and
Posted on 04/21/2015 5:40:20 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
Google is famous for keeping discreet tabs on how people browse the Internet in order to market ads back to them and point them toward the websites, videos and services they want.
Now, it’s possible for the average Web user to get a slice of some of that information.
Over the weekend, an unofficial Google blog highlighted a new feature that the Internet giant had quietly rolled out to let people download their entire Google search histories.
“Create an archive of your search history data,” the Web company promises.
In a few moments, it sends an email with downloadable cache of data about people’s past searches.
The archive won’t work for people who have altered their privacy settings, and only records searches that occurred while logged in to Google, such as through Gmail.
Still, the archive is a demonstration of how much information Google quietly retains about its users. The company is by no means unique in compiling scores of data about people’s browsing habits, but its size has made it a target for privacy advocates who fear companies having access to vast amounts of personal information.
In addition to Google, companies known a data brokers — which make a business out of compiling dossiers on consumers in order to sell use for advertising — have come under scrutiny from Capitol Hill and Washington regulators, who fear that people’s privacy is not being adequately protected.
That search history can also be useful to the government, in order to track down potential terrorists or criminals. Among other things, federal agents are able to subpoena lists of search histories from companies like Google during the course of an investigation.
Google is evil.
Y I use Yahoo. F Google.
and
“have come under scrutiny from Capitol Hill and Washington regulators, who fear that people’s privacy is not being adequately protected.”
LOL. What a joke. Government is pissed cause Google is encroaching on their territory.
Yeah and you were looking for “hot, young.....kitty cats” too!
CC
LOL. Wonder what Hillary was searching for.
Does anyone really want to see the history of what the average American searched? For men, I assume it will be something like:
Porn
Sports
Porn
Sports
Kitchen tile patterns (wife logged on under the wrong name)
Porn
Sports
Here's some naked, wet chicks:
“LOL. Wonder what Hillary was searching for.”
Scooby snacks?
Muffins.
She was searching for recipes to make Kosher pickle bread, which of course must be made with “dill dough”.
=^)
CC
I had history turned off. I think this was a sneaky way of having you sign into your google account. I am signed out unless I absolutely have to sign in.
Anyone else been prompted by google to make it the default search engine when using Firefox?
I get a popdown menu asking just that from time to time.
You are being watched.
BOOKMARK
I try very hard to keep google cookies off my computer. I know it is hard to do but I work at it. Sorry, but if your link is to google I will not click it. Google is not your friend!
Everything that was searched for on a computer, or on a browser logged into a Google account. That does not equate to “YOU” (a single individual.)
bkmk
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