Google's Privacy Policy

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.guardian.c...acy-policy-changes-eu

Is Google correct to implement their new privacy policy, which come into force today?

It seems that the EU's competition authority and the US Federal Trade Commission and Japan's trade and industrial ministry, are not happy about it.

No mention of the UK's thoughts on it though.

[jno]

the Mail's straightforward guide to removing your web history

http://www.dailymail....-3-step-solution.html

My main email is a Gmail one, and I don't mind the ads it aims at me (I love the way whenever I go to its spam page I get a recipe for spam fritters). But I switch that off before I do any web searches, and have Firefox set so it deletes my browsing history each time I close it. I'm sort of hoping that's enough - not that I have very much to hide.

A couple of allegedly private search engines I saw recommended the other day:

http://duckduckgo.com/
https://www.ixquick.com/

aog, I imagine we participate in the EU competitiion authority's approach?

[humbersloop]

This freebie, Do Not track Plus, works well.

http://www.abine.com/dntdetail.php?

[anotheoldgit]

jno

That Daily Mail link is interesting, but if one hasn't opened an account with Google, is there any need to worry?

And apart from emails, why would one need to open an account with Google?

[ChuckFickens]

"but if one hasn't opened an account with Google, is there any need to worry?"

No.

And apart from emails, why would one need to open an account with Google?

YouTube
Google+
Android phones
Google Books
Google Docs
Blogger
iGoogle
Picasa Web Albums

Plus a load of other services that google provides.

[jno]

I once opened a YouTube account to comment on some video; when Google took over YouTube they took over my account too. Apart from that, I get by without the various other Google functions. So you should be safe, aog.

[Gromit]

// Google’s new policy means user data from more than 60 of its services will be pooled to create a single profile for each of its hundreds of millions of users. By matching data from search histories, Gmail and YouTube, among dozens more services, the firm will be able to infer more about users’ interests and target advertising more accurately. //

Are are not safe from Google tracking your behavior by not having a Google Account. It can still build a profile of someone using your IP address when using the internet. By joining the dots, that is to say matching the data from a Google Earth search with another Google service like looking at YouTube videos of a particular place, their software is able to predict you are planning a holiday. So that next time you visit your favourite website that has Google Ads, you will see adverts targetted at you for swimming costumes, cameras or swimwear. This is highly sophisticated advertising which in itself is not sinister. The problem is that most people don't realise they are leaving clues to their future spending when they are using their Android phone or using maps on their PC.

[anotheoldgit]

Thank you all for your very interesting comments.

[jno]

clearly, you should make a point of using Google Earth to look at streets in Mongolia from time to time. It'll bring you lots of ads for camels and yurts (which you can block), but it will throw them off the scent and waste their time.

[anotheoldgit]

Has Mozilla come to the rescue?

http://www.dailymail....g-internet-users.html

[boxtops]

I'm a bit naive about all this - is it still safe to search on Google, I don't have any sort of account with them. but I search a lot? I don't have their task-bar, no need for it.