WickedCobra03
Member
Anyone having problems is actually clearly understanding what they are referring to... it is pretty damn vague
Quitting Google
- Thread starter SