Bout time. Everyone should do this.
Isn’t that checkable?
What good is this if they still hand all your info over the the NSA anyway?
It helps keep random packet sniffers at bay. It doesn’t facilitate the NSA, in theory it stops them from doing anything without Google’s help, which of course they already get, so it doesn’t mean anything on that front.
Oh, sure. NOW you can trust Google, sure.
They’re sorry, and....all that stuff.
NOW they’re really worried about your privacy.
Ya think?
I use Ixquick.com - no tracking. Related to startpage.
Also, everyone should check out some of the privacy and anonymity tools referenced at https://prism-break.org/
I noticed.
Phew. Wipes forehead.
Try https://StartPage.com and soon to come StartMail.com for a more secure experience.
No doubt the NSA has cracked HTTPS, and want to make sure foreign intel agencies with less advanced IT expertise don’t get free access to the keyword search stream without spending the money/resources to crack HTTPS on their own dime.
It prevents anyone from snooping on your web searches, unless they have the private key for Google's SSL certificate.
Whether anyone but Google has the private key is open to discussion. However, you can configure Firefox (and perhaps Chrome) to only use Diffie-Hellman key exchange. There's no known man-in-the-middle attack for that, even if you have the private key.
Unfortunately, you will find that you can't connect to some secure websites. If I turn off all cipher suites without Diffie-Hellman key exchange, I can't access my bank's website.
could this have anything to do with why
stuff in the google search box (on my
cell) loads really slow? ...for the last 10
days to two weeks
This look like a money grab on google's end and a tremendous blow to small online businesses that analyze keywords to bring in customers.
I’ve noticed for me it’s been that way for awhile.
I guess I'm a "techie."
I quit using Google search a long time ago. I use https://startpage.com/, a completely private search engine. More info here.
Note the startpage URL starts with https. This indicates it is using the same "protection" that Google now offers. Except startpage.com does not record your IP address, does not scan your searches for marketing purposes and doesn't have a special deal with the NSA to pass your info along to them.
I have several Gmail email accounts. All 100% fake and used when some website insists I "sign up" to get something I want.
Google be damned!
Great story, but unfortunately I am left with no idea of what was done, why it was done, are there any negative consequences, and, if so, is there any fix.
Does this facilitate NSA nosiness?
Yes.
If it didn't, would they bother?