GOOGLE KNOWS WHAT YOU SEARCHED LAST NIGHT(Drudge Headline

Yahoo news - AP ^ | April 20, 2005 | MICHAEL LIEDTKE

[Fitzcarraldo]

Uh oh.

[RS]

I can't figure out why anyone would need this...

"Gee, I need some info but but I don't recall what it is I'm looking for, maybe I looked for something similar in the past ..."

[billorites]

This could be embarrasing.

[Squantos]

Eaker !!

[presidio9]

Uh-oh...

[FreedomCalls]

Google already shows what are the most popular searches in general. They even track each country. It makes for some interesting comparisons.

[MisterRepublican]

I guess computer users don't know how to go through their browsers history file to find their past Google searches.

[lonewacko_dot_com]

You have to (presumably) decide on your own to sign up for this.

Google uses a cookie that expires sometime around 2039 or so. Of course, if you get rid of that cookie each day and you don't have a static IP address then google doesn't know who you are from day to day (unless you signup for their service).

IOW, "fears are overblown", at least for semi-savvy searchers.

[billorites]

[lonewacko_dot_com]

Google's AdWords lets you bid on specific search terms, so they and all other search engine companies keep a very close tab on what's being searched for and what those terms are worth to advertisers. They probably also know how well those convert. I.e., if someone clicks on a widget ad, how likely are they to then buy widgets off the site the ad takes them to.

[billorites]

I should clear my cache,
Right?

[Brett66]

A pic of a statue of Peter Pan? I'm seeing a pic of "hot linking at pixyland is not permitted" graphic.

[P.O.E.]

I missed the story about the wrestlers who delivered the wolphin in the back of the Pontiac Solstice while Lance Armstrong and Britney Spears looked on.

[Salamander]

Block ALL Google cookies.
Do NOT install the "Google toolbar".
Do NOT use "G mail."

Enjoy this site;

http://www.google-watch.org/

[Terpfen]

This isn't news. Google's had a GUID in their cookies since they launched, and anyone who doesn't know about that doesn't read terms of service very closely.

If you go to imilly.com, there's a Javascript code you can run from your browser to anonymize your ID, making Google privacy-safe.

[Squantos]

LOL.......This will be an ugly thread.......:o)

[Salamander]

He had "the look" down pat until he put on the Chukka boots....:))

[GretchenM]

"It's really a bad idea," said Dixon, executive director of the World Privacy Forum. "If you need to keep track of your past searches, I recommend using a notebook. It would be a lot more private and a lot less risky."

Dixon's got it right.

I try to avoid using google and use AlltheWeb.com a lot. It gives me excellent results, and needs one less keystroke than google if looking up photos, etc.

[vezke]

A pic of a statue of Peter Pan? I'm seeing a pic of "hot linking at pixyland is not permitted" graphic.

Do a search on Google for "Pixyland Pixy pr0n".

:)