Gmail account

[cyclonite4]

I have some gmail invites to give away, and was wondering if anyone here needed/wanted an account. PM me or post your email address for an invite.

Note: I will give gmail accounts in preference to those with higher post counts/forum involvement/join date.

[Silentnite]

Yeah, I second that. Somehow I wound up with 50? to give away per account. Is Gmail increasing the amount they let you give away? So I have over 150 total to give away. Crazy people over there at google.


EDIT: Ok. This may or may not be pertinent. With all the security buffs around here I found a link to this article over at ScienceMadness. Decide for yourself whether or not you want one.


Presumably you have a Gmail account,
and do not object to Google's policies


But many of us will not send mail to gmail.com ...


Problem 1: Gmail is nearly immortal

Google offers 1 gig of storage, which is many times the storage offered by Yahoo or Hotmail, or other Internet service providers that we know about. The powerful searching encourages account holders to never delete anything. It takes three clicks to put a message into the trash, and more effort to delete this message. It's much easier to "archive" the message, or just leave it in the inbox and let the powerful searching keep track of it. Google admits that even deleted messages will remain on their system, and may also be accessible internally at Google, for an indefinite period of time.

Google has been spinning their original position in press interviews, and with an informal page described as "a few words about privacy and Gmail." When we see fresh material from Google, we check the modification date at the bottom of the terms-of-use page and privacy page for Gmail. If these dates are still April 6 and April 8, we know that nothing has changed. Google can modify these pages too, any way they want and whenever they want, unilaterally. But at least these two pages carry slightly more legal weight than other pages, because Google should attempt to notify users of significant changes in these formal policies.

A new California law, the Online Privacy Protection Act, went into effect on July 1, 2004. Google changed their main privacy policy that same day because the previous version sidestepped important issues and might have been illegal. For the first time in Google's history, the language in their new policy makes it clear that they will be pooling all the information they collect on you from all of their various services. Moreover, they may keep this information indefinitely, and give this information to whomever they wish. All that's required is for Google to "have a good faith belief that access, preservation or disclosure of such information is reasonably necessary to protect the rights, property or safety of Google, its users or the public." Google, you may recall, already believes that as a corporation they are utterly incapable of bad faith. Their corporate motto is "Don't be evil," and they even made sure that the Securities and Exchange Commission got this message in Google's IPO filing.

Google's policies are essentially no different than the policies of Microsoft, Yahoo, Alexa and Amazon. However, these others have been spelling out their nasty policies in detail for years now. By way of contrast, we've had email from indignant Google fans who defended Google by using the old privacy language -- but while doing so they arrived at exactly the wrong interpretation of Google's actual position! Now those emails will stop, because Google's position is clear at last. It's amazing how a vague privacy policy, a minimalist browser interface, and an unconventional corporate culture have convinced so many that Google is different on issues that matter.

After 180 days in the U.S., email messages lose their status as a protected communication under the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, and become just another database record. This means that a subpoena instead of a warrant is all that's needed to force Google to produce a copy. Other countries may even lack this basic protection, and Google's databases are distributed all over the world. Since the Patriot Act was passed, it's unclear whether this ECPA protection is worth much anymore in the U.S., or whether it even applies to email that originates from non-citizens in other countries.

Google's relationships with government officials in all of the dozens of countries where they operate are a mystery, because Google never makes any statements about this. But here's a clue: Google uses the term "governmental request" three times on their terms-of-use page and once on their privacy page. Google's language means that all Gmail account holders have consented to allow Google to show any and all email in their Gmail accounts to any official from any government whatsoever, even when the request is informal or extralegal, at Google's sole discretion. Why should we send email to Gmail accounts under such draconian conditions?


Problem 2: Google's policies do not apply

The phrasing and qualifiers in the Gmail privacy policy are creepy enough, but nothing in any of Google's policies or public statements applies to those of us who don't have Gmail accounts. Google has not even formally stated in their privacy policy that they will not keep a list of keywords scanned from incoming email, and associate these with the incoming email address in their database. They've said that their advertisers won't get personally identifiable information from email, but that doesn't mean that Google won't keep this information for possible future use. Google has never been known to delete any of the data they've collected, since day one. For example, their cookie with the unique ID in it, which expires in 2038, has been tracking all of the search terms you've ever used while searching their main index.


Problem 3: A massive potential for abuse

If Google builds a database of keywords associated with email addresses, the potential for abuse is staggering. Google could grow a database that spits out the email addresses of those who used those keywords. How about words such as "box cutters" in the same email as "airline schedules"? Can you think of anyone who might be interested in obtaining a list of email addresses for that particular combination? Or how about "mp3" with "download"? Since the RIAA has sent subpoenas to Internet service providers and universities in an effort to identify copyright abusers, why should we expect Gmail to be off-limits?

