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Google is well aware this is a problem and actively obfuscates ways to get connected to support (unless you pay them extra, of course) so I have a real hard tim

Google is well aware this is a problem and actively obfuscates ways to get connected to support (unless you pay them extra, of course) so I have a real hard time accepting this as an "honest" mistake.

DaiPlusPlus 5y ago
I mean the account lock-out was probably an honest mistake. The lack of support, however, is not - and is part of Google’s business model.
- Kim_Bruning 5y ago
  Hmm, Isn't this moving the overton window? Should we accept that they were viewing his data in the first place?
  - skoskie 5y ago
    So much this. Host locally, and push encrypted backups to a cloud service. Doing this will screw Google’s ability to optimize storage for identical files, which may drive up costs, but it’s the best way to ensure your data stays private.
    - FpUser 5y ago
      >"So much this. Host locally, and push encrypted backups to a cloud service." Host locally and RENT backup servers in couple of places. Those cost peanuts and are highly reliable.
    - TedDoesntTalk 5y ago
      Do you have this automated?
  - b0tzzzzzzman 5y ago
    We should but, g00gl e employees are 10% of HN it seems. No one who works for a powerful entity likes admitting they are more or less powerless to daily statments they see on here. It's like how anyone with tech awareness watches the goal posts keep moving.. Yes, I know alternatives and mitigation and ECT. Power is a fickle mistress.
  - wintermutestwin 5y ago
    @skosie >Host locally, and push encrypted backups to a cloud service. Is there any "grandparent friendly" way to do this today?
    - nh2 5y ago
      Give them a NAS / old PC with shared network folder (Windows context menu or Samba on Linux), replicate the parts they want on phones etc. with Syncthing, and use any encrypted backup tool of your choice for the cloud backup.
kbenson 5y ago
Often people put quotes (or even air-quotes) around things to imply it's sarcasm or that it's only that thing if you can suspend disbelief, so I don't think there's any disagreement there. Additionally, making them accountable for these mistakes is a way to actually have them resolve them, so honest or not, it's likely to stop of decrease in occurrence then.

DaiPlusPlus 5y ago

I mean the account lock-out was probably an honest mistake. The lack of support, however, is not - and is part of Google’s business model.

Kim_Bruning 5y ago
Hmm, Isn't this moving the overton window? Should we accept that they were viewing his data in the first place?
- skoskie 5y ago
  So much this. Host locally, and push encrypted backups to a cloud service. Doing this will screw Google’s ability to optimize storage for identical files, which may drive up costs, but it’s the best way to ensure your data stays private.
  - FpUser 5y ago
    >"So much this. Host locally, and push encrypted backups to a cloud service." Host locally and RENT backup servers in couple of places. Those cost peanuts and are highly reliable.
  - TedDoesntTalk 5y ago
    Do you have this automated?
- b0tzzzzzzman 5y ago
  We should but, g00gl e employees are 10% of HN it seems. No one who works for a powerful entity likes admitting they are more or less powerless to daily statments they see on here. It's like how anyone with tech awareness watches the goal posts keep moving.. Yes, I know alternatives and mitigation and ECT. Power is a fickle mistress.
- wintermutestwin 5y ago
  @skosie >Host locally, and push encrypted backups to a cloud service. Is there any "grandparent friendly" way to do this today?
  - nh2 5y ago
    Give them a NAS / old PC with shared network folder (Windows context menu or Samba on Linux), replicate the parts they want on phones etc. with Syncthing, and use any encrypted backup tool of your choice for the cloud backup.

kbenson 5y ago

Often people put quotes (or even air-quotes) around things to imply it's sarcasm or that it's only that thing if you can suspend disbelief, so I don't think there's any disagreement there. Additionally, making them accountable for these mistakes is a way to actually have them resolve them, so honest or not, it's likely to stop of decrease in occurrence then.