11 ms·

tl;dr A Norwegian girl, living abroad, enabled "auto upload my pictures to Google+" on her phone and for some reason they end up in a Norwegian IT journalists

tl;dr A Norwegian girl, living abroad, enabled "auto upload my pictures to Google+" on her phone and for some reason they end up in a Norwegian IT journalists Google+. Everything from full passport details to regular photos are uploaded. The journalist can see Geo location etc as well. Google keep stating it is not possible and the journalist are experiencing problems contacting Google.

nwh 13y ago
Hash collision between their internal IDs? I'll probably turn out to be something nutty like that.
- sesqu 13y ago
  Hash/GUID collision is exactly what I suspect. I wonder if we'll learn anything from this, or if we'll ever even see an analysis.
esalman 13y ago
You do not have to `enable` it, as soon as you add an account to an android phone, photos automatically start syncing.
- lifebar 13y ago
  Strange... mine doesn't...
- UnoriginalGuy 13y ago
  What kind of account? I have my Google account(s) synced up to my Android phone and have a total of 0 photos in my Google+ album. I have them syncing with DropBox intentionally.
  - dkersten 13y ago
    Same for me - but I noticed that it suddenly started syncing to Google+ too a few weeks ago (not sure why it started doing this, either there was an update or it was because I logged into Google+ using the default Android Google+ app and it enabled it then). Either way, I wasn't particularly happy about it, though I believe it uploaded them but did not make them public. I turned it off as soon as I noticed as I don't need my photos synced to two places and I already had photos synced to DropBox.
    - myko 13y ago
      > or it was because I logged into Google+ using the default Android Google+ app and it enabled it then It asks you if you want the uploads to take place when you first setup the app.
      - dkersten 13y ago
        Unless its a small, easy-to-miss checkbox, I was only asked to log into my Google Account.
        lawdawg 13y ago
        it's definitely not small or easy to miss. The whole "instant upload" part is an entire screen outlining what it is with a clear opt-out.
  - esalman 13y ago
    Both Google/Gmail account and Google Apps account. I may not be correct about 'any' android phone though. I've only used stock and several custom ROM on Galaxy Nexus ranging from version 4.0.4 to 4.2.2. After you add a Google/gapps account you'll see this in sync setting- http://s24.postimg.org/fxbv98s05/Screenshot_2013_04_28_23_42_31.png http://s24.postimg.org/fxbv98s05/Screenshot_2013_04_28_23_42... . I've found 'Google Photos' always checked by default. First time this feature was introduced, I didn't notice and my G+ filled up with random images from my mobile gallery. Since then I consciously turn this off everytime I flash a ROM. Edit: so you don't necessarily need Google+ app installed for this to happen.
  - ofacup 13y ago
    without a doubt your's is normal use. do you really think google gives a shit about you?
- Ironlink 13y ago
  I have two Android phones (ICS and Jelly Bean) and this has not been my experience at all. The first time you start the Google+ app, it will ask you if you want to enable Instant Upload (which uploads to a private album from which you can publish). Prior to that it doesn't do anything with your photos.
- Kiro 13y ago
  It's true. I was surprised when I suddenly started to get notifications that my photos had been uploaded to G+ and were ready to be shared (I don't even use G+ but have a zombie account). I don't really mind though. Good backup.
  - corresation 13y ago
    It isn't true. By default -- including on a brand-new Nexus 4 -- it will notify you that photos are ready to be uploaded, and if you follow-through it gives you the option of automatically uploading from then forward.
    - Kiro 13y ago
      No, it definitely uploaded them. They are in my G+ account. The notification says ready to be shared.
      - tobiasu 13y ago
        Indeed, happened to my very privacy sensitive colleague while setting up his new S3 (he had no prior G+ account, so he got a new one). This may depend on what type of account you have and what terms you have agreed to.
      - corresation 13y ago
        Then you opted to allow automatic uploads. When you first opened Google+ (which is not installed by default), you were asked whether to automatically upload photos. You chose yes. http://support.google.com/plus/answer/1304818 http://support.google.com/plus/answer/1304818
        nnnnni 13y ago
        "yes yes yes yes whatever, just let me use the service" That's the same way malware/toolbars get installed...
