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In case there was any ambiguity about whether Google knew the 'real you' from their logging of IPs and search terms, this should remove all of it. In a way I t

In case there was any ambiguity about whether Google knew the 'real you' from their logging of IPs and search terms, this should remove all of it. In a way I think we're seeing Google striking against Facebook in what I call the "identity wars" where each service is struggling to be an identity and information service about people.

beagle3 13y ago
I'm sure google knows the "real you" if they care to look, but at least in the past, they didn't care to look unless there was a court order. Maybe they care now - In what way does this announcement make this more or less evident?
dragonwriter 13y ago
> In case there was any ambiguity about whether Google knew the 'real you' from their logging of IPs and search terms, this should remove all of it. How? I mean, obviously, if you use this service (either as a sender or receiver) Google will know more about your real identity as part of conducting the transaction, but how does this say anything about what Google knows "from their logging of IPs and search terms"?
- VLM 13y ago
  The part I can't figure out is I did "verify my identity" using my legal name, addrs, last4ssn and bday. And it responded back in about 1 second "verified". So how does that work? (Other than perhaps they already have a detailed file on me LOL)
  - drivebyacct2 13y ago
    Better yet, mine failed. I'm presented with this page: http://i.imgur.com/hPqLd58.png http://i.imgur.com/hPqLd58.png On the phone, I'm told roughly: "I'm going to ask you four questions to verify your identity. The questions are based on publicly available data." [hold] (He just asked me the last four of my social and the year of my birth. And my address. And is now preparing four questions. - Where was my SSN issued? Multiple choice. - Which month was I born? Multiple choice. - Which name are you associated with (weird list of names? None of the Above.) - Which county have you lived in? Multiple choice. I answered them correctly, obviously. Now being redirected to a survey.
    - jlgreco 13y ago
      > Where was my SSN issued? Multiple choice. - Which month was I born? Multiple choice. I am fairly certain both of those can be determined with reasonable accuracy from your SSN itself. (the middle two digits of your SSN should roughly correspond with the month of issue (likely the month of birth), and the first three digits should give you the area). Edit: Nevermind, it only asked for the last four of your SSN I guess.
      - drivebyacct2 13y ago
        Still, of the questions asked, last four of my social were the most secure in my opinion, and it's fairly easy to come by that information.
        jlgreco 13y ago
        Oh yes. I agree absolutely.

beagle3 13y ago

I'm sure google knows the "real you" if they care to look, but at least in the past, they didn't care to look unless there was a court order. Maybe they care now - In what way does this announcement make this more or less evident?

dragonwriter 13y ago

> In case there was any ambiguity about whether Google knew the 'real you' from their logging of IPs and search terms, this should remove all of it. How? I mean, obviously, if you use this service (either as a sender or receiver) Google will know more about your real identity as part of conducting the transaction, but how does this say anything about what Google knows "from their logging of IPs and search terms"?

VLM 13y ago
The part I can't figure out is I did "verify my identity" using my legal name, addrs, last4ssn and bday. And it responded back in about 1 second "verified". So how does that work? (Other than perhaps they already have a detailed file on me LOL)
- drivebyacct2 13y ago
  Better yet, mine failed. I'm presented with this page: http://i.imgur.com/hPqLd58.png http://i.imgur.com/hPqLd58.png On the phone, I'm told roughly: "I'm going to ask you four questions to verify your identity. The questions are based on publicly available data." [hold] (He just asked me the last four of my social and the year of my birth. And my address. And is now preparing four questions. - Where was my SSN issued? Multiple choice. - Which month was I born? Multiple choice. - Which name are you associated with (weird list of names? None of the Above.) - Which county have you lived in? Multiple choice. I answered them correctly, obviously. Now being redirected to a survey.
  - jlgreco 13y ago
    > Where was my SSN issued? Multiple choice. - Which month was I born? Multiple choice. I am fairly certain both of those can be determined with reasonable accuracy from your SSN itself. (the middle two digits of your SSN should roughly correspond with the month of issue (likely the month of birth), and the first three digits should give you the area). Edit: Nevermind, it only asked for the last four of your SSN I guess.
    - drivebyacct2 13y ago
      Still, of the questions asked, last four of my social were the most secure in my opinion, and it's fairly easy to come by that information.
      - jlgreco 13y ago
        Oh yes. I agree absolutely.