"New impetus was given to the UK inquiry, which had originally ruled that no significant breach had occurred, following harsh criticisms of Google from the Canadian authorities. Last month it found that the search giant had breached its privacy laws.
"This incident was a serious violation of Canadian's privacy rights," privacy commissioner Jennifer Stoddart concluded.
But she said that no further action would be taken if Google tightened its privacy policies."
Fancy that! The only reason any kind of scrutiny is being given to this massive breach of privacy is because of the Canadians? I don't expect much of the Canadian government but they are pretty hot on privacy issues. But it is embarrassing that the UK authorities were not all over Google like a bad rash over this issue. It makes a mockery of the notion that we are safe when using our computers to go online.
Yet again, the government has failed you in protecting you from any company let alone Google and there is so much more that could be done which would not cost any money either. For a start, the Internet providers who ship these wireless routers could provide clear, simple instructions to assist the average user in securing their wireless networks. They could also have customer service people available to help a user over the phone.
Some, maybe most of the people out there using the Internet over a wireless connection probably don't realise that their wireless router in many cases is shipped out to you with default settings. These settings include there being NO wireless password on the connection, broadcasting your wireless network name so that anyone passing by or living nearby can see what it is, using a default username and password to gain access to the router itself and using a default ip address for the local network.
What does all that mean? Well, say I lived next door to you and you plugged your wireless router in and did nothing with the settings. Firstly, I would be able to see the name of your wireless connection. Then, if I knew the make of your router I would be able to find out from the Internet the default username and password and gain access to it. If you have not secured your wireless connection with a password, I would simply be able to log onto the Internet using your wireless network connection.
Once logged on to your connection, I could surf the Internet at no cost to me, do all kinds of bad things and here is the real issue, I would be able to see all of the computers connected to that router and if they are not secured with a password, be able to look at what is on your computer and steal any information.
So people, if you know that you have never changed any settings on your wireless router and connection, DO IT NOW! If you need help ask. Ring up your ISP and ask them for help with this, it is very important and don't let them charge you for the service, they should be providing that service free!
The Alternative Bollox.
