Google knows nearly every Wi-Fi password in the world (2013)
Google can access Wi-Fi passwords globally from Android devices, storing them for user convenience. Privacy and security concerns arise despite encryption measures. Users can opt out to prevent data storage.
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Google has the ability to access Wi-Fi passwords worldwide through Android devices that have connected to networks. With millions of Android phones and tablets in use, Google likely stores these passwords along with other settings. Users may unknowingly back up their Wi-Fi passwords to Google servers, making it convenient to transfer settings to new devices. However, concerns arise regarding privacy implications and potential government access to this data. While Google encrypts the data during transit and claims strong security measures, questions remain about who can access the plaintext backup data. Users can opt out of this feature to prevent their data from being stored. The issue of Google's access to Wi-Fi passwords has been raised before, but has not received widespread attention. The practice of storing Wi-Fi passwords raises privacy and security concerns, especially if accessed by unauthorized parties.
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