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maps.google.com now redirects to google.com/maps

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Re: maps.google.com now redirects to google.com/maps

#121
Funny thing is, it depends on your threat model.

Using google.com/XXX for all its services protect the user from being spied by external actors such as ISP because everything is hidden behind HTTPS.

Whereas, with XXX.google.com, external actors knows that you are using service XXX.

Re: maps.google.com now redirects to google.com/maps

#122
post #121

Funny thing is, it depends on your threat model. Using google.com/XXX for all its services protect the user from being spied by external actors such as ISP because everything is hidden behind HTTPS. Whereas, with XXX.google.com, external actors knows that you are using service XXX.

The threat here is google.

Re: maps.google.com now redirects to google.com/maps

#123
post #26

Firefox containers to the rescue.

I've been using Mozilla's extension[0] that contains everything Facebook-related automatically with Firefox containers and it's been working great.

This morning I looked for a similar extension for Google and I've found this fork[1] of Mozilla's extension. It's working as expected so far but I'd love for it to be officially maintained by Mozilla at some point. There is an open issue about it[2].

[0] https://github.com/mozilla/contain-facebook

[1] https://github.com/containers-everywhere/contain-google

[2] https://github.com/mozilla/contain-facebook/issues/758

Re: maps.google.com now redirects to google.com/maps

#124
post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you need OSM on Android, I can recommend: - "Organic Maps" (a fork of the old MapsMe codebase) if you want a clean, simple user experience - "OSMAnd" if you want a very powerful, highly customizable map application, which comes at the cost of a steeper learning curve Both apps are open source and support navigation, offline maps and POI search. The things I miss most compared to Google Maps is live traffic informa…

I also had some success with HERE maps: https://wego.here.com Their Android app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.here.app.m... Their Apple app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id955837609 The performance is good (especially on a budget Android device, better than the recent versions of Google Maps, even), they're reasonably accurate (I'm in Eastern Europe) and include navigation, traffic information, pub…

One of the best features of HERE maps is the ability to download entire countries' maps and turn off data.

This was a life saver when roaming when data charges were really exorbitant.

Re: maps.google.com now redirects to google.com/maps

#125
post #121

Funny thing is, it depends on your threat model. Using google.com/XXX for all its services protect the user from being spied by external actors such as ISP because everything is hidden behind HTTPS. Whereas, with XXX.google.com, external actors knows that you are using service XXX.

The threat here is google.

If your threat is google, it would be wise not to use google in the first place.

As other mentioned, OSM is an alternative (not equivalent) of Google Maps.

Re: maps.google.com now redirects to google.com/maps

#126
This is a fantastic example of motivated reasoning. This "change" (which apparently isn't even new) can have so many different reasons, some of which are less harmful and some of which are probably worse (privacy-wise) than the one mentioned here. There is no indication that re/mis-using permissions is specifically what they wanted to do here, there is also no example of them doing it right now. Don't get me wrong, there is also no evidence that this isn't the real reason and that they wouldn't do that in the future. But the blog post basically list a single symptom and jumps right to the one conclusion that fits what the author expects.

Re: maps.google.com now redirects to google.com/maps

#127

Genuine question. Is it reasonable as a user to expect data collected by Google via maps.google.com to not be shared with other Google applications e.g. mail.google.com? I'd have thought data collected on any of their domains would be meshed/merged behind the scenes where it suits them to do so?

It could be tricky with permissions on different users: for instance you authorize google.com/maps to track your location while logged as user A.

You logout and switch to user B to look at another Google service, but google.com is still allowed to get your location, and will stick it to user B, which is something you might not have wanted. This didn't happen with the previous domains, so could be a surprise.

Re: maps.google.com now redirects to google.com/maps

#128
post #121

Funny thing is, it depends on your threat model. Using google.com/XXX for all its services protect the user from being spied by external actors such as ISP because everything is hidden behind HTTPS. Whereas, with XXX.google.com, external actors knows that you are using service XXX.

DNS over HTTPS is the solution here.

Re: maps.google.com now redirects to google.com/maps

#129
post #121

Funny thing is, it depends on your threat model. Using google.com/XXX for all its services protect the user from being spied by external actors such as ISP because everything is hidden behind HTTPS. Whereas, with XXX.google.com, external actors knows that you are using service XXX.

The whole "threat model" thinking is useful for security, but I don't think it translates well to privacy and data sharing consent matters.

Re: maps.google.com now redirects to google.com/maps

#130

Genuine question. Is it reasonable as a user to expect data collected by Google via maps.google.com to not be shared with other Google applications e.g. mail.google.com? I'd have thought data collected on any of their domains would be meshed/merged behind the scenes where it suits them to do so?

I'm ok with sharing my location with maps (and therefore google) WHILE USING MAPS. Not when I'm reading my emails, or searching for something on the web.
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