Google and privacy

[afv011]

Originally Posted by HarryT

They are not "getting your email address" - Google are simply delivering a message to you. It's no different to someone here at MR sending you a PM. The sender does not know your email address.

Now, you had to spoil the fun with some facts, I had my tinfoil hat sweatshop lined up!

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by HarryT

They are not "getting your email address" - Google are simply delivering a message to you. It's no different to someone here at MR sending you a PM. The sender does not know your email address.

From what I understand it isn't like MR because MR doesn't allow a person to email you, it allows you to send a PM. Google is allowing someone to email you without having your email address.

If you didn't know that Google did this or didn't understand how it works, you could reply to the message without realizing that doing that *will* give that person your email address. I can picture someone receiving an unwanted email and replying with "how did you get my email address".

From the article: "Your address will not be visible to a Google+ connection until you actually send a message, and vice versa." I took this to mean that if you reply then the sender will now have your email address.

[AndrewH]

The email address might by obfuscated... Similar to how Craigslist does it.

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by AndrewH

The email address might by obfuscated... Similar to how Craigslist does it.

Yes, but if you reply they will now have it, right? At least that's what it looks like with Google. I can see myself doing something stupid like that.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

I took this to mean that if you reply then the sender will now have your email address.

This is correct. But anybody who would reply to an email from an unrecognized sender in this day and age probably shouldn't have their own email, quite frankly.

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

This is correct. But anybody who would reply to an email from an unrecognized sender in this day and age probably shouldn't have their own email, quite frankly.

Yes, but I was thinking of the situation where it is someone you know but someone who you didn't want to have your email address. Like an ex or something. But even if you don't reply they can continue to send you email after email.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

But even if you don't reply they can continue to send you email after email.

Right up until you change that Google+ setting that allowed them to do so in the first place. They don't have your email address until you reply.

I'm not saying it's not a good idea to change the default setting. I just don't think the topic (<insert huge corporation> is bad) deserves as much air-time as it's gotten all over the internet (not just here) recently. It's just the way things are on the internet now.

Anyone who doesn't periodically check/revise the privacy settings of the various online accounts they've registered for (of their own accord) is being foolhardy (or has accepted and/or dismissed the risk). They change too often NOT to pay attention to them. Especially if your privacy is something you (rhetorical you) cherish. Because lets face it: no one is ever going to care about your privacy as much as you do. So why not assume full-time responsibility for maintaining it instead of waiting for "emergencies" to remind you?

Why not encourage people to regularly audit their own security/privacy profiles instead of waiting for the latest privacy-travesty chain-letter to catch the fancy of internet newsfeeds and social-media?

EDIT: Seriously, there's a lot of yous in my post. I just want to be clear that they're not to be construed as a direct response to Purple Lady--with whom I have no intentions of picking a fight.

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Right up until you change that Google+ setting that allowed them to do so in the first place. They don't have your email address until you reply.

I'm not saying it's not a good idea to change the default setting. I just don't think the topic (<insert huge corporation> is bad) deserves as much air-time as it's gotten all over the internet (not just here) recently. It's just the way things are on the internet now.

Anyone who doesn't periodically check/revise the privacy settings of the various online accounts they've registered for (of their own accord) is being foolhardy (or has accepted and/or dismissed the risk). They change too often NOT to pay attention to them. Especially if your privacy is something you (rhetorical you) cherish. Because lets face it: no one is ever going to care about your privacy as much as you do. So why not assume full-time responsibility for maintaining it instead of waiting for "emergencies" to remind you?

Why not encourage people to regularly audit their own security/privacy profiles instead of waiting for the latest privacy-travesty chain-letter to catch the fancy of internet newsfeeds and social-media?

EDIT: Seriously, there's a lot of yous in my post. I just want to be clear that they're not to be construed as a direct response to Purple Lady--with whom I have no intentions of picking a fight.

I hadn't meant this as big bad Google, just wanted to let people know to check their settings if they want to. I wouldn't have known about this except for seeing it in an rss feed. The only thing I use my Google email address and Google+ for is for Android stuff.

No intentions of picking a fight? I'm not good enough to pick a fight with?

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

No intentions of picking a fight? I'm not good enough to pick a fight with?

Oooh, what a tricky, loaded question.

[AndrewH]

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

Yes, but if you reply they will now have it, right? At least that's what it looks like with Google. I can see myself doing something stupid like that.

Who knows? I've exchanged a few emails with someone who posted a Craigslist ad, the initial email came from me hitting the "reply" button on Craigslist... I still don't have the person's email. Maybe this will be similar. No sense throwing up our arms till we know, eh?

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

Yes, but I was thinking of the situation where it is someone you know but someone who you didn't want to have your email address. Like an ex or something. But even if you don't reply they can continue to send you email after email.

Not according to Google:
If you receive an email from someone outside your circles, it will be filtered into the Social category of the inbox (if enabled) and only after you respond or add them to your circles, can they start another conversation with you.

[afv011]

Deleted - duplicated post.

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Oooh, what a tricky, loaded question.

Just being a smartass - my boss tells me I am very good at that.

[taosaur]

Before there were social networks as we now know them, forums taught me to always check your notification settings. I've had a lot more unwanted emails from forums than from Google Plus. In fact, when I was blogging professionally I got a few useful messages because devs and PR people were able to reach me via G+.

In general I find Google provides a decent return on the information they collect, and Gmail certainly provides better filters than any other email service or program I've used. I have my issues with Google, particularly the directions they're driving Android, but I understand that all of the FREE!!! services I use are harvesting data from me to sell me or others something later. Mostly, I'm just fine with that.

[Penforhire]

More grist for the tinfoil hat brigade. Google just bought Nest! Now they'll know when you're home or not. Next up is naughty or nice...

[taosaur]

Eventually Google will start offering municipalities self-driving smart garbage trucks that paw through your trash as it's collected.