
Google has received requests from many individuals to offer a boost in privacy. These requests came from over three dozen security, privacy, and research personnel. Google has deciding that it’s going to oblige to the requests.
Google has always allowed for you to encrypt your Gmail by using https:// however you have to manually set this as the default. Other applications such as Docs or Calendar don’t have this option. This means that the information can be acquired by malicious users. The document was signed by a top security expert and addressed to Eric Schmidt.
Many other sites have this problem as well and users are just as vulnerable to data theft or having their accounts stolen. However Google is able to start a trend in the right direction to fixing the problem.
The problem is that many people don’t understand the risks that are involved in using services that aren’t encrypted. Even though Gmail has the option to do so many people don’t know it exists. If people don’t know it exists then the option itself is basically useless.
Google officials want some time to experiment with putting all of the apps into a security mode so that they will know all of the effects on users’ experience. The biggest problem they’ve found is where users will experience the application slow down when doing certain actions.
Google has announced that it’s going to test the security encryption on a small basis to see what kinds of effects it has on email and other applications. Google plans to make the https:// address standard as long as there are no huge negative effects.
Those who contributed to the letter believe that Google and its engineers can create a low latency system for Gmail and other applications as they have done for AdWords, Health, Voice, and AdSense.
Source: CNET