        Kiro 13y ago
- Noughmad 13y ago
  You have to install the Google+ app, at least I had to do so. I don't have a Nexus though, does it come pre-installed?
  - moe 13y ago
    I don't have a Nexus though, does it come pre-installed? Not only does it come pre-installed but you also can't uninstall it.
    - drivebyacct2 13y ago
      You can very easily disable the app causing it to be no longer present in it's unextracted form, meaning it's effectively uninstalled.
      - moe 13y ago
        Last I checked Google+ was the one spyware that you couldn't get rid of even when you rooted the phone. I.e. once you disable G+ all sorts of unrelated apps will hang/force close. Admittedly it's been a long time since I tried, perhaps they fixed it since then.
UnoriginalGuy 13y ago
This is exactly why I never say something is "not possible" in relation to IT anymore. Everything is "possible" some things are just more likely to occur than others. In particular I've found race conditions and memory corruption to result in particularly fun "impossible" situations. I try to say "I don't understand the mechanic by which that could occur, can you reproduce it?" and if they can then I have to figure out /how/ they can.
- waterlesscloud 13y ago
  The mindset that something "isn't possible" is dangerous as a developer. You should never deny the evidence. When you say "It's not possible", something in your understanding is obviously mistaken. Maybe your understanding of the evidence, maybe your understanding of the problem, but somewhere you're wrong. Your job now is to find out where you're wrong. The correct response in such situations is "What am I wrong about?" I've lost count of how many times I've seen the Can't Happen mindset delay resolution of an issue. It's a genuine problem.
  - NetMonkey 13y ago
    I think that your "What am I wrong about?" approach is going too far in the opposite direction. I usually use "That shouldn't be possible" - whether it is possible or if it's user error then often depends on the maturity of the system. On a new system pretty much anything is possible. On a system battle-tested for years by thousands of users the possibility of encountering program bugs drops dramatically. This is where good supporters become very valuable. They will be able to learn the solutions to common problems that users face and determine if it´s user error, other errors like OS problems or if it's something new that should be investigated by the developers. Of course if the bug is reproducible then it's a different matter. But any developer who doesn't take a well-described and reproducible bug report seriously should probable find a different job.
  - davidp 13y ago
    The first job of the respondent is to validate the input so that the right problem gets solved. > I've lost count of how many times I've seen the Can't Happen mindset delay resolution of an issue. It's a genuine problem. Agreed. > When you say "It's not possible", something in your understanding is obviously mistaken. Not necessarily. Bear in mind that the "error" data itself can be wrong too, for many reasons -- some benign, some not so much. People can and do lie and make mistakes. In the public sphere things are even more fraught. There are people who loathe $COMPANY and would love to see their services discredited. On the other hand, $COMPANY's legitimate success depends to some extent on people's perception of their reliability, so they have a right to defend themselves. I think a reasonable response from $COMPANY in this case is "1) That's impossible", to reassure skittish customers, and "2) We'll work directly with the person having the problem and report back, stay tuned" to show respect and responsiveness (and potentially humility later). If you were running your own company, paying the salaries of your employees and serving your investors, would you do otherwise?
deleted 13y ago
[deleted]
pavanky 13y ago
She probably bought a phone he sold off or lost ?
- oellegaard 13y ago
  They are on different continents. Also, he changed passwords afterwards and it kept happening.
  - wcoenen 13y ago
    Changing your password doesn't unlink applications or devices from your google account. See "connected applications and sites" at https://www.google.com/settings/security https://www.google.com/settings/security
  - troels 13y ago
    The may be on different continents, but they have the same (rare) nationality. I suspect something similar.
bajsejohannes 13y ago
To be fair, Google is not saying it's impossible. They're saying "these things" are most often a result of a user error and that they'll look into it.

