Google data merge a privacy threat?
 

I've already noticed that the ads on google are aimed directly at me (or my browsing history) and many are saying it's a privacy threat. To me it's high tech spam.
The amount google tries to track me, according to ghostery, is incredible.
Gmail users probably got a notice about the new privacy policy this AM, goes into effect March 1st, there is no op-out on this.

I'm thinking of dumping google and gmail and going with duckduckgo as my search engine. What would be a good one for my email?

Google data merge called privacy threat - Technology & Science - CBC News

This ones a pretty big deal.

Up till now the google services have been relatively autonomous. After March 1 everything google related will be lumped together.

The goal is to end up with something closer to Facebook, not so much on the front end but under the hood.

For mail just register yourself a domain name and get a hosted webmail account. We're talking a couple of bucks a month.

it'll just be a few more years until we get to Minority Report. personalized commercials based on retina scans.

Read "Scroogled" by Cory Doctorow

http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2007-09-17-n72.html

Jeez, if I don't clear out my cookies for awhile it seems like I look at ads for whatever I've searched before already. It's like the ads on PPOT pages that refer to topics on the page.

If it gets worse, I guess clear out the cookies every day?

FireFox + ABP = WIN

AdBlock Plus is so effective they've changed the default setting to allow "non-intrusive" advertising; I recommend turning off that checkbox.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/adblock-plus/

I didn't even know that YouTube had ads until I heard someone whinging about it.

I already do that with Ccleaner every night.

I was going to start a thread on this subject, thanks Mark.

I dumped Google (yesterday) and started fooling around on Bing (work computer, can't upload anything, use firefox at home).

I will check out duckduckgo.

Wife uses Yahoo mail so I have an account there... it is not great (as good or better than gmail) but what do you want for nothing. :D

I keep this to myself to avoid roll eyes, but I think Google Earth/street view is a horrendous invasion of privacy and this merge issue is just another step toward hell.

A tech told me a couple summers ago that Google keeps track of every keystroke you make.

20 Years ago I remember a tech telling us that a computor is an information gathering device that could be used against you one day.

So what free email would guys recommend?

I waiting for the techie youngins to chime in with "privacy is dead... all you data is online anyway... resistance is futile!"

I don't see this stuff getting any better as time goes on.

Bing=Microsoft, I suspect they'll be doing their best to do the same thing. Also, it's funny that there are rumors that Bing uses Google to get search results.

Even if it's not using your login as you go from page to page to page, "they" can still track you. Your browser has a "fingerprint". The fingerprint has to do with things like your screen resolution, which addons you have installed and their versions, etc.... There is a lot of information that can be garnered from a simple script when you browse to a webpage.


Panopticlick
Panopticlick | Self-Defense
Browser Fingerprints: A Big Privacy Threat | PCWorld

Do any of you have a frequent shopper card at various stores so you get a small discount on food? Those are used to track your purchases.

I wonder if/when the US is going to implement the CCTV system like they have in places in the UK?

My copilot loves google and does everything on their site.... email, docs, calendar and so on.

Not me, do not feel comfortable giving anyone access to all of my data...

Well it's well known that when you enter information at a site the data is captured even if you decide not to submit it.

Not just that but also the coupons that come to your house.

For example, Bed Bath and Beyond coupons have a barcode.

I can always tell when my wife has recently shopped there as new coupons start showing up in waves.

Man ,you and I are on the same page .
I just wrote all that about discount grocery store cards tracking you but then thought maybe I shouldn't write anymore and just delete this and did. Then read your post lol.about even if you don't submit it they get it .guess they got that info anyway.

But your right ,gas cards ,credit ,everything is being tracked and everything is connected.
That's one reason the Gov wants to get rid of cash.

BTW. still get a good laugh every time I read that "I want my two dollars"

"I want my two dollars."

Where is that?

Pick your evil. Google? MS? Apple? Which one do you trust the most and which the least? I don't use much of Google services other than calendar after switching to Android but this new merge has me thinking about alternatives. I could just go back to the Apple universe. Mail is less of an issue as I run my own domains. I suppose I could use my work calendar for everything but I prefer to keep separate ones. Anyone have a good cloud/shared calendar that will sync between a mac and android phone?

I read the email from Google. I missed what the concept is of a "merge." Anyone?

Hey Zeke.
It's a line from an old movie . John Cusak. Title escapes me right now.

