Cute Story
Its a really cute story and it paints a very narrow picture of events as perceived by the writer. True, Google did in fact collect data from unencrypted WiFi networks around the globe. They dont deny this. A few things the writer failed to mention was.
1. The code to gather the data was written for another project that was scrapped, but the code wasnt removed.
2. Google was cycling channels at 6 times per second.
Number two is really the big one here. First of all. You would have to be using your machine at the time the Google car passed by your house. Google doesnt take these street views at night. A good portion of the planet works during the day. Read... Not at home. Assuming you were at home, online and USING your PC. Whats the range of your WiFi? How far do you think it would broadcast? Factor that in with the channel cycling that happened at 6 channels per second and tell me just how much data do you think Google would have been collecting from a moving vehicle? Im thinking its not going to be very much.
I think governments and people in general over sensationalizing this beyond what it really is. Snippets of fragmented data. AT BEST.
That said... if you really are that concerned with your privacy, dont leave your wireless network open. Not being tech savvy is not an excuse for an open network. Its usually recommended in the set up manuals these days.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
