In return for a key the backdoor?
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.