Also, on the Apple thing, what, where do you think they are headed w/o Steve? As a virtual equal in wealth to Exxon, they might have some power. ;):D

Better Off Dead. Great movie, followed by One Crazy Summer.

Crazy little paper boy follows Cusak through the whole movie saying "I want my 2 dollars".

lol.ya ,when he chased him down the ski hill ,that was hillarious.

I don't have any store credit cards. When I got the frequent shopper card from the grocery store, the kid told me "take it home, fill it out and bring it back." I took it home, threw out everything but the card and use the card. So they don't have my name to tie to the card.... UNLESS they say "this card gets used, and then the name on the credit card that pays for the food is _____". They may or may not be set up for that YET.

Entertaining read.

None of this stuff is new.

I designed a platform 6-7 years ago when GPS enabled phones were starting to pop up.

It was a reward/incentive based mobile game/advertising platform.

EX: let's say you watch the decorating show Trading Spaces. We build a mobile version as a game. You need to decorate someone else's space. You can choose/purchase virtual items like paint, furnishings, appliances from real retail/big box inventory like Home Depot, Lowe's, Pier 1, Ikea etc... who are all paying an advertising premium for product placement. By and large you are going to chose items that you like.

Using location services we know if you are near one of the advertisers/retailers and push time limited coupons to your phone that are relative to the items that you may have chosen in game.

So you are walking thru the Mall, your phone chimes and the message is, "Hey, you still need a lamp to complete your Trading Spaces challenge, there is a Pier 1 50 ft ahead, go see take a look and see if you can find something you like. By the way, here's a 20% off coupon valid for the next x hours/days."

We never got around to building that one, maybe we should have. Oh well.

I also noticed the same thing when watching Youtube vids.

I watched a 60min episode over 20 years ago and they talked about the tracking done by your grocery store discount card.
The jist of it was that after a while the stores knows your likes and if you have not purchased one of the items it will pop up on the cashiers screen,then the cashier will suggest it to you knowing that you almost can't resist buying it. . Subliminal suggestions.

I just don't understand why you all allow your real information to be on the Internet. I am actually a 12 year old girl that hates cars, but nobody knows that on the Intern...


ooooooopps!

RE: Grocery store cards... you guys know they don't actually check to see if the info you give them is real, right?

I live at 123 ABC St.
Phone 123-456-7890

and Webb... are you wearing any panties?

Last year(early 2011) there was a "Do not track" bill which apparently didn't pass:'Do Not Track' Legislation Is On the Move | News & Opinion | PCMag.com
"Google, Microsoft, and Mozilla already incorporate versions of "do not track" into their browsers; Mozilla added it to the beta version of Firefox 4 in February."

At the same time Google is against SOPA, and for an anonymous internet, it does this....

Was at Guitar Center last weekend.

Went to check out and the guy asks for my phone number. Told him very politely that he did not need it.

He responds that he does.

Asked him since when is a phone number required to accept money?

He immediately cops an attitude and says he needs my name.

I asked why he needed that.

Not looking up he responds, for returns, we can't accept a return without a name.

Said OK, I won't return it.

We stared at each other for a little while.

I left with my purchase.

next time, ask for his supervisor

or tell him your name is "Lois Loan"

Really?.. Google., giving away your info... really. Like it hasn't been going on for years, one of the worst companies ever for giving it away, not even selling it. Just wait until they decide to sell every search everyone has ever made EVER! They never get rid of data.

Think of everything you have ever typed into Google......


Now add Facebook to that and you have no more secrets.


:mad:

I hope my anonymous Google searches for "gay albino midget S&M" doesn't affect my job resume, or my family, or my insurance policy.

Such things would be...um...blatently discriminatory if ever there was a connection made to the source.

I can imagine your custom Google ads are.......interesting. :D

thanks for answering my ad

I saw a program recently which basically said that the merge is just legalizing what they are already doing. No actual changes.

The thing that scares is what will be done with this info. You might yuck it up about the porn, but what if you're (or family) diagnosed with cancer and your employer finds out before you officially tell them. They could fire you with impunity so that their health care cost do not go up. If you've a fledgling company your big biz competition could be mining your data and tracking your every move....etc.

Don't think it can't happen, one only has to look at the British tabloid phone hacking scandal and industrial espionage. If you have a company car , phone or computer your employer is most likely already following your every move.