Intelligence agencies would love to play with this information. Diagrams that show social networks of people who are inclined toward certain thoughts could be generated. This is one form of "data mining," which is very lucrative now for high-tech firms, such as Google, that contract with federal agencies. Email addresses tied to keywords would be perfect for this. The fact that Google offers so much storage turns Gmail into something that is uniquely dangerous and creepy.


Problem 4: Inappropriate ad matching

We don't use Gmail, but it is safe to assume that the ad matching is no better in Gmail, than it is in news articles that use contextual ad feeds from Google. Here's a screen shot that shows an inappropriate placement of Google ads in a news article. We also read about a lawyer who is experimenting with Gmail. He sent himself a message, and discovered that the law practice footer he uses at the bottom of all of his email triggered an ad for a competing law firm.

Another example is seen in the Google ads at the bottom of this story about Brandon Mayfield. There are two ads. One mentions sexual assault charges (sex has nothing to do with the story), and the other is about anti-terrorism. The entire point of this article, as well as a New York Times piece on May 8, 2004, is that a lawyer has had his career ruined due to overreaction by the FBI, based on disputed evidence. He was arrested as a material witness and his home and office were searched. The NYT (page A12) says that "Mr. Mayfield was arrested before investigators had fully examined his phone records, before they knew if he had ever met with any of the bombing suspects, before they knew if he had ever traveled to Spain or elsewhere overseas. His relatives said he had not been out of the United States for 10 years." The only evidence is a single fingerprint on a plastic bag, and some FBI officials have raised questions about whether this print is a match. While Mr. Mayfield will get his day in court, it appears that Google's ads have already convicted him, and for good measure added some bogus sexual assault charges as well. Would Mr. Mayfield be well-advised to send email to Gmail account holders to plead his case?

Our last example shows three ads fed by Google at the bottom of a Washington Post column titled "Gmail leads way in making ads relevant." The columnist argues that Google's relevant ads improve the web, and therefore she finds nothing objectionable about Gmail. These Google-approved ads offer PageRank for sale, something which only a year ago, Google would have considered high treason. Yes, these ads are "relevant" -- the column is about Google, and the ads are about PageRank. But here's the point: A relevant ad that shows poor judgment is much worse than an irrelevant ad that shows poor judgment. The ads at the bottom of her column disprove her pro-Google arguments. She has no control over this, and is probably not even aware that it happened.

Most writers, even if they are only writing an email message instead of a column in a major newspaper, have more respect for their words than Google does. Don't expect these writers to answer their Gmail.




Esther Dyson, queen of the digerati, gets it wrong

"We're not going to have any choice but to send mail to people at Gmail just to function in the e-mail world," says Daniel Brandt, founder of the Google-Watch.org Web site. "And what guarantees do we have that all this won't end up on some bureaucrat's desk at some intelligence agency someday?" But those who support Gmail say such privacy concerns are not Google issues so much as constitutional ones, best addressed to Congress and law-enforcement agencies. "They've got a beef with the wrong person. The problem there is the FBI, not Google," says Dyson. "And in the scheme of things, I'd rather have Google than my employer have access to my personal mail." -- Baltimore Sun, 20 May 2004

The point is this: Some two-thirds of all Google searches come in from outside the U.S., and Gmail will also have a global reach. We're not dealing with only the FBI (and yes, the same privacy advocates who oppose Gmail are dealing with the FBI), but potentially with hundreds of agencies in dozens of countries. Google has no data retention policies, and never comments on their relationships with governments. The problem must be addressed at the source, which is Google. Elitist digerati do a disservice to the entire world when they assume such narrow points of view.

Link to Full article (http://www.google-watch.org/gmail.html)

[cyclonite4]

I think it's their way of opening up their service. I have 48 left, starting from 50, and I've only had my account for a few weeks.

[cyclonite4]

Silentnite, I only just saw that edit after i posted.

I know there is a security risk associated with it, but it's useful as a storage account (which was the topic of another thread).

[Silentnite]

I agree. Useful as a storage tool, but I wanted everyone to know what's out there. I honestly am not worried about it. Well. Let me put it like this. They know where I am, and Who I am. So trying to hide it isn't going to help when they take me away. By being open about who I am, I will -hopefully- be remembered and noticed when they take me away. Viva la resistance as they said in Southpark!

Anyhoo. Gmail has always freaked me out, that doesn't change the fact that I am registered here, multiple other dubious sites, recieve letters from Surplus suppliers, and am a current beta tester for Exeem among other Torrent sites. I've yet to have a problem, and the Sponsered ad's are always amusing to say the least.

[Brakkie]

I also got some invites left so if anyone needs any just PM me or post your email here and I'll get it sorted ;)

[Jacks Complete]

The issue I have with it, is that they either don't send invites to, or, more likely, the invites are being blocked by, a lot of the free mail services out there. Hotmail certainly is!

I'm fairly sure that there are a lot of people here using free mail providers who want a gmail account, but can't get one.

