Free Republic

On the internet today, larger tech companies like Google, Facebook, and Amazon can sometimes feel like inescapable presences. Google, in particular, tracks the way you use its search engine and other apps... But the things Google keeps track of can actually extend far further than you might expect, given the prevalence of Google Analytics and Google’s ad networks. In an effort to better understand what kinds of data is sent to Google, where it happens, and when it occurs, developer Bert Hubert — best known as the original creator of PowerDNS — created a new app called “Googerteller.” Googerteller works...

Sorry, Google, but according to the lawsuit Skyhook filed against you today, you've crossed the line. Your "don't be evil" mantra is now officially a joke. All's fair in business, we suppose. But Google is now basically acting like heyday-era Microsoft here, throwing its weight around and screwing over small companies for its own gain. Google Android boss Andy Rubin went as far as to call Motorola co-CEO Sanjay Jha "multiple times" to impose a "stop ship" order on the company's phones, according to Skyhook's complaint. Also, most companies don't have mantras like "don't be evil." And now, neither can...

We entrust Google with our most private communications because we assume the company takes every precaution to safeguard our data. It doesn't. A Google engineer spied on four underage teens for months before the company was notified of the abuses. David Barksdale, a 27-year-old former Google engineer, repeatedly took advantage of his position as a member of an elite technical group at the company to access users' accounts, violating the privacy of at least four minors during his employment, we've learned. Barksdale met the kids through a technology group in the Seattle area while working as a Site Reliability Engineer...

I received an e- mail stating; Tom – this looks interesting – may give you some additional insight on usage of your web site. www.google.com/analytics/ This turns out to be a free website tracker from Google as to where the traffic on your site comes from . As part of the package from my web host I have a lite version of Webalizer 2 which gives me info ;but not in the detail I would like. i.e. I have hundreds of sites that send traffic to my non-commercial site but I get only the top 30 referrers, and can't break...