Although I doubt it will ever happen, this is how Google could singlehandedly, simply, and with very little work fix email for ever. This would ensure that Phishing, Spam, email hacking and information being sent to the wrong people would be a FAR smaller problem than it is now:
Implement public key encryption in Gmail using an open format, and force all businesses to use it. I’m not saying it has to be GPG, but GPG sure is a handy open format that would fit perfectly!
Make sure that you don’t keep the private keys stored serverside - that would be a BAD thing. A simple plugin for most browsers would enable you to keep the private keys saved clientside. (Themselves encrypted using a common password, for instance.)
Implementation outline:
1. Make own keyserver.
2. Allow everyone to use keyserver, whether or not you use Gmail.
3. Implement encryption in Gmail web interface, using SIMPLE words and making sure that the end users don’t have to know the technical terms.
4. Open beta. (Google loves betas) Allow people to send encrypted mail by default, and to only allow encrypted mail to be received.
5. Announce that in 2 years noone will be able to send email to people they don’t have an established relationship with without encryption. (From Gmail.)
6. Announce that in 1 year all Google Apps accounts will be forced to use encryption on all outgoing messages.
7. Push for encryption in all messages using this simple but elegant thought: Unencrypted email is like a postcard, encrypted email is like a letter you have to sign for, then decrypt and finally keep stored in a vault.
End result: Press notice, people start taking email problems seriously, other providers forced to take part, people start using encryption, and the chinese don’t get to hack Gmail anymore.
Once more, following everyone else, into the breach!
Oh yes… I’m founding a company, and that in the social web space… In other words, I’m now a startup hack seeking funding.
And I hate it. The rules are extremely clear, written down everywhere. It’s like there’s a set of 20 steps you must make, and then you automatically receive funding. It feels like the norwegian state social agencies. You just make sure you fill in all the little boxes on the form, and wait four days for the money to arrive in your account.
Well, at least I hope it is! Cause right now we’re spending money with no gains, and even with a clear monetization idea which will be ready on day 1, we might not be profitable for a while.
Anyway, I’m lucky to have found a good co-founder in Raghavender Bheem Reddy, who has actually been working on a technology platform for a year now, and has very nicely allowed me to be a part of it. So I’m not really founding the company (though for norwegian beurocratic reasons I am), but more like stepping into a non-incorporated business already in progress and helping it get traction.
It’s called Chai and it will launch may 1st. Invites available. (Click the photo).
I’ll write a more detailed introduction to the company once launched, for now I just want to bitch and moan about how fantastically shitty it is to be lucky enough to have this opportunity. #firstworldproblems
My moms puppy has invented a new game wherein he steals my handkerchief every chance he gets. It’s getting embarrassing, this is clearly just a new version of his “sockstealinggame” - his creative output has really been suffering this quarter.
In other words - I need keywurl for the new system! (http://alexstaubo.github.com/keywurl/)
If someone would make this, I would gladly donate 20$
Having enjoyed your humor and entertainment for many many years, it is most saddening that this appears to have been a passing fad. The “memes” of 2010 have been most disappointing, none lasting more than a few weeks and none having any creativity.
Note that I’m not firing you, Internet, but this should be considered a written warning.
— The Reader
