December 20, 2006

Google Search convicts hacker

by Brian Turner

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Google

A disgruntled ex-employee of a wireless communications company has been convicted - after Google Search records showed that he used the search engine to find information on disrupting the company’s systems.

Matthew Schuster had provided technical support at Alpha Computer Service in the USA, for their home wireless network product CWWIS.

However, after being fired he used customer information to hack into the wireless network, to ensure he had free access to it.

He additionally used Google to search for information on disrupting wireless systems - searches which were provided in court as part of the prosecution.

It’s probable in this instance that service records from Alpha Computer Service were used, which showed user behaviour and searches on their network.

However, it does demonstrate increasing concern over privacy issues, not least the fact that search engines such as Google can assign personal names to recorded behaviour, if subscribed to their services.

A recent CNET report on privacy also showed Google do receive requests for personal information from legal authorities - but refuses to provide any information on how this may be used.

Overall, it continues to raise tensions that ISP’s are collecting far too much personally-identifiable data, which may work against individual privacy concerns.

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