 PM EDT: If the data is unprotected and it happens to be caught during a legitimate operation like this, let the cars roll. I find the street views to be VERY helpful.; Reply to this comment

by AtLasOn1Kl733 May 15, 2010 4:55 PM EDT

I wonder who in the world would want to have an unencrypted wi-fi option on their computer. It should come standard with the prices you pay to buy a computer or laptop.

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by isanyonefair May 15, 2010 6:33 PM EDT: Apparently you don't have WiFi or a computer. Otherwise you would know that ALL current computer equipment have it built it. It only needs to be enabled. It IS "standard".

People need to be responsible and not blame others for their ignorance!


by RoboBlogger May 16, 2010 12:49 AM EDT: Gee, I think he/she was referring to it being "standardly" enabled. You know...so the non-computer literate people don't divulge whatever their surfing on in the internet. Sort of like those social-networking sites where if you don't want to share your information you have to physically check "no, I do not want to share my info" rather than having it already checked for you out of courtesy but I guess they want you to be a sucker before you realize it.

by isanyonefair May 15, 2010 2:47 PM EDT

In this day & age, if you don't encrypt your connection or communications, not only do you not really care about privacy, you are literally advertising your activity.

What is the difference between someone watching or overhearing you talking to someone in a crowded area and being monitored when you communicate unencrypted over wifi or web? NONE. Both take active effort on the eavesdropper and show perfect negligence on your part!

People are WAY too uptight about their privacy. Nobody really cares that much about you! And the people that do want your private information know how to get around your defenses. (Checked your computer lately for a trojan?)

Fact that Google inadvertently or otherwise collected mac addresses or SSID's is useless. The meaningful part is that those networks were unencrypted. And that, anyone can figure out by driving around.

Its amusing that there are those that freak out whenever they find that a corporation has information about them. And then those that go out of their way to give corporation's their information (i.e. facebook, myspace, ...).

Really, what's more important, your MAC address (do you know what it is?) or the fact that you are financially comfortable to take that upcoming vacation?

Guess what, corporations have LOTS of information on all of us. And they have the mathematicians & developers to determine your individual, social & group think habits based on this information to target you as a consumer for their products & services. Beyond that, they couldn't care less about you.

If you really care about your Privacy: first, cut up your credit cards; second, disconnect, your phone; third, cut your ties to anything internet.

Yep ... didn't think you really care that much.

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by imthaid May 16, 2010 5:57 PM EDT: Actually, it may be very good to use an unsecure wi-fi connection. Think hard!


by gruven13777 May 15, 2010 2:17 PM EDT: Inadvertently my butt.

You have to go out of your way to do something like that.; Reply to this comment


by RoboBlogger May 15, 2010 1:46 AM EDT: If you think that's weird. Wait until they play with your emotions by posting your passwords within the sponsored links section of your webpage. I guess nobody ever really pays attention to those links or notice the little things on their page.; Reply to this comment