Tag: google
Google deceptively tracks students’ internet browsing, EFF says in FTC complaint
Electronic Frontier Foundation released a press release on Google tracking students’ internet browsing. While Google does not use student data for targeted advertising within a subset of Google sites, EFF found that Google’s “Sync” feature for the Chrome browser is enabled by default on Chromebooks sold to schools. This allows Google to track, store on…
Apple Music offers a peek into the future of Apple Inc, and its stark contrast to Google and Microsoft
AppleInsider reported on how Apple Music offers a peek into the future of Apple Inc, and its stark contrast to Google and Microsoft. In 2012, Google executives were reported to be upset with the lack of interest in Google Music, and particularly dismayed its inability to bring in revenue. One aspect that hurt its adoption…
Google’s Nexus phones are just ads
The Verge reported on Google’s Nexus phones being just ads. It almost seems innocuous, except that it’s not. There isn’t a single Android device manufacturer that is happy with the Nexus program, and I’ve spoken with them all. Those who build Nexuses for Google often do so reluctantly — with the possible exception of Huawei…
Google ‘Customer Match’ means your email address is now for sale to the highest bidder
Computing reported on Google ‘Customer Match’. Google is close to rolling out a tool named “Customer Match” which, it appears, will combine a logged-in Google account with any email address handed by a customer to a retailer to create lists of addresses to target specific users with marketing material. The search giant can sit comfortably…
Google’s own researchers challenge key Google PR on Android
Ars Technica reported on Google’s own researchers challenging key Android security talking point. Throughout the resulting media storm, Google PR people have repeatedly held up the assurance that the raft of stagefright vulnerabilities is difficult to exploit in practice on phones running recent Android versions. The reason, they said: address space layout randomization, which came…
The security flaw Google built into Android
MIT Technology Review reported on the security flaw Google built into Android. When security problems are discovered in Microsoft’s Windows operating system, or Apple’s mobile or desktop equivalents, those companies can push out an update to affected computers. You get a message telling you to install the update, direct from the company who made the…
Goodbye, Android
Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai wrote on Motherboard about switching from Andoird. As security expert Cem Paya put it, that was a conscious decision Google made when it created Android. Paya called it a Faustian deal: “cede control over Android, get market-share against iPhone.” Basically, Google was happy to let carriers put their bloatware on their Android phones…
Google Photos may be uploading your pics, even if you don’t want it to
David Arnott wrote on Nashville Business Journal about Google Photos uploading photos even if you don’t want it to. Five weeks later, on a whim, I figured I’d see if Google Photos had made any tweaks and re-downloaded the app. Instead of my pair of test photos, I saw hundreds of images. They weren’t synced…
Security researcher reveals that Google App Engine is vulnerable to attack
Digital Trends reported on Google App Engine’s vulnerability to attack. According to a report released on Seclist.org’s Full Disclosure, a new set of vulnerabilities could leave Google’s App Engine open to attack from a rudimentary Java exploit. Seven different unpatched holes were discovered by Adam Gowdiak, CEO of the Polish security firm Security Explorations. The…
What does Android mean?
Benedict Evans wrote about Android taxonomies. First, there are actually (at least) six types of ‘Android’ in the market today: ‘Stock’ Android, as seen on Google’s Nexus devices, complete with Google services (but with tiny unit sales) ‘Modified’ Android, as seen on phones from Samsung, Sony, LG etc, complete with Google services – generally, these…