Web service that tracks flights could assist terrorists

The writers of this piece are totally lost. First, Google Earth is simply a browser for geographic information. Google had nothing to do with the creation of this layer- anyone can make such a layer for viewing in Google Earth, they way someone can create a website for viewing in microsoft internet explorer. Secondly, as Stefan Geens of www.ogleearth.com points out on his blog, this "service" has existed for nearly two years. There is nothing new or newsworthy about this. It sounds like the writers could not find any important topics (mass rape in Congo, for example) to cover so resorted to fabricating a catchy story out of thin air.

So the data is delayed by 5-minutes. The issue isn't that terrorists are going to update their missile seeker systems automatically with this data. This data allows the terrorists to sort out the flights during their most changeable and most vulnerable stage: stacking at the airport, assignment to runway, and final approach. I've visited the service and it is indeed sensitive information. It allows the terrorists to position to the correct runway (that info is NOT available anywhere else) and wait for the inbound flight with a resolution of 5-minutes. This is dangerous for El Al, period. All the wonks who talk about 30,000 ft. being out of range just haven't given it a moment's thought. It's 4000 ft. on approach over residential areas (where a pickup truck in an alley is not unheard of) that is the danger. Whatever government agency is outsourcing the track data must be halted.

The data is collected by floweb and put into a format that Google Earth can read. If someone put data together with people's addresses and the times they were not home you could display that in Google Earth too, but you couldn't blame Google. Also, the data floweb is displaying is not real time, it's delayed and not accurate enough to use for targeting planes in flight. If someone really wanted to shoot down a plane they'd just use binoculars to see where it is. Shall we ban eye sight too?

You forgot to mention that the flight tracking data is delayed at least 5 minutes. Not to mention the fact that Google has nothing to do with this. But don't let little things like the facts get in the way of your hysteria.

# 6, you are really cheap.

We, Jews, especially Israelis like to be either paranoid, or like to blow things out of proportion. As a pilot, and an aviation expert, Google's is no more risky than many more threats. MANPADS cannot target an aircraft cruising at 30 some thousand feet. We are paranoid, and talk too much. Wonder why many resent us??????????? The latest threat targeting us is that Elvis and John Belucci are cooking up some anti semitic conspiracies. I just hear that on FOX News. Seam Hannity, Ann Coulter and Neil Boortz also mentioned them in their radio talk programs because they all "Love" us. It is us Stupid.

According to blogs, this has been available since 2005 or 2006. According to the company (which is not google, but a private flight information source), this information was updated in mid-2006. So this isn't new. Again. Therefore, while worrying about this is probably a good idea (to some extent at least, make sure the information is delayed well enough so it's useless or something like that), this isn't a new problem but at least a two year old one.

The only way this will stop is to make Google financially responsible for any terrorist use of their data that Google knew, or should have known, could be used by terrorists. The flight data is like a loaded gun left near a childcare center.

Don't have a bank account. I'm not that stupid as to keep my money in a bank.

Are you going to wear the system down by continuing to DEMAND that your bank treat your information as confidential? Get with it! Sure there are malevolent individuals out there, but are you going to let a few bad apples manipulate YOUR lifestyle?

or are WE going to rule our lives? On this basis that a certain piece of technology might be useful to a terrorist or a criminal we might as well shut down the whole bloody Internet. Banish mobile phone (because they are used to explode bombs) and return to the dark ages. That is exactly what people like Bin Laden want. Life is full of risks, so lets get on with living.

The Google service may be new but the availabilty of such a service is old news. Just Google "flight tracking real time" to see a range of other web sites offering the same thing. One of the best is www.flightaware.com. Seems like the Haaretz piece is just an opportunity for a lot of "experts" to get a few minutes of free publicity!

The international community has a right to condemn this feature and warn Google to drop it. The terrorists on their own don't have the technology to do this, and it's not that important to the traveling public that it be out there considering the risks it creates. Google is large enough now to have a public responsibility.

Thank you Google. I will buy shares in your Company. Bin Laden