How much information do you really want to put on the web?
July 2nd, 2010 | 
Commodore128
Commodore128
Were this Google, I'd share all the personal information I have with it/her
What would you trust Google with? Is there a limit? Are there things that you would consider too private to use on Google’s services? It’s no secret that the Commodore stands firmly in the Google camp (almost always... and their turning it around in China). I use Gmail, Google Calendar, Gchat with video and audi conferencing, An Android phone, etc. This means that if someone were to uncover the sum total of my Google information, they’d have a pretty substantial picture of my life ranging from my friends, my schedule, my account info for lots of internet services and the like. But there are (hopefully) a few things to which they wouldn't find access. This gets me thinking though, as Google is working around the clock to offer more services with the ultimate goal of gathering even more information from all of us, so they can sell advertising (I mean it is there business model). On other words, if there is a chance that Google can get more info from you, they will do so.
I’m not making any kind of statement about what (dubious or otherwise) purposes Google would want my information for, I’m simply asking what I think is a good question for us as a web savvy society: What information is too sensitive for use (or storage) on the web?
Ask your parents what they think about putting any kind of information on the web. It wouldn’t take much of an information survey to figure out that folks that didn’t grow up with the technology are a bit more wary of its security potential. And that's a drastic understatement. Maybe your grandpa isn't still giving you the speech about needing a speed limit on the informtaion superhighway, but I'd bet all my Xbox Live points that ol grandpappy ain't doin his taxes online. So here's the question: Does this mean that the skeptical geezers are just distrusting of new things, or does it really mean that we, as people that wouldn’t think twice about buying something on Amazon with a credit card, are too trusting of it?
I can make a case for both. Think for a second about the process and the data involved in buying something online or using a Google app to store vital information. These things literally take mere seconds in the year 2010 (which incidentally is why we created the technology in the first place; to do things quickly right?) even though the complexity of these tasks exist on a level with which few of us could actually describe in any great detail. Isn’t that a scary proposition? You willingly hand over your personal data which blasts through networks in (virtual) far away locations, all the while trusting that nobody besides the people that should have any kind of access to it. Ever look into how data breaches and identitiy theft is accomplished? You'd be surprised. The fact is that we take things for granted every day in terms of storing and sharing our info on the web.
It's involved in almost everything we do. And honestly, many of the web's greatest features are available precisely because we provide our info. So is there a limit? Do you want Google to keep your blood type or say specifics about your genetic code that might be hepful if you ever needed emergency medical treatment? Even if this would create incredible results for advertisments starring Wilford Brimley for targeted useres with diabeeetus, I think we'd all be a bit uneasy about that info in the hands of people that weren't doctors. So I'll pose the question to all of you, anything you wouldn't share with Google?
I believe we have to embrace technology to a point, however I don't think the average person puts enough thought into throwing it all out there. I could go on for quite a while about my opinions on privacy and the power of information but I'm lacking the energy for a good solid rant :)
Reading 1984 anually probably doesn't help my world view either... heh.
Nice post Commodore.
The beast needs to be fed! Please enter your credit card number....
We live in an age where satelites in space can take a picture of a dime on a sidewalk in New York, needless to say we are being watched by Big Brother. I'm not one to give into conspircies pretty easy, but the wealth of information on people on the internet is pretty amazing when you think about it. A lot of that information you have no control over. Things like your criminal record and credit report have never been easier to get a hold of then they are today.
It's never been easier for peopel to get info you don't want them to have either. It's pretty easy to sneak a key logger in an active X control. Want to see that cute picture of the kitty waving at you? Cool, now i have your credit card and online banking info.
All the wonderus things we have in this age come at a price. What are we willing to pay for the vast resources of information at our finger tips?
Wait, you have a cute picture of a kitty waving at me? Which credit card should I enter? I'll pay any price!
A co-worker from the bookstore I was at at this awesome idea to make some quick cash.
You make a webiste and tell people "pay $.40 to see hot swinger!" then you enter your credit card info , pay their $.40, and you're treated to a gif of some people on a swing set in summer.
I think it would make a decent ammount of money before people caught on. nothing to retire on, but a decent chunk of change.
Nice read as usual. I try to find an equilibrium between having all the services internet can give me and at the same time being as discreet as possible about my info. The amount of information Google may have about us doesn't really bother me tho. Our countries have much more info on us and I feel much less comfortable about that.
Embrace chance but be cautious.