Danny Sullivan reports that in the past month, Google has quietly made a change aimed at encrypting all search activity to provide 'extra protection' for searchers, and possibly to block NSA spying activity. In October 2011, Google began encrypting searches
for anyone who was logged into Google. The reason given was privacy.
Now, Google has flipped on encryption for people who aren't even
signed-in. In June, Google was accused of cooperating with the NSA
to give the agency instant and direct access to its search data through
the PRISM spying program, something the company has strongly denied. 'I
suspect the increased encryption is related to Google's NSA-pushback,'
writes Sullivan. 'It may also help ease pressure Google's feeling from
tiny players like Duck Duck Go making a "secure search" growth pitch to
the media.
