Google Collected Public Wi$-$Fi Data...by Mistake Google has admitted to collecting data over unsecured Wi$-$Fi networks mistakenly, using its Street View cars. Google photographs homes from public streets, using a fleet of company cars. Good said it was trying to gather information about the location, strength, and configuration of Wi$-$Fi networks soit could improve the accuracy of location$-$based service such as Google Maps and driving directions. However, in the process, the cars were also collecting snippets of emails and other Internet activity from unprotected wireless networks in the homes. Google blamed this on a programming error, temporarily halted the Street View data collection, and announced it would stop collecting all Wi$-$Fi