They said sensitive information is encrypted and can't be accessed, my interpretation of that is that the plain text can't be accessed but attackers may have the encrypted sensitive information (eg passwords). Depending on the strength of their encryption though, and the key used etc etc.. it might be perfectly accessible. In the absense of transparency on actual encryption details, you're probably better off assuming the data is compromised than not.
"Depending on the strength of their encryption though, and the key used"
I trust that Apple is competent when it comes to encryption at this point. I agree that the statement was ambiguous as to whether the data was actually taken.
Hopefully, but from the comments this an old, hacky system based on old software with critical software vulnerabilities. I don't imagine their encryption reflects that, but until it's clarified it's probably better to assume it does.
I thought the suggestion was more that by producing just one variant for all markets/regions/carriers, Google/LG can leverage economies of scale to bring the overall price down.
I haven't looked at the S3, but past Samsung models have had a bunch of variants marketed under the one model name.
(How much this really factors into the pricing, I doubt if we or Wired can really know.)
Simple, Samsung has to sell there product in an attempt to make a profit on them, Google on the other hand is selling theirs at or near cost as a "Content delivery system". They don't need to make money up front for the device.
Well lets assume they want a markup of 40% for profit, that would bring the cost to 420. The price I am seeing is $550 on amazon. This brings the cost difference at $110, and IMO this could easily be chocked up to R&D and other misc costs.
The Google Privacy Policy applies to all of the services offered by Google Inc. and its affiliates, including Google Fiber Internet and Google Fiber TV, which are provided by Google Fiber, Inc.
This Google Fiber Privacy Notice explains some important additional things we’d like you to know about information we collect when you visit Fiber websites or regarding use of Google Fiber TV and Google Fiber Internet (we call these together “Fiber”), and how that information is used.
Additional information we collect
To sign up for Fiber, users will be asked to provide an existing Google Account or to create a new one. You may be asked to provide additional personal information, such as billing address, service address or location, or bank account information when you sign up for Fiber.
We may also obtain and use information about our Fiber users from outside sources for marketing purposes (such as commercially available demographic, geographic, or interest information).
We may have a record of whether third party permission was required to install Fiber equipment for a Fiber user, as well as the third party’s name and contact information. In order to carry out a request to watch a pay-per-view program or other on-demand content, we may collect certain personal information, such as account or billing information and information about the product or service purchased.
During the initial provisioning or installation of Fiber services, and during any subsequent changes, updates or attempts to resolve issues you bring to our attention, we may access, and collect technical information from or about, televisions, set-top boxes, computer and network hardware and software, modems, or other systems or devices used in connection with Fiber.
How we use information we collect
The Google Privacy Policy explains how we use information we collect.
All information we collect about the use of Google Fiber TV (including use of programs and applications available through Google Fiber TV) may be associated with the Google Account being used for Google Fiber TV.
Technical information collected from the use of Google Fiber Internet for network management, security or maintenance may be associated with the Google Account you use for Fiber, but such information associated with the Google Account you use for Fiber will not be used by other Google properties without your consent. Other information from the use of Google Fiber Internet (such as URLs of websites visited or content of communications) will not be associated with the Google Account you use for Fiber, except with your consent or to meet any applicable law, regulation, legal process or enforceable governmental request.
This notice does not apply to the collection and use of information from other Google services (such as Gmail or Google Search) used while connected to Google Fiber Internet -- such information will be treated in accordance with applicable Google policies and terms of service.
Information we share
We do not share personal information with companies, organizations and individuals outside of Google except in the circumstances (such as with your consent, with domain administrators, for external processing and for legal reasons) as more fully set out in the Google Privacy Policy.
We may share non-personally identifiable information publicly and with our partners – like content providers, publishers, advertisers or connected sites.
what worries me about "will not be associated with the Google Account you use for Fiber, except with your consent" is that the word explicit is not used, i.e. you have already "consented" via the Google Privacy Policy.
