Search engine outfit Google has apparently been working with US top spooks the National Security Agency for help in improving the company's security infrastructure.

The big idea is that any changes will make Google less likely to be hammered by Chinese spooks again, however the question is what does the NSA get out of it. The words both sides used was “partnership” where as fixing Google's security would surely count as just “helping out”.

What worries those who wear tin foil hats is that Google's servers house such a vast collection of user data including search histories, e-mail, and personal documents. Google has made it clear that the deal does not involve the NSA will be viewing users' searches or e-mail accounts or that Google will be sharing proprietary data.

It just wants to know how the yellow peril invaded and develop methods to prevent similar intrusions. People are fairly right to be suspicious, the NSA was involved in President Bush's. Although best known for warrantless wiretapping program and collecting telephone records.

In 2007, the NSA helped Microsoft develop parts of the Vista operating system so that it fitted government departmental security and interoperability policies.