America.

ok cool - now i understand what u meant about yr country being born a republic

Sadly, that is because most people have no idea what they are doing when it comes to home networks.  People need to become more knowledgeable about these things, and I do not know about other countries, but ISP's here in the U.S. should brief there customers about issues like this when they come to hook up there Internet initially. Does not have to be in depth, but they should at least mention the potential hazards and offer to install their wireless securely at the time too (for a fee of course). Just a thought, and good for business too.

of course non of it is really safe in the end, i did a search on google for wifi password key and was suprised how many options ppl provide for cracking wifi security. maybe we cld turn the tables on google and listen in to them at HQ   lol

That's like saying if you park your car in a public place you're asking for it to be stolen.  Simply put, Google has NO right to steal wi-fi information just because people haven't or don't know how to secure their networks.

My neighbours leave out their milk money (home deliveries) once a week.... just because it's there and I know it, is not an invitation for me (or anyone else) to takel it.  That's the trouble with Google, though... it lays claim to everything it sees, knows is there)... and justifies the data theft by saying it is providing a service (with that stolen information). 

Mobsters provide a 'service', too - be it protection, drugs, booze, women - but it don't mean you wanna do business with them.  Google might wear the corporate cloak, though it ain't Zorro underneath the mask, but rather another bandit.  And how does Google keep getting away with it??  Friends in high places, perhaps....maybe a bit of unofficial official snooping in exchange for an official blind eye?

In any event, I've come to learn that you don't trust anybody who constantly says "trust me"... nor anyone who says "don't be evil", cos inevitably they're doing it themselves and don't want the competition.

Precisely. Although the law makes provisions not favorable to someone who is flagrantly lax in his/her security (at least in Israel...leaving one's door wide open at home or car door), I side with starkers. Google knows what's right and what's wrong. In this matter, it took deliberate programming by Google to accomplish reading info from people's home/office networks. Those people had "A reasonable expectation of privacy."

Therefore, while siding with starkers I also say be wise and don't put it to the test: Secure your networks!

Yeah, if Google can get your information easily, just imagine what someone with aspirations of fame and wealth could do to you!