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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

#201

Post by __michaelg »

__michaelg wrote: post #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, t…

Meta: my answer here is probably also a good example of motivated reasoning because I likely read a bit more into what the author wrote than is factually in the blog post. Oh boy.

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

#202

Post by nottorp »

godzillabrennus wrote: post #169
gjadi wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

If only there was a drop in replacement for Google Workspace… even if you use Fastmail for email you don’t have Google docs anymore and that’s a huge piece…

The worse problem is you give Maps location permissions and that can translate now to the 3 billion sites that use Analytics isn't it?

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

#203

Post by _flux »

deng wrote: post #67
teekert wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you put all G-services in their own container, google.com/mail can't access google.com/maps cookies, so, will it also not track location. Not sure actually, they indeed probably store your "consent" on their server. Could you block location services per container perhaps? Hmm this is a smart move indeed, all of a sudden I'm logged into G-maps whereas I wasn't before... FireFox helpfully opened google.com/maps in m…

> google.com/mail can't access google.com/maps cookies, so, will it also not track location google.com has now direct access to your location, it doesn't need any cookies.

But it "doesn't" know who you are if you have not logged in. Or do you mean that the permission isn't container-specific?

(Of course it can probably make a pretty good guess, just as well it could do before this change.)

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

#204

Post by darren_ »

newaccount74 wrote: post #138

It's even worse with their iOS apps. I've tried to avoid logging into my Google account on Safari on my iPhone because I am scared of them tracking me, but I also wanted to use the Google Keep app for sharing a shopping list with my partner. But when you launch the Google Keep app, iOS asks you whether you want to allow the app to share data with "google.com". It turns out that there is no way to sign into the Google…

> It turns out that there is no way to sign into the Google Keep app without also signing into Google in Safari!

If you're wondering why you're getting downvoted it's because this isn't true at all. I'm signed into (several) iOS google apps and my Safari browser is not signed into google.

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

#205

Post by forgetfulness »

johnchristopher wrote: post #194
__michaelg wrote: post #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, t…

> But the blog post basically list a single symptom and jumps right to the one conclusion that fits what the author expects. That conclusion isn't wrong though. Your comment basically claims author is twisting facts but the conclusion remains that giving google.com/maps permission to geotrack does give google.com permission to geotrack. "Pinky swear I won't enforce that clause" is not reassurance enough.

They've promised nothing, to boot. Google does not deserve the benefit of the doubt here.

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

#206

Post by vetinari »

imajoredinecon wrote: post #179
Crosseye_Jack wrote: post #165

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I presume they are talking about the DNS "leak". google.com/maps would result in a DNS request for google.com so anyone monitoring DNS would know they are connecting to a google service but wouldn't know which one. maps.google.com would result in a DNS request that show they are connecting to maps.google.com and could presume they want some maps. DoH (and ESNI on the server side) would fix it, but iirc Chrome (the mo…

> iirc Chrome (the most used browser) doesn't use DoH by default. Last I checked, Linux was behind other platforms because there’s a lot of complex custom dns configuration that chrome (understandably) didn’t want to be accused of overriding/ignoring, but which isn’t all easily visible to the browser

Which is the correct behavior; if the user wants to configure his computer to DoT/DoH, system resolver is the correct place and Chrome has to respect it.

Even if the computer is using 53/udp to the configured local resolver in the local network, it doesn't mean that the resolver itself is using 53/udp. Many of them can forward queries using DoT/DoH/IPoAC and the app on the users computer will be none the wiser.

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

#207

Post by pygy_ »

gjadi wrote: 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.

I’m pretty sure you can still identify specific services from trafic patterns. It is more expensive, but within reach for well funded actors.

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

#208

Post by ojr »

keyle wrote: post #8

It's a very strange move indeed. maps.google.com implies an application lives there, far better than being on the root domain. It also means that when you start typing maps.google, you'd get all your history searchable related to maps, although arguably that's useless. I can't think of a reason why this would be a good technical move for Google (ignoring the don't do evil thingie), other than simplifying... certifica…

google.com/maps is simpler to type on a mobile phone and more consumer friendly, I’ve always used google.com/ pattern, way easier to leverage autocomplete, type a g to autocomplete google.com then if you are looking for flights type f and in 2-3 clicks you are on google.com/flights

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

#209

Post by vetinari »

dotancohen wrote: post #171
KronisLV wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

From where do they get traffic information? The only viable app that I've ever seen for traffic data is Waze, because of the huge install base. I do remember HERE from when they were a Nokia brand, but even with that history I think that they'd be too small to have good traffic information.

HERE is currently owned by a consortium of Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi. So I guess that's where their traffic info is from.

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

#210

Post by account42 »

akudha wrote: post #187
__michaelg wrote: post #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, t…

My default mode is to trust everyone until they break my trust. Now that I am old, I have realized that trusting everyone by default is not a good idea, especially big tech. In cases like this, I think it is better to assume malice, even if we are proved wrong later. This is not our fault, this is big tech screwing with us repeatedly for years, with no shame or conscience

The way I see it, people deserve the benefit of the doubt when it comes to their motivations but corporations don't.
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