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Dumped by Google

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Re: Dumped by Google

#31

Post by frozenport »

alexeston wrote: post #12

I would really, sincerely, love to reply with my opinion on this, what seems by the title at least, wonderful article. But unfortunately people do not seem to have decent enough of a hosting provider and/or server to survive the outcome of getting on the front page of HN and hence I am forced to see "Error establishing a database connection".

Back in the old days before VPS, websites would autoscale leading to huge and unprecedented bills. For example, I hosted a website that contained download links. One day the Chinese found out and hot-linking causing my server bill to jump from $5.95 to over $200. I was 12 and this made me sad.

Re: Dumped by Google

#32

Post by TeMPOraL »

tannerc wrote: post #28

Looks like we may start needing cloud services to backup cloud services. That'd be an interesting service, particularly if it worked seamlessly in the background.

All fine, until all the data ends up stored in the very same Amazon server room, at which point in the event of server fire your "cloud backups" will probably go down along with the original data.

Re: Dumped by Google

#35

Post by dunham »

falcolas wrote: post #11
drawkbox wrote: post #8

Definitely a reason I have always paid for Gmail/Drive before it was that. But the actual reason is quite scary why it triggered the issue: "My data was intact save for the last thing I’d worked on–a spreadsheet containing a client’s account numbers and passwords. It seems that Google’s engineers determined this single document violated policy and locked down my entire account. My request to get that document back is…

If this file is indeed the cause of the account closure... what happens if you're using a Chromebook? Then not only do you loose access to that computer, you are restricted to what kind of content you can create and store on your computer. I hope this gentleman is wrong. I really do.

It's plausible. I've personally seen phishing done via google docs. And, at one point, Oxford blocked google docs because of phishing. So phishing via docs is probably a common occurrence.

To combat this, I wouldn't be surprised if Google had software that tried to detect this (maybe look for spreadsheets of username/passwords), and shut down the accounts associated with it.

Re: Dumped by Google

#36

Post by eropple »

lignuist wrote: post #25
imsofuture wrote: post #21

What are the best alternatives to Gmail?

Paying for managed Webspace that includes email functionality.

Who runs a remotely comparable e-mail service, though? I mean, I've tried Windows Live, and that's the closest I've found and is still pretty poor.

Re: Dumped by Google

#37

Post by jacquesm »

baby wrote: post #24
betterunix wrote: post #2

People have been warned about relying on web services already: https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/who-does-that-server-really-s...

Alright but then how do you safely store your important data? Imagine if the same thing happened with Dropbox (if you're using it).

The same way you always used to: on media that you control in more than one location.

Re: Dumped by Google

#38

Post by jacquesm »

frozenport wrote: post #29
thomaslutz wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google closed his Google Account including Gmail, Google Drive, Google Calender etc. without notice and without explanation. After 6 days he got it back after a google employee he knows personally escalated the case internally.

And now that employee is paying the price with an embarrassing hacker news article?

No, the employee comes out pretty good but google clearly sucks for anything mission critical without a backup outside of google.

Re: Dumped by Google

#39

Post by svachalek »

capo wrote: post #3

Same as every other “cloud provider”, yet somehow Google is the one subjected to these overwritten accounts and the almost mandatory pseudo law/policy musings that follow. You might want to take a look at some policies from others in the industry to get a more accurate picture of this landscape. These policies are constructed as such to mitigate litigation, which the author concedes. Regardless I'm glad this instance…

"Somehow"? What other "cloud provider" does John or Jane Q. Public use?

Re: Dumped by Google

#40

Post by trhtrsh »

coderdude wrote: post #27
zalzane wrote: post #20

I think what's even more horrifying that isn't mentioned in the article is how many services use email as a form of user authentication. If you lose access to your gmail account, you also lose access to changing your password on any service that makes you do so through an email link - I know of some services that don't even let you change your account email without clicking on an email authentication link. So not onl…

Unfortunately though, it's poor practice to let a user change their email address without first sending a confirmation email. If you don't confirm the action before making the change then bad people can lock out the true owner of an account simply by being logged-in.

Which is why everyone should have their own domain name, or have a contract with a reputable provider.

It's crazy to cede over ones entire identity to a free "best-effort" service.

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