View Full Version : Having 2nd thoughts about Gmail
At first I thought gmail was the greatest thing since sliced bread. I'm having second thoughts now. I should have realized that nothing comes for free.
Below is an e-mail I received on the subject:
Click here for The hidden picture (http://www.google-watch.org/gmail.html)
125gJoe
02-20-2005, 6:25 PM
After reading that - it's not for me..
slipknottin
02-20-2005, 6:45 PM
Its on the internet, it must be true.
Most of that is just nonsense. And the part about goverment access to your emails. Well, they have full access to all of our emails now without search warrant or subpoena, regardless of what provider you use.
Harlock
02-20-2005, 10:14 PM
After reading that - it's not for me..
Heh, Joe, Conspiracy theorist king! ;)
125gJoe
02-20-2005, 10:33 PM
Heh, Joe, Conspiracy theorist... ;)
LOL
http://preschool.jinwicked.com/
http://www.darkconspiracy.com/
....
reiverix
02-20-2005, 11:05 PM
Best thing to do is pay $10 to buy your own domain name, then just find a cheap host at around $5 a month or so. I have a Yahoo and GMail account that I use solely for one off emails and trashy stuff, that's all they are good for.
Walrus
02-20-2005, 11:42 PM
Its on the internet, it must be true.
Most of that is just nonsense. And the part about goverment access to your emails. Well, they have full access to all of our emails now without search warrant or subpoena, regardless of what provider you use.
Agreed. A quick WHOIS lookup of www.google-watch.org, www.microsoft-watch.org and www.yahoo-watch.org all returned the same name (Public Information Research, Inc.) as the registering company.
What i dont understand is how www.google-watch.org objects to GMails email scanning for AD placement but they dont object to the same email scanning techniques that flag email as spam?
I think i'll stick with GMail.......................
tel0004
02-20-2005, 11:45 PM
Why would you care if google logs everything you do, its just like people complaining about TIVO recording your viewing habbits. If you are emailing your plans to take over the goverment, or kill your wife, then the goverment should read it. If you are emailing friends and telling them to be at your house tommorow at 5, or something like that, then why would you care if anybody reads your email anyway.
What is kind of wierd is that everything they say really works with any email provider. If it is that sensitive of info use a non tapped Lan Line for communication. Or buy some encryption software. Either way I will stick with gmail, large space to keep my emails and no spam what so ever in my account. (Unlike my hotmail, yahoo, excite etc... which I have stopped using). I mean if you are that paranoid then I wouldn't be posting in chat forums either.
Harlock
02-21-2005, 11:08 AM
TKOS, you don't understand. I can explain it to you, but not here, not now. Someone is probably already watching. Meet me at the small park under the oak. Password is, "Pardon me, but you have a lovely cocnut." The response is, "I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today." Yuppie tango niner niner out. This message will self-destruct.
That message is even funnier with the slight spelling mistake:
"cocnut"
:)
flyingfish
02-21-2005, 5:30 PM
I'm still gonna use gmail.
Well, they have full access to all of our emails now without search warrant or subpoena, regardless of what provider you use. It's an excellent tool for my brothers and I who are trying to write a book together. Anyway, I attempt to go by the rule that anyone could be watching me at anytime. So, I still allow myself to make mistakes, but I try not to make the kind that I will regret for more than a week. :o
Snake Eyez
02-21-2005, 7:23 PM
I'll stick with gmail. None of the email providers that I use are as secure as would be needed for very important information to be sent. For really secure communication I like to use my Xbox Live communicator.
Ok, so what could possibly be the worst? As long as they don't install any pervasive spyware* on my comp, what could be the worst case senario?
*(by the way, most spyware detectors & blockers install their own propietary brand of spyware whilst ridding your comp of other brands, but that's another consipiracy theory we can delve into later)
As far as security it is no better or worse than Hotmail or any other online email provider and probably just as safe as any home provider as well. Since it allows me to get my email on the road and not worry about my inbox filling up and missing some important info about a meeting or group project I will continue to use gmail.
Ok, so what about the other part of my concern, that of being invasive to my computer? Can it post a security risk?
slipknottin
02-22-2005, 9:41 PM
Ok, so what about the other part of my concern, that of being invasive to my computer? Can it post a security risk?
The only thing it has access to is your emails. It does not have any access to your computer, well, no more than any other website.