Large Scale Chinese Attack on Google to Hit Human Rights Activists

As a response to the incident of a sophisticated Chinese attack on Google's infrastructure, the Chinese Google search has now been de-censored.

We have decided we are no longer willing to continue censoring our results on Google.cn, and so over the next few weeks we will be discussing with the Chinese government the basis on which we could operate an unfiltered search engine within the law, if at all. We recognize that this may well mean having to shut down Google.cn, and potentially our offices in China.

-- Google

Chrome for Linux without the Spyware

When you get Chrome for Linux beta from Google or Chromium from the Ubuntu repository, there is some tracking code in there. Some say that's why Chrome is spyware or adware. Iron fixes this by removing the code to identify your brother. The download link can be found here. You may still be interested in getting the stop Google Ad tracking cookie. This link can always be found conveniently in my links section in the right column.

For Chrome, Google tells us we can:

From Chrome, click on the "Customize and Control Google Chrome" icon, and in the drop-down menu, select "Options"
Select the "Under the Hood" tab
Under "Cookie settings" select "Restrict how third-party cookies can be used

(http://www.google.com/ads/preferences/plugin/browsers.html#chrome)

But for me it's really called "Accept Cookies only from Sites I Visit".

Ubuntu One Privacy in the EU

I was just about to look into using Ubuntu One. But I chose not to, because I would have had to install tons of Gnome dependencies and use the Gnome client. It's not integrated to KDE yet. Then I read about their privacy policy, because recently we see a lot of bad privacy policies I would say. And I'm not too happy about what I read.

"Canonical may disclose any or all personal data and contents you have sent, posted or published if required to comply with applicable law or the order or requirement of a court, administrative agency or other governmental body." (https://one.ubuntu.com/terms/)

So if the local village chief somewhere in East Timor wants ("requires") to see your private documents, he is welcome to. Or do we use eiusdem generis rule? Well, I would still say any administrative agency is not very narrow. I think we can at the very least expect not only secret services or police, but any part of the US federal and local government to have access to any of your saved data at any time they require it and without any court orders. The link also lists as administrative agencies: the labor relations board or the Farm Credit Administration, the Maritime Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Drug Administration, Immigration and Naturalization Service or FCC and IRS. So quite a lot of people with potential access to all of your private information.

We don’t share your personal information with anyone except to provide you with services, comply with the law, or protect our rights. (https://one.ubuntu.com/privacy/)

Canonical's rights could be a lot of things I think. Maybe it could include the right to get payed by you? If you didn't pay in time, it looks to me that by the contract terms they might share your personal information with "anyone" to protect their right to be payed.

The quotes are from the UK version of Ubuntu One, but probably apply similar everywhere. I think they actually really tried to make it privacy friendly. But at the same time, they really wanted to make sure they couldn't possible get in trouble through protecting your privacy.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a lawyer - this is not legal advise. This is just a discussion view and a try to inform the general public about something that may or may not be interpreted by professionals as here stated. You are invited to share your views in the comments.

Browser Privacy Package: Disabling Flash Cookies, Google Analytics and Google Ads tracking

Flash cookies are a way to identify you even if you disabled your browsers identification and even all your cookies. Here's a guide how to disable flash cookies. Basically it deletes ~/.macromedia and creates a symlink to /dev/null instead. :) I suggest to delete .macromedia/Flash_Player and symlink that to /dev/null. That way it won't interfere with other macromedia software.

You can see what cookies are already installed with e.g.

find ~/.macromedia -iname '*.sol'
strings .macromedia/Flash_Player/macromedia.com/support/flashplayer/sys/#skype.com/settings.sol# helps to see what's inside the cookies.

You probably also want to disable or restrict google's cookies. And you might want to opt out of Google Analytics. A quick overview and opt-out page for the other large advertising group's cookies
is also available.

Also check how to disable Facebook tracking you on other websites. And you may just want to install the Chrome AdThwart extension.

The just released Flash 10.1 supports a mode without flash cookies if your browser supports a private surfing mode and Flash is compatible with your browser's setting. I think that's mostly Firefox.

Google and Privacy Part Two: Ad Privacy Settings

I've already written about the Google Ad Cookie Opt-Out. Now Google is introducing even more personal tracking of your private information. Here you can change your google ad tracking settings and chose to prevent Google from tracking your preferences. There's also a plugin that ensures that the tracking remains deactivated even if you delete your cookies.

Both links will stay available in the links section on the right hand side.

Why we shouldn't trust Google

Danielweb explains quite well why there might be other priorities for Google than your privacy. I wish to add government policies to that list, as already in China and Europe and soon possibly everywhere.

Digital Traces

The New York Times has a very interesting article about the digital traces we leave and a completely new generation of Big Brother approaching.

Iron - Chrome after Rehab

Some German developers put Google's Open Source Chrome browser into a rehab and removed most of it's spying functions. They call it Iron and you can already download it for Windows. It's from German developers but works fine in English. Be aware that the security problems are probably not fixed.

And don't forget to disable the Google Ad cookie (permanent link in my links box on the right side of the webpage)! ;-)