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Google Searches Now Searching You

HorseleechHorseleech 3,830 Posts
edited March 2012 in Strut Central
So this is the first day of Google's new "privacy policy". I tried to read their breakdown, but this shit makes my brain glaze over.

Is this a big deal? Big Brother bigger than ever?

Or non-issue?

Or it doesn't matter because Google is everywhere and we're all trapped?

In a burst of early morning paranoia I deleted my Google search history, which I didn't even know you could do until an article had a link. You can also look at all of your searches, if you're wondering where your youth went:

https://accounts.google.com/ServiceLoginAuth?continue=https://www.google.com/history/&service=hist&nui=1&hl=en

  Comments

  • dj_cityboydj_cityboy 1,477 Posts
    Horseleech said:
    Google is everywhere and we're all trapped?

    ^^ THIS!
  • bluesnagbluesnag 1,285 Posts
    Shit, now they're all gonna know I look at porn.
  • Jonny_PaycheckJonny_Paycheck 17,825 Posts
    As I understand it, you should definitely pause/delete the search tracking they do, but it also doesn't mean much because plenty of other big data companies have your ass already and are not being nearly as forthcoming or generous with options.
  • kalakala 3,361 Posts
    if you don't want to feed the machine ditch google

    use duck duck go and get ghostery

    http://duckduckgo.com/

    http://www.ghostery.com/

    problem solved
  • dreskieboogiedreskieboogie 951 Posts
    I paused my google and youtube history but what it actually means it a little beyond me. They're still allowed to collect data, right?

    I use Chrome most of the time but here's an interesting feature for Mozilla which at least lets you monitor what's going on:

    http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/collusion/
  • PATXPATX 2,820 Posts
    All browsers have GPS built in BTW. Shit is down to less than 6ft accuracy.

    Also, in unrelated news, the government wants to start using drones for domestic policing purposes.
  • rootlesscosmorootlesscosmo 12,848 Posts
    SportCasual said:
    All browsers have GPS built in BTW.

    please to explain? how does my browser (software) "have GPS"?

    I've definitely seen ads pop up offering me local services (presumably based on the location of my ISP's servers?), but it's never very accurate.
  • PATXPATX 2,820 Posts
    rootlesscosmo said:
    SportCasual said:
    All browsers have GPS built in BTW.

    please to explain? how does my browser (software) "have GPS"?

    I've definitely seen ads pop up offering me local services (presumably based on the location of my ISP's servers?), but it's never very accurate.

    I guess it varies, and yes it is based on IP. But I tried it and got a shock when they posted a red dot in the exact corner of the room that my wireless is hooked up to the modem, so it must be more than just simple IP - there must be something to do with radio signal as well. And you know that google did admit to swiping everyone's WAP details when they did streetview.


    Location-Aware Browsing is always opt-in in Firefox. No location information is ever sent without your permission. If you wish to disable the feature completely, please follow this set of steps:

    In the URL bar, type about:config
    Type geo.enabled
    Double click on the geo.enabled preference
    Location-Aware Browsing is now disabled

  • PATXPATX 2,820 Posts
    And here we have it.


    By default, Firefox uses Google Location Services to determine your location by sending:

    your computer???s IP address,
    information about the nearby wireless access points, and
    a random client identifier, which is assigned by Google, that expires every 2 weeks.

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