Is Google Now really bad for your privacy?

[Pre-dawn raid]

This is 2012, there IS no more privacy...ask General Petraeus.

 

[KwietStorm]

You think that's air you're breathing?

 

[applehunterforreal450]

In theory couldn't I just use Firefox, a yahoo account and a Mapquest app and be safe?

 

[pauldroidr2d2]

By enabling Google now, is it constantly sending your location/private information to Google without you knowing? Or does it send information only whenever you use it like with Apple's Siri? I am hesitant to use Google Now for this reason. It seems annoying if every hour even when your not using the phone, information is being sent to Google that may not only drain battery, but also just the fact that information is being sent to Google constantly may have some drain on battery life like it or not.

It is no worse than your phone carrier or for that matter the government. Both of whom collect and store data on you than most any other group.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[jd914]

Privacy is a thing of the past, if you don't want divulge your personal information or have privacy concerns, disconnect yourself from the grid and go live in the wilderness.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

[applehunterforreal450]

Privacy is a thing of the past, if you don't want divulge your personal information or have privacy concerns, disconnect yourself from the grid and go live in the wilderness.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

Or get a pre-paid plan?

 

[jd914]

Or get a pre-paid plan?

nope, you still have to provide information when activating (be it fake or real) PLUS apps and services associated with your device will require your consent to provide information.

 

[gone down south]

Or get a pre-paid plan?

It's not the carrier plan that tracks you, it's all the websites you visit and the places you sign in/check in/create accounts.

 

[minnemike]

Privacy is a thing of the past, if you don't want divulge your personal information or have privacy concerns, disconnect yourself from the grid and go live in the wilderness.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

^this - or simply give out misinformation - wrong birthday date, neighbor's address, nickname for you no one knows, etc etc etc

 

[pauldroidr2d2]

It's not the carrier plan that tracks you, it's all the websites you visit and the places you sign in/check in/create accounts.

The carriers are required to keep records on us for a number of years. That includes data, calls, etc.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

[gollum18]

Google owns me.

I for one welcome our Google overlords.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

I +1 this.

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[Slender Troll]

Google owns me.

I for one welcome our Google overlords.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

Same here.

Outdated yet Young Motorola Photon 4G

 

[applehunterforreal450]

Android is really no worse for your privacy than an iPhone right?

 

[jd914]

Android is really no worse for your privacy than an iPhone right?

Their both equally intrusive.

 

[Apollo565]

I am also very sceptical about it. The question I ask to everyone is would they agree to having a tracking chip implanted in them so that the party involved knows exactly where you are and what you are doing. In reality, isn't Google Now exactly this?

 

[idaute]

I am also very sceptical about it. The question I ask to everyone is would they agree to having a tracking chip implanted in them so that the party involved knows exactly where you are and what you are doing. In reality, isn't Google Now exactly this?

And Google is very much pro Big Brother in Wash. D.C. But this is what the 47% plus a few more want, so here we go.

Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk HD

 

[Slender Troll]

I am also very sceptical about it. The question I ask to everyone is would they agree to having a tracking chip implanted in them so that the party involved knows exactly where you are and what you are doing. In reality, isn't Google Now exactly this?

Not really, as you would have no control over what an implanted chip can access. With a mobile device you have more control of what Google now accesses and when you access it.

Sent from my Nexus 4/Nexus 7

 

[danielcj]

You can turn off tracking history. I don't have any history yet I get Google now services.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums

 

[tgp]

How else do you think those cards work? They can't send you traffic info or package delivery updates without knowing where you are/reading your email. Personally I think it's worth it for the services they can provide with that data.

I feel the same way. There is really no privacy anymore, so the data might as well be put to good use.

All the information that google gets daily is a bit concerning. But so far they've only publicly being using it for ads, so I won't complain since its convenient but ones I start seeing red flags or information mismanaged, am switching os.

To which one? See below:

Android is really no worse for your privacy than an iPhone right?

Right. At least Google is open about it.

Or get a pre-paid plan?

Besides the answers already given, most people pay for it with a credit card which has your name, address, phone number, mother's maiden name, .....

 

[Evoken]

Google owns me.

I for one welcome our Google overlords.

+1

If anything, thinking about online privacy has made me more conscious about my online "identity" and trail as well as the information about myself that is "out there". It has moved me to exercise more caution and control over what sort of information about myself I want others to see. Google gives me an incredible degree of control over this and I really like how they are so open and transparent about what exactly they do with the data you allow them to collect about yourself. I also applaud their efforts to be as transparent as possible about the data that Government agencies request about their users.

For my part I am immersed in Google's ecosystem and as I fully trust Google with my data, I give them access to everything, be it my web and location history in Google Now and Maps, usage statistics in Chrome, Gmail and Calendar based cards on Google Now as well as my Google+ account and files on Google Drive. I love their products and services and sharing my data with them only makes them work better and in return they can present me unobtrusive targeted ads that are actually relevant to things I might be interested in. I get better and free services and Google gets the data they need to better target ads and keep their business profitable. It is a win-win situation.

When it comes to the issue of online privacy, I think the issue is not, or at least should not be, about witholding all information about yourself from the internet (if that's your goal you should just stop using the internet altogether), but rather, making an informed and conscious decision about who you trust and share your personal information with. I like to think of it as when one chooses a bank or an insurance company. You make a choice of which bank you decide to trust with your personal information as well as your money and earning/expending habits and so you are confident that such information as well as your money is secure with them. It is not much different when it comes to the internet and with whom you decide to share your personal information, location and history as well as files such as photos and documents. For my part I choose Google, as I trust them and think my online "identity" as well as my data is secure with them. But someone else may choose Apple and their iCloud solution, or Yahoo, Microsoft, Dropbox or even Facebook.

In the end it is all a matter of making an informer decision and having control of your online data as well as being smart about it. If you do you shouldn't have anything to worry about.