Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) keeps a track of every Wi-Fi password entered into an Android device, according to Computerworld’s Michael Horowitz, who made this interesting discovery. There have been many incidents before when Google’s privacy policy has been questioned.
The record has been kept to allow users to sign-in without typing a password every time, but it certainly indicates that Google has countless Wi-Fi passwords, which may prove risky, should they get into the wrong hands.
Saving passwords eventually helps users
When a user saves data into the Google server it saves phone book information, among other little information, but some Wi-Fi passwords are also saved. This is a facility that users enjoy as they do not need to re-type their data over and over again, which at times can be annoying.
Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) is aiming to provide a swift and hassle-free experience to users, but there might be users who are not very comfortable with giving away their information.
Settings can be changed
However, a user can discontinue the auto backup feature in the settings of any Android device.
Also, there are multiple settings in the app for configuration. In Android’s version 2.3.4 you should go to settings, then privacy. In an HTC device, “Back up my settings” is the selection that enables Google to save the password. On a Samsung device, “Back up my data” gives Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) the right to save the data. There is, however, no revelation that backing up data also includes saving the Wi-Fi passwords, or rather it is only “Back up current settings and application data.”
Google does have a lot of passwords
According to a recent IDC report, 187 million Android phones were shipped in the second quarter of 2013, which comes to a total of 748 million phones in 2013, excluding Android tablets. Almost all of these mobiles and tablets go by the default setting whereby Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) mugs up the Wi-Fi password of the device. This feature is presented as a useful feature for users, so most of them do not care to change it.
It is possible that a user may store Wi-Fi passwords of hotels, shops, libraries, friends’ houses, offices and other places, which also puts these users at greater risk of being tracked by outside agents.
