The One Company That Can Actually Bring Down Google Is… Google
Posted by Al Scillitani on August 20, 2009 – 8:32 am
That’s right BING, don’t pay attention to Google, just focus on improving yourself, your tools, your products, and search results for your customers while Google commits suicide. Within 3 years BING and Google will be much closer to market share and within 5 years BING may even take over if they do things right. How can this happen in such a short time? Because Google is going to kill itself by abusing and taking advantage of their customers privacy and Google users are going to slowly migrate to BING and others products/services because of it.
If you are a user of multiple Google products you may know what I am talking about, if not, you soon will. Google is slowly forcing its users to combine all of their products under one account. If this does not scare you, it should. I use several Google products: Google Affiliate Network, Adwords, Adsense, Gmail, Financial Portfolio, and Calendar. I get emails from Google reps stating that they went into my Adwords account and then they email me recommendations. I understand the Adwords account is actually Google’s, but I still feel they should ask before going into my Adwords account. I really do feel my privacy has been violated when they do this. When all of my Google products and services are under one umbrella, this dramatically changes things. You may say that I am blowing this out of proportion, but let’s put all of these products under a single Google Account. Google employee’s most likely can now log in and see not only my Adwords account, but my financial portfolio (my assets, stocks, bonds, banks, etc…), see my calendar (where I am, what I do, etc..), see my “private” emails, and more.
When I emailed Google explaining my concern with this, their reply was to create new separate Google Accounts for every one of the products I use. Why? Why can’t they simply keep things as they are and allow their customers to combine the accounts if they want to and not make it mandatory? Here is the text from the Google Affiliate website http://www.connectcommerce.com/global/login.html
We’re requiring all Google Affiliate Network users to update to Google Accounts so you can access all your Google products with a single sign-on.
• Use the same sign-in for Google Affiliate Network and other Google products, including AdWords, AdSense, Gmail, Google Docs, Google Calendar, Personalized Search, and much more.
• Switch among Google Affiliate Network and other Google applications without having to sign in again.
Keep in mind that once you’ve updated your Account, you’ll no longer be able to use your old Google Affiliate Network username and password.
I am definitely not stating that all Google employees are deceitful, however if they are aware of an affiliate or Adwords account that is generating large sums of money, like Jeremy Shoemaker’s was http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/07/shoemoney-sues-google-employee-for-adwords-violations/ it would be very hard not to use that information for their own gain. Again, I am sure this is a rare case, but it does happen. Adding my calendar and email just adds to my concerns.
If BING continues to improve their search technologies and products they will continue to take market share http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/090819-123636 . It may take 10 years or more, but I think it will eventually happen. However, if Google continues to take their customer’s privacy concerns lightly, I am predicting BING will become a much larger threat to Google in half that time mainly due to Google’s own actions.
*Image created by Reinaldo (Tito) Rivera AnotherSession
28 Responses to “The One Company That Can Actually Bring Down Google Is… Google”
I agree. The Google login proccess has always been a thorn in my side. I’ve been locked out of a AdSense account and recently been unable to move my Google certification from one MCC to another (that Google was unable to remove invoicing from). While they add more and more great services such as Google voice, they are still making a number of missteps in other areas.
By Dan London on Aug 20, 2009
Scary stuff.
The other thing that concerns me as much, if not more, is that this move is a hacker’s (or cracker’s) delight.
Only one password to crack & you’ve got complete access to personal & possibly financial details of someone.
I’ve already started the process of extracating myself from Google’s tentacles in this respect, but it’s a lengthy process.
Just make sure your main gmail account has got a quantum-encrypted password on it (I know, not possible yet - but hopefully you get where I’m coming from
).
Best regards,
Dez.
By Dez Futak on Aug 20, 2009
I’d just like to say that custom image is CLASSIC!! Perfect for Marketing Don!!
By Meghann Porter on Aug 20, 2009
Dan,
That is another reason. Commingling these products will cause an issue later if they ever need to be separated again.
By Al Scillitani on Aug 20, 2009
Dez,
“is that this move is a hacker’s (or cracker’s) delight”
That can be an entirely different article on the security implications of combining all of these accounts. I am sure this breach will eventually happen.
By Al Scillitani on Aug 20, 2009
Meghann,
Yup, pretty sweet image
By Al Scillitani on Aug 20, 2009
A few people asked me if I was worried if Google would be upset over the article. I think they can take it two ways:
1. Old School- Get upset, write me a nasty letter, post negative things about me, etc… or
2. New School- Take complaints as gifts and listen to it’s users. Taking it’s users concerns and adjusting policies accordingly may help Google continue their #1 status.
By Al Scillitani on Aug 20, 2009
[…] The One Company That Can Actually Bring Down Google Is… Google http://www.marketingdon.com/2009/08/the-one-company-that-can-actually-bring-down-google-is%E2%80%A6-google – view page – cached That’s right BING, don’t pay attention to Google, just focus on improving yourself, your tools, your products, and search results for your customers while — From the page […]
Sorry… forgot to say great post - can’t wait to read your next one!
By Twitter Trackbacks for The One Company That Can Actually Bring Down Google Is… Google [marketingdon.com] on Topsy.com on Aug 21, 2009
It sounds scary when we hear that someone can actually access our information. Google needs to take steps to avoid such hackers else aspredicted by the author it would be it own killer.
By Andre Ocean on Aug 29, 2009
Al … I slightly disagree with you … it’s not taking 5 years … hear my words!
Google enjoys the largest piece of cheese only because there are no other mice but very soon there will be rats surrounding Google!
And with all respect to what Google had achieved, their arrogance in the market, that alone, deserves to see Google jumping off the edge.
By Mitch on Oct 26, 2009