little_old_man Posted June 24, 2015 Member ID: 1194 Group: ***- Inactive Clan Members Followers: 40 Topic Count: 436 Topics Per Day: 0.08 Content Count: 6692 Content Per Day: 1.21 Reputation: 11691 Achievement Points: 53094 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 76 Joined: 02/27/10 Status: Offline Last Seen: April 16, 2023 Birthday: 04/15/1960 Posted June 24, 2015 This isn't a hoax. I just read it on MSN this morning. http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/google-eavesdropping-tool-installed-on-computers-without-permission/ar-AAc1CpO Privacy campaigners and open source developers are up in arms over the secret installing of Google software which is capable of listening in on conversations held in front of a computer. First spotted by open source developers, the Chromium browser – the open source basis for Google’s Chrome – began remotely installing audio-snooping code that was capable of listening to users. It was designed to support Chrome’s new “OK, Google” hotword detection – which makes the computer respond when you talk to it – but was installed, and, some users have claimed, it is activated on computers without their permission. “Without consent, Google’s code had downloaded a black box of code that – according to itself – had turned on the microphone and was actively listening to your room,” said Rick Falkvinge, the Pirate party founder, in a blog post. “Which means that your computer had been stealth configured to send what was being said in your room to somebody else, to a private company in another country, without your consent or knowledge, an audio transmission triggered by … an unknown and unverifiable set of conditions.” The feature is installed by default as part of Google’s Chrome browser. But open source advocates are up in arms about it also being installed with the open source variant Chromium, because the listening code is considered to be “black box”, not part of the open source audit process. “We don’t know and can’t know what this black box does,” said Falkvinge. Opt-in or opt-outGoogle responded to complaints via its developer boards. It said: “While we do download the hotword module on startup, we do not activate it unless you opt in to hotwording.” However, reports from developers indicate otherwise. After having identified Chromium as the culprit, developer Ofer Zelig said in a blog post: “While I was working I thought ‘I’m noticing that an LED goes on and off, on the corner of my eyesight [webcam]’. And after a few times when it just seemed weird, I sat to watch for it and saw it happening. Every few seconds or so.” Google also blamed the Linux distribution Debian for downloading the non-open source component with Chromium automatically, rather than Google Chrome. “The key here is that Chromium is not a Google product. We do not directly distribute it, or make any guarantees with respect to compliance with various open source policies,” Google developer mgiuca said. Falkvinge countered Google’s explanations saying: “The default install will still wiretap your room without your consent, unless you opt out, and more importantly, know that you need to opt out, which is nowhere a reasonable requirement.” He says a hardware switch to disable the microphone and camera built into most computers is needed. Voice search functions have become an accepted feature of modern smartphones, but their movement into the home through the smart TV, and now browser, have caused concerns over the possibility of being listened to within the home. While most services require a user to opt in, privacy advocates have questioned whether their use, which requires sending voice recordings over the internet to company servers for processing, risks unintentionally exposing private conversations held within the home. Logan, Stringer, Millpucky and 1 other 4 Awards
hxtr Posted June 24, 2015 Member ID: 220 Group: **- Inactive Registered Users Followers: 147 Topic Count: 595 Topics Per Day: 0.10 Content Count: 16950 Content Per Day: 2.96 Reputation: 13538 Achievement Points: 129714 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 120 Joined: 09/04/09 Status: Offline Last Seen: October 26, 2023 Birthday: 04/05/1970 Posted June 24, 2015 Not surprising since the CIA gave Google their search engine. How the CIA made Googlehttps://medium.com/insurge-intelligence/how-the-cia-made-google-e836451a959e Damage_inc-, Logan, Barron and 2 others 5
Damage_inc- Posted June 25, 2015 Member ID: 2048 Group: ***- Inactive Clan Members Followers: 0 Topic Count: 294 Topics Per Day: 0.06 Content Count: 6689 Content Per Day: 1.27 Reputation: 4709 Achievement Points: 48999 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 5 Joined: 12/15/10 Status: Offline Last Seen: November 29, 2023 Birthday: 05/30/1967 Posted June 25, 2015 the only fucking browser that has given me several pups and browser hijackers .no wonder.stick with firefox Stringer, Logan, Yop and 3 others 6 Awards
Joe Canadian Posted June 25, 2015 Member ID: 822 Group: ***- Inactive Clan Members Followers: 87 Topic Count: 317 Topics Per Day: 0.06 Content Count: 5477 Content Per Day: 0.97 Reputation: 5025 Achievement Points: 42632 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 20 Joined: 12/02/09 Status: Offline Last Seen: October 25, 2023 Birthday: 03/01/1967 Posted June 25, 2015 Thanks for the info LOM Logan and Stringer 2 Awards