nwh 13y ago

Hash collision between their internal IDs? I'll probably turn out to be something nutty like that.

sesqu 13y ago
Hash/GUID collision is exactly what I suspect. I wonder if we'll learn anything from this, or if we'll ever even see an analysis.

esalman 13y ago

You do not have to `enable` it, as soon as you add an account to an android phone, photos automatically start syncing.

lifebar 13y ago
Strange... mine doesn't...
UnoriginalGuy 13y ago
What kind of account? I have my Google account(s) synced up to my Android phone and have a total of 0 photos in my Google+ album. I have them syncing with DropBox intentionally.
- dkersten 13y ago
  Same for me - but I noticed that it suddenly started syncing to Google+ too a few weeks ago (not sure why it started doing this, either there was an update or it was because I logged into Google+ using the default Android Google+ app and it enabled it then). Either way, I wasn't particularly happy about it, though I believe it uploaded them but did not make them public. I turned it off as soon as I noticed as I don't need my photos synced to two places and I already had photos synced to DropBox.
  - myko 13y ago
    > or it was because I logged into Google+ using the default Android Google+ app and it enabled it then It asks you if you want the uploads to take place when you first setup the app.
    - dkersten 13y ago
      Unless its a small, easy-to-miss checkbox, I was only asked to log into my Google Account.
      - lawdawg 13y ago
        it's definitely not small or easy to miss. The whole "instant upload" part is an entire screen outlining what it is with a clear opt-out.
- esalman 13y ago
  Both Google/Gmail account and Google Apps account. I may not be correct about 'any' android phone though. I've only used stock and several custom ROM on Galaxy Nexus ranging from version 4.0.4 to 4.2.2. After you add a Google/gapps account you'll see this in sync setting- http://s24.postimg.org/fxbv98s05/Screenshot_2013_04_28_23_42_31.png http://s24.postimg.org/fxbv98s05/Screenshot_2013_04_28_23_42... . I've found 'Google Photos' always checked by default. First time this feature was introduced, I didn't notice and my G+ filled up with random images from my mobile gallery. Since then I consciously turn this off everytime I flash a ROM. Edit: so you don't necessarily need Google+ app installed for this to happen.
- ofacup 13y ago
  without a doubt your's is normal use. do you really think google gives a shit about you?
Ironlink 13y ago
I have two Android phones (ICS and Jelly Bean) and this has not been my experience at all. The first time you start the Google+ app, it will ask you if you want to enable Instant Upload (which uploads to a private album from which you can publish). Prior to that it doesn't do anything with your photos.
Kiro 13y ago
It's true. I was surprised when I suddenly started to get notifications that my photos had been uploaded to G+ and were ready to be shared (I don't even use G+ but have a zombie account). I don't really mind though. Good backup.
- corresation 13y ago
  It isn't true. By default -- including on a brand-new Nexus 4 -- it will notify you that photos are ready to be uploaded, and if you follow-through it gives you the option of automatically uploading from then forward.
  - Kiro 13y ago
    No, it definitely uploaded them. They are in my G+ account. The notification says ready to be shared.
    - tobiasu 13y ago
      Indeed, happened to my very privacy sensitive colleague while setting up his new S3 (he had no prior G+ account, so he got a new one). This may depend on what type of account you have and what terms you have agreed to.
    - corresation 13y ago
      Then you opted to allow automatic uploads. When you first opened Google+ (which is not installed by default), you were asked whether to automatically upload photos. You chose yes. http://support.google.com/plus/answer/1304818 http://support.google.com/plus/answer/1304818
      - nnnnni 13y ago
        "yes yes yes yes whatever, just let me use the service" That's the same way malware/toolbars get installed...
      - Kiro 13y ago
Noughmad 13y ago
You have to install the Google+ app, at least I had to do so. I don't have a Nexus though, does it come pre-installed?
- moe 13y ago
  I don't have a Nexus though, does it come pre-installed? Not only does it come pre-installed but you also can't uninstall it.
  - drivebyacct2 13y ago
    You can very easily disable the app causing it to be no longer present in it's unextracted form, meaning it's effectively uninstalled.
    - moe 13y ago
      Last I checked Google+ was the one spyware that you couldn't get rid of even when you rooted the phone. I.e. once you disable G+ all sorts of unrelated apps will hang/force close. Admittedly it's been a long time since I tried, perhaps they fixed it since then.

UnoriginalGuy 13y ago

This is exactly why I never say something is "not possible" in relation to IT anymore. Everything is "possible" some things are just more likely to occur than others. In particular I've found race conditions and memory corruption to result in particularly fun "impossible" situations. I try to say "I don't understand the mechanic by which that could occur, can you reproduce it?" and if they can then I have to figure out /how/ they can.

waterlesscloud 13y ago
The mindset that something "isn't possible" is dangerous as a developer. You should never deny the evidence. When you say "It's not possible", something in your understanding is obviously mistaken. Maybe your understanding of the evidence, maybe your understanding of the problem, but somewhere you're wrong. Your job now is to find out where you're wrong. The correct response in such situations is "What am I wrong about?" I've lost count of how many times I've seen the Can't Happen mindset delay resolution of an issue. It's a genuine problem.
- NetMonkey 13y ago
  I think that your "What am I wrong about?" approach is going too far in the opposite direction. I usually use "That shouldn't be possible" - whether it is possible or if it's user error then often depends on the maturity of the system. On a new system pretty much anything is possible. On a system battle-tested for years by thousands of users the possibility of encountering program bugs drops dramatically. This is where good supporters become very valuable. They will be able to learn the solutions to common problems that users face and determine if it´s user error, other errors like OS problems or if it's something new that should be investigated by the developers. Of course if the bug is reproducible then it's a different matter. But any developer who doesn't take a well-described and reproducible bug report seriously should probable find a different job.
- davidp 13y ago
  The first job of the respondent is to validate the input so that the right problem gets solved. > I've lost count of how many times I've seen the Can't Happen mindset delay resolution of an issue. It's a genuine problem. Agreed. > When you say "It's not possible", something in your understanding is obviously mistaken. Not necessarily. Bear in mind that the "error" data itself can be wrong too, for many reasons -- some benign, some not so much. People can and do lie and make mistakes. In the public sphere things are even more fraught. There are people who loathe $COMPANY and would love to see their services discredited. On the other hand, $COMPANY's legitimate success depends to some extent on people's perception of their reliability, so they have a right to defend themselves. I think a reasonable response from $COMPANY in this case is "1) That's impossible", to reassure skittish customers, and "2) We'll work directly with the person having the problem and report back, stay tuned" to show respect and responsiveness (and potentially humility later). If you were running your own company, paying the salaries of your employees and serving your investors, would you do otherwise?

deleted 13y ago

[deleted]

pavanky 13y ago

She probably bought a phone he sold off or lost ?

oellegaard 13y ago
They are on different continents. Also, he changed passwords afterwards and it kept happening.
- wcoenen 13y ago
  Changing your password doesn't unlink applications or devices from your google account. See "connected applications and sites" at https://www.google.com/settings/security https://www.google.com/settings/security
- troels 13y ago
  The may be on different continents, but they have the same (rare) nationality. I suspect something similar.

bajsejohannes 13y ago

To be fair, Google is not saying it's impossible. They're saying "these things" are most often a result of a user error and that they'll look into it.