Thursday, 7 August 2008

Picasaweb: unlisted does not mean private

There is a misconception that Google's photo service, Picasaweb, has a private option. There is an 'unlisted' option, but no 'private' option. There is a clear difference: the unlisted option required an Authkey to access to album, but if you have this then you get access with no further input required.

If you put the link to an unlisted album with its Authkey on a web site indexed by Google, then your unlisted album becomes findable and accessible.

This has happened quite a bit as you can see by using the search term "http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=picasaweb.google+inurl%3Aauthkey&btnG=Search". You get back 40,000 hits in Safari, and 60,000 in Camino. Curious difference!

You can refine your search by adding, say, "London" (5 hits), or Bankgkok (4).

You can also add your own Picasaweb / Gmail ID to see if any of your own albums are findable.

1 comment:

  1. dude this is too good.
    I noticed the change in URL...and its tarunchandel.com.

    This is ths the first thing I am ging to do once i come back... came online after a long time today... have been realy busy with project..and was pleasently surprised by the new look of your blog.
    MAn ...you rock!!!

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