The Giant Google

Google is expanding, and it can have so much data about you that you might not even aware of. But can we trust it with so much data?


Is Google Too Big?

Google is popular as a search engine, but it's really more than that. Now you have emails run by Google, along with word processors, spreadsheets, and presentations. Add to that Google's Picasa, Maps, and other things. Google is becoming big - too big perhaps.

With all that online services available from Google, it's not really a shocking revelation that it knows a lot of information about you.

The question is can you trust Google with your data?

This is a short list of what Google knows about you:

• Google Search
  Tying your search history to your browsing activities via the DoubleClick advertising network gives the company a much more detailed view of your online activities
  


• GMail
  The routing information and content of your mail--including any attachments--reside unencrypted on Google servers. Loss of, or unauthorized access to, business correspondence increases your company's legal exposure
  


• Google Docs and Spreadsheets
  Your files are stored unencrypted on Google servers. A business could be found negligent if it loses, or allows unauthorized access to, business documents. Until applications supporting Google Gears arrive, you lose access to your files when your Internet connection fails
  


• Picasa Web Albums
  Photographs in albums designated "unlisted" can still be viewed by anyone who knows the URL. At present you have no option to view or back up your albums offline
  


• Google Calendar
  Your daily schedule and associated information reside unencrypted on Google servers. Loss of, or unauthorized access to, business information puts your company at risk. You can't open your calendar without an Internet link, although this will change with the arrival of the Google Gears browser extension
  


• Google Desktop
  If you neglect to lock the search function, anyone using your PC has access to your personal files. Copies of business documents may be stored on Google servers, making them susceptible to loss or unauthorized access
  


• Google Talk
  Instant-message logs can be archived and searched in Gmail
  


• Google Product Search
  A log of your product searches could be associated with your browsing history via the pending DoubleClick acquisition
  
  Source: PCWORLD.com

The question is, can you trust Google with all that information about you? And since the data resides unencrypted on Google's server, who knows who can access your data - the government? agencies, hackers, rival business?

Google's online trove of personal and sensitive information is proving attractive to law enforcing agencies. In the previous year, Google has prevented the Department of Justice from demanding millions of search queries, stating that this is an invasion of privacy.

Google also said that it will begin clearing out some personal information of users, like their IP address, after 18 months from its logs, though this step may be insufficient for security-conscious users.

I'm not saying your data is at-risk all the time, but you should take precautions over what to store with Google. Also, Google should take steps to prevent unauthorized access and enforce privacy restrictions on the data it stores.