What might be useful is a "public" account, which could be accessed via a proxy (since I am sure they will log that info too!) by various users for swapping files, etc. There are utils that let you string mulitple mailboxes together, too, for multi-gig storage.

The biggest problem is the 10Mb file cap, as per usual.

[Silentnite]

Ask and Thou shalt recieve. I set one up, so long as it's ok with the mod's.

RogueScience@gmail.com
Password is obvious, but I'll say it anyways: explosive

The password can be changed, but let it be available here please.

I also included GmailFS1.05 which will allow you to upload files and use it as a storage bin. Keep in mind there's a 10mb cap, and set the limit to 9.9mb.


EDIT: No 's' on the end. Just ----> explosive <------
Will also make RogueScience1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Same password.

[Jacks Complete]

Excellent! Everyone, please do remember to use a proxy when accessing the account, and DO NOT send yourself email to connectable addresses, ESPECIALLY other gmail accounts you might use for things. If everyone can see the account, they can also see the sent items, as can Google!

[cyclonite4]

Excellent! An invite has been utilised.

What if we use Jacks Complete's suggestion, and string lots of account together?
We have more than enough invites to do so.

Any supporters?

[Silentnite]

Already there. Tell me what to do.

[Jacks Complete]

Hmmm... Well, upload some cool files onto the account, split into chunks of 9.9Mb, and mark them all with one tag, then they could be emailed to the other account or something, so that more people can upload and download in the same way. There are plenty of PDFs and things about that are useful. Once one account gets full, you switch to the next.

Of course, you want several accounts, so that uploads can be forwarded to other accounts, such that as Google close one, the next can be revealed to the masses.

Hence wanting to hide IP addresses, and activation/invite addresses from google, since this mis-use would be easy for them to track, were they so inclined.

----

Edit: Worthy of note that several anon proxies I have been surfing through today suddenly failed. After getting to google, they then returned an error! So I find one that works, and it tells me the password and username don't match. Probably someone is already logged in, or else they deleted the account already? :(

[cyclonite4]

@Silentnite: Have you recently changed the gmail account password, I can't seem to log into it.

@Jacks Complete: WinZip, WinRAR, and many other compression programs allow the creation of multi-part archives (the file[s] are compressed and the archive is split into portions of the users requested size). This would help with the file splitting problem, and save on space.

[Pb1]

It's almost sounding like a second FTP. Think about it: you can have all the bandwidth you want, tons of space, and it’s all hosted on a stable server. The problem is that one angry person can change the password and render it unusable. Or maybe it could only be given out upon request? Or, am I just a nut spouting nonsense?

[cyclonite4]

Pb1, There was a thread about this in the FTP/P2P section, the password being changable seems to be the only problem. Maybe one account, controlled by one person, can store the files, and requests can be made for the <10MB file to be emailed to the gmail account of the file requester?


After spending a few of my invites, I noticed they have been boosted back to 50, same thing happen to you silentnite?

[Silentnite]

Thats the way it happened for me, if you would like, I would kindly be the GmailFTP. Invites to everyone, as I think I have over 150 again. And soon the 11 Roguescience*s will also have 50 invites. I think its a two week wait. Let me know.

[cyclonite4]

If you want to get your accounts so that google can't trace it back to the invite sender, get them through the gmail invite spooler (http://isnoop.net/gmail/), they have stacks of invites left, and not even you know who sent it, I guess it's more anonymous. :)

[Silentnite]

I am kinda beyond the point of no return there. No true point in anonymity for me. Its not like I have done anything illegal anyway, or plan to.

Anyhoo. I am in the process of changing the passwords, email me at Silentnite85@gmail.com for files, or With files, as I only currently have two. If this is not ok, post here, and I shall change it back.


EDIT:
offline explorer enterprise 3.6.1930 (incl. patch).zip
organic_chem_lab_survival_manual_zubrick_2nded.rar

Those are the two I have, beyond the GmailFS program. I have a few random things as well that I should upload. Such as:

Copae, Black medicine, Kill without joy, homemade C4, Exploring Chemicals, Firecracker cookbook, Advanced Anarchist arsenal, Chemistry of Explosives, Chemistry of organic and nonorganic compounds, and stegano*s complete anonymity.

Those arent loaded yet, but they will be tonight.

[nbk2000]

Homemade C-4, the ragner benson piece of shit rip-off book on making ANNM?

Please don't perpertrate mind pollution by spreading such filth.

[Silentnite]

Its taken off. Ok, I am back home for now, as my room-mates got kicked out, so I had to leave too. And as such, I have 56K and it will take a little while to get everything straightened around. But I should be getting Cable rather quickly, so please be patient.

If anybody has files they would like to upload, email them to Roguescience@gmail.com, or any of the other 10.

Once I have everything straightened around, I shall be posting an extensive list of what is available.

And as always, if someone else would like to take over, feel free to let me know.