The article mentioned above is a bit technical, let me explain the threat in simplest words and then I will show you how to remove it.

The privacy threat behind Google Buzz:

Consider the snapshot beow:

I you have enabled Google Buzz and when you will click on anyone of your contacts you will see this a screen like above, pretty innocent, hmmm, No!

If you click on the link on the “following” link, you will instantly get all my contacts!

Imagine all my contacts, family members, business contacts,friends and foes etc. Everything exposed! and the best part is that all of this has been done without any explicit statement from Google!

If you have any doubts check this out in your buzz Now!

How to Turn Off Google Buzz Effectively and Safely!

Before you turn of Google Buzz completely, first step is to unfollow everyone, do it mannually and now! This is how you will do it:

1. Click on the Buzz Icon
2. Click on your name

• Click on your Following Link and UnFollow everyone!

Turn Off Google Buzz Until Google Updates its policies:

Scroll Down to bottom of Gmail Window and Click Turn Off Buzz.

This is the worst ever mistake made by Google (made by Google in my Opinion). I will discuss in my future posts about the possible threats about such mistakes from Google or similar companies.

[Update: Thursday, February 11, 2010 4:49 PM] Google has updated there policy about Google Buzz as a response to complains, I am not sure about the consequences yet, check it:

http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/millions-of-buzz-users-and-improvements.html

• Since users will now be able to see suggestions/blogposts/tweets etc from our contacts, so this opens are whole new platform for Social Media Marketing i.e. if you have established yourself as a friendly guy in any popular social media platform like Facebook, and you are an open Networker i.e. who adds other people as friends without any previous acquittance, then you have a very huge opportunity that you can influence and market a huge number of audience in many diverse niches, all you need is quality content on various topics with a touch of SEO and Google will do the rest of work for you,
• The downside is that now we will see even more social media SPAM
• I am eager to know what will be your stance on this change in SERPs?

• Will you establish yourself as an open networker ?

• If Yes, what will the effects on your personal life? Will you manage multiple accounts? What will be the ethics in this case?

• If No, will you miss this opportunity? Will this refrain others from using social media for even more marketing purposes?

• What can be best practices,ethically, to use this opportunity to market products and services on social media, with special reference this recent update?

I will try to answer this in my coming posts, but I need your feedback too.

What makes Bing Different ?

According to Microsoft’s spokesman “People do not need another search engine” rather “People need a decision engine.” and BING is a decision engine not another search engine.

According to Microsoft BING will help people make decisions in shopping, traveling, finding best hotels etc. not just search them.

People will be able to see comparisons and even predictions about price changes and climate etc. , and hence help them make better decision.

BING is not live yet but Microsoft has created no much enough excitement about it. Previously, Microsoft has recently launched a new social media platform Vine and now this search engine or decision engine, Microsoft is really up to something !, let’s see.

BING Introduction:

BING Review :

Although Facebook and Myspace both have the intentions of maximized monetization of their networks, Facebooks Apps Pages are one such example, the retention is much higher for twitter.

I think the Twitter Boom is just because of extensive marketing rather than a common persons interest in Twittering every minute updates.

Microsoft has recently launched a new social networking site, although still in beta phase, that allows professional to get connected.

Microsoft Vine

• connects you to the people and places
• Stay in touch with family and friends
• Use alerts, reports and your personal dashboard to stay in touch, informed and involved.

Also:

• Information associated with the places you have chosen will appear on your map, including articles from 20,000 news and public safety sources.
• Information from people you care about, such as alerts and reports, will appear on the dashboard too

For more info visit: http://www.vine.net/about.aspx