TheLastColdBeer Posted June 25, 2015 Member ID: 489 Group: ***- Inactive Clan Members Followers: 52 Topic Count: 553 Topics Per Day: 0.10 Content Count: 4745 Content Per Day: 0.83 Reputation: 6058 Achievement Points: 42053 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 18 Joined: 09/22/09 Status: Offline Last Seen: December 23, 2024 Birthday: 01/09/1963 Device: Android Posted June 25, 2015 So annoyed that I switched to firefox on my desktop machine. F'ing bastards have no courtesy towards anyone anymore. hxtr, Millpucky, Stringer and 1 other 4 Awards
Cylon Posted June 26, 2015 Member ID: 2447 Group: ***- Inactive Clan Members Followers: 13 Topic Count: 24 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 306 Content Per Day: 0.06 Reputation: 226 Achievement Points: 2172 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 05/01/11 Status: Offline Last Seen: October 20, 2023 Birthday: 09/07/1993 Posted June 26, 2015 Hm, I've never had a problem with chrome, this is interesting but I'm not going to stop using it because of this. It's not the only company that is doing this, almost every app on a phone does the same thing tracks and listens don't you just love technology.. Awards
Sammy Posted June 26, 2015 Member ID: 3036 Group: ***- Inactive Clan Members Followers: 32 Topic Count: 219 Topics Per Day: 0.04 Content Count: 9419 Content Per Day: 1.92 Reputation: 7515 Achievement Points: 62539 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 21 Joined: 11/29/11 Status: Offline Last Seen: March 17 Birthday: 04/26/2008 Device: Windows Posted June 26, 2015 I guess the difference is that you knew up front that your phone did this. On the other hand this was done in secret and potentially suspicious. Awards
Millpucky Posted June 26, 2015 Member ID: 20439 Group: *** Clan Members Followers: 8 Topic Count: 14 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 356 Content Per Day: 0.08 Reputation: 276 Achievement Points: 2831 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 10/24/13 Status: Offline Last Seen: 4 hours ago Birthday: 09/22/1973 Device: Windows Posted June 26, 2015 WTF!!!!???? That's all I have to say. LOL. Awards
Blaze Posted June 26, 2015 Member ID: 2702 Group: ***- Inactive Clan Members Followers: 9 Topic Count: 105 Topics Per Day: 0.02 Content Count: 1088 Content Per Day: 0.22 Reputation: 965 Achievement Points: 8625 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 4 Joined: 07/27/11 Status: Offline Last Seen: March 29 Birthday: 11/26/1978 Device: Windows Posted June 26, 2015 Settings Show advanced settings Search Make sure "Allow Ok google to start a voice search" check box is clear. Hardly a conspiracy to listen to whether my missus wants a cuppa or not! lol Awards
hxtr Posted June 26, 2015 Member ID: 220 Group: **- Inactive Registered Users Followers: 147 Topic Count: 595 Topics Per Day: 0.10 Content Count: 16950 Content Per Day: 2.96 Reputation: 13538 Achievement Points: 129714 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 120 Joined: 09/04/09 Status: Offline Last Seen: October 26, 2023 Birthday: 04/05/1970 Posted June 26, 2015 (edited) Settings Show advanced settings Search Make sure "Allow Ok google to start a voice search" check box is clear. Hardly a conspiracy to listen to whether my missus wants a cuppa or not! lol If you love at Ricko's house it sounds like a sitcom TV show in the background. Edited June 26, 2015 by hxtr
Logan Posted June 27, 2015 Member ID: 582 Group: ++ COD2 Admin Followers: 20 Topic Count: 33 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 361 Content Per Day: 0.06 Reputation: 389 Achievement Points: 3272 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 10/17/09 Status: Offline Last Seen: May 1, 2020 Birthday: 11/22/1956 Posted June 27, 2015 Don't give into them Cylon, you are probably right, but now that Google is exposed, it's time to tell them it's not right and they can take their browser/engines and stick em where the sun don't shine. I got rid of all my Google stuff. hxtr 1 Awards
Sammy Posted June 27, 2015 Member ID: 3036 Group: ***- Inactive Clan Members Followers: 32 Topic Count: 219 Topics Per Day: 0.04 Content Count: 9419 Content Per Day: 1.92 Reputation: 7515 Achievement Points: 62539 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 21 Joined: 11/29/11 Status: Offline Last Seen: March 17 Birthday: 04/26/2008 Device: Windows Posted June 27, 2015 If you love at Ricko's house it sounds like a sitcom TV show in the background. I have never loved at Ricko's house. hxtr 1 Awards
hxtr Posted June 27, 2015 Member ID: 220 Group: **- Inactive Registered Users Followers: 147 Topic Count: 595 Topics Per Day: 0.10 Content Count: 16950 Content Per Day: 2.96 Reputation: 13538 Achievement Points: 129714 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 120 Joined: 09/04/09 Status: Offline Last Seen: October 26, 2023 Birthday: 04/05/1970 Posted June 27, 2015 (edited) I have never loved at Ricko's house. You will love it. lol hahaha I was born a TypeO I know what I was trying to say.. but what was I thinking to say that? Edited June 27, 2015 by hxtr
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