billrush2
asked on
Security of Google Talk
One of my clients would like to use email (specifcally webmail) for interoffice communication in a dental office (also occasionally want to be able to view outside the office). The office has approx 30 associates who would use this method of communication. Email is of course slow and insecure so I am considering Google Talk (IM). I would like to know:
1) how secure/insecure is this?
2) Is there a way that I can control passwords for all of the users?
3) what port does G Talk use and is it always open (listening?) and is that a security risk?
Is there a better way to achieve the same result?
Bill
1) how secure/insecure is this?
2) Is there a way that I can control passwords for all of the users?
3) what port does G Talk use and is it always open (listening?) and is that a security risk?
Is there a better way to achieve the same result?
Bill
I'm thinking that the reql question is not how secure or well built it is, but how the jury will react when they find out that the dentists were sending their patient's private information to a free service they didn't have a contract with guaranteeing a specific level of security.
ASKER
Unfortunately - very true!
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ASKER
So is the use of G Talk less secure than communicating via unsecured email? Sounds like they are equivalent. Is this accurate?
Bill
Bill
No... Gtalk is encrypted, mail by default isnt...
-rich
-rich
Hmmm, you mixing two types of communication tools. But due both sending data over Internet I agree with you.
Tayger
Tayger
Richrumble, you're right. I was thinking from the point that both wouln't be encrypted.
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FarFromHome, some points I have to correct:
Its not true that entered text is stored on Google's side. They store data like session time, set config, etc. but - so far - not typed text. You can YOURSELF activate chat history on the local PC if you want to. Information you entered/set on GMail/over email will be used for internal (Google) analysis but NO ONE except Google can search that personal stuff.
Here is Googles licence agreement: http://www.google.com/talk/privacy.html
Google commited to the termns of SafeHarbor: http://www.export.gov/safeharbor/index.html
Just to make some things clear.
Its not true that entered text is stored on Google's side. They store data like session time, set config, etc. but - so far - not typed text. You can YOURSELF activate chat history on the local PC if you want to. Information you entered/set on GMail/over email will be used for internal (Google) analysis but NO ONE except Google can search that personal stuff.
Here is Googles licence agreement: http://www.google.com/talk/privacy.html
Google commited to the termns of SafeHarbor: http://www.export.gov/safeharbor/index.html
Just to make some things clear.
Do you even have a google talk account? It does in fact store your chat conversations on their servers. I just created another gmail account and by default they save chat history. You can also search your chat history from your gmail account. It is stored on googles servers and you can search it from any computer in the world. Try it out before you comment on it next time...
By default, chats are not logged, Tayger is correct, you have to enable the setting- further you can go off-record if you wish
Your chat history will appear here if you choose to save your chats. You can change this in Settings
http://www.google.com/talk/chathistory.html
http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?ctx=%67mail&hl=en&answer=29290
http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=29291 (off the record chats...)
-rich
Your chat history will appear here if you choose to save your chats. You can change this in Settings
http://www.google.com/talk/chathistory.html
http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?ctx=%67mail&hl=en&answer=29290
http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=29291 (off the record chats...)
-rich