Buzz Exploit Addressed by Google…Kinda
Google is scrambling to repair the security exploit (see lack of follower message view control) they overlooked by stating that the option to block public views of contacts was always there.
LifeHacker has a decent walk-through and Google has now posted a “we listened to your feedback” post on the official Google blog page. This fix is not a perfect solution according to some. The following is a comment from the afformentioned Life Hacker article from an obviously disgruntled user.
Google may still have some work to do.
“Where the heck is the ability to prevent people from following before they are approved, preventing them from adding you and reading your previous posts?!?!?
For example, my boss is in my contacts. I don’t want him following me. The only way to do that is to create a contact group and make sure I share with specific groups, not including his. He can still follow me, but he just won’t see anything. That’s not even easy to explain to a new user, especially if they don’t have their contacts cleaned up already. (The only reason I happen to have mine clean is because I sync with an iPhone)
I should be able to prevent any new followers unless I approve them. No one should be able to “follow” me, and then click my name and read all my previous buzzes, unless I want them to and approve them.
Twitter does this by allowing you to have a private account.
I like the “feed” idea of sharing my picassa/blog/etc activities with my followers, but I want those followers to be controlled by me. Not be the entire world.”- njefferson (LifeHacker)
Honestly, you would think Google realizes users don’t want every Jane/John Doe rummaging through previous Buzz posts? Apparently independant groups are the only way to control this. Then you can pick and choose who sees what. Of course that means multiple messages sometimes. May be message category tags visible to specific Buzz group followers only, could be implemented.
In any case, it all seems a little messy right now while they work the kinks out. Knowing Google’s past efforts and commitment to user satisfaction, eventually Buzz will move beyond its public beta phase.
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Filed Under: Buzz • Google • Trends • Web Privacy
