FAQ: Hard facts about Google's Web Accelerator

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Web sites using the "HTTPS" specification--a variation of HTTP that provides security for online transactions such as banking or credit card pages--so such transactions are not at risk.

Apart from the flaw, is my privacy in jeopardy by using Web Accelerator?
It could be, depending on your comfort level. According to Google's privacy policy, the Web Accelerator retrieves and caches Web pages you've visited, and those page requests can include personal information about you. It also temporarily caches third-party cookies that can contain personal data.

For example, if you've entered information such as e-mail or a physical address into a form on an unencrypted Web page, Google might pick up that data through the Web Accelerator. It also collects "clickstream" data such as URLs you've requested, the date and time of the request, as well as your Internet Protocol address and computer and connection information.

Google says it will never rent or sell a person's personal information to third parties without that user's explicit permission. But privacy advocates say people still don't know enough about what Google does with the personal information. Specifically, they are worried that Google will combine personal and clickstream data with existing search history data contained in Google's own cookie to create a far-reaching profile on Google visitors.

Mayer said Google is not combining search history data with clickstream or personal information collected by the Web Accelerator. However, if people visit Google.com while using the software, the activity will be logged by the Accelerator proxy.

Still, people can dump their cache and delete cookies often, as privacy advocates urge.

What is Google's responsibility toward me when I use this software?
None, really, if you read and agree to Google's terms of service. Like most software disclaimers, the terms of service say Web Accelerator is offered "as is" and provides no warranties regarding security and performance. In other words, use at your own risk.

If the application is free, what's in it for Google?
Google's Mayer said if people are surfing faster and using the Web more, then it will ultimately result in more searches at Google. (The company made more than $1 billion from January to March from text advertisements that appear next to search results.)

Is the beta closed?
Yes, for now, according to Google's information page. The site says it has maxed out on capacity and is "actively working to increase the number of users we can support." Still, the download page is active.

Will Google improve Web Accelerator?
Because the application is in beta, the company wants your feedback and ideas for updates at [e-mail].

Download page

Is now offline.

Further backlash here:

http://www.threadwatch.org/node/2491/

as Google blame their problems on web publishers.

Download page

Is now offline.

Further backlash here:

http://www.threadwatch.org/node/2491/

as Google blame their problems on web publishers.

Is CNET acting as Google?s new Public Relations Firm?

nice FAQ posting ? what? is cnet now acting as Google's communications department? Helping answer consumer question for them ? you know I have a question about Intuit Quickbooks, can you all re-print the marketing material and help information about that product as well ? thanks! What is CNET doing? -- posting basically a company faq for product that's already been out there for years from other companies ? using ?research on mouse movements to help develop algorithms? ? give me a break ?

and don?t respond by saying that you were ?even-handed? & direct about the privacy flaws ? what are you doing in the first place devoting so much space to the ?Hard, cold, whatever facts of a hom-hum product? ? I know why ?.. it?s because it?s from Google?

are reports so in love with Google, that they just can't wait to devote pages and pages to any facet or product ? to point of becoming an extension of the Google?s corporate communications department?..... or could it be that CNET benefits from those sponsored listings from Google at the bottom of each article page??...

"do no evil" ? give me a break -- a better motto would be "recruit reports & the press who only have a modest understanding of the business, have them fall in love with a myth, and then use them to convince people at large that you are doing no evil"

Is CNET acting as Google?s new Public Relations Firm?

nice FAQ posting ? what? is cnet now acting as Google's communications department? Helping answer consumer question for them ? you know I have a question about Intuit Quickbooks, can you all re-print the marketing material and help information about that product as well ? thanks! What is CNET doing? -- posting basically a company faq for product that's already been out there for years from other companies ? using ?research on mouse movements to help develop algorithms? ? give me a break ?

and don?t respond by saying that you were ?even-handed? & direct about the privacy flaws ? what are you doing in the first place devoting so much space to the ?Hard, cold, whatever facts of a hom-hum product? ? I know why ?.. it?s because it?s from Google?

are reports so in love with Google, that they just can't wait to devote pages and pages to any facet or product ? to point of becoming an extension of the Google?s corporate communications department?..... or could it be that CNET benefits from those sponsored listings from Google at the bottom of each article page??...

"do no evil" ? give me a break -- a better motto would be "recruit reports & the press who only have a modest understanding of the business, have them fall in love with a myth, and then use them to convince people at large that you are doing no evil"

[pcLoadLetter]

Sounds like they won't stop

Until every concievable piece of data is stored on thier server, regardless if the owner of said data wants it stored there or not.

This should not be an opt-out program. That implies that Google thinks they have the right to cache what they please. It should be opt-in. That is, Google should not touch a web site without express permission.

[pcLoadLetter]

Sounds like they won't stop

Until every concievable piece of data is stored on thier server, regardless if the owner of said data wants it stored there or not.

This should not be an opt-out program. That implies that Google thinks they have the right to cache what they please. It should be opt-in. That is, Google should not touch a web site without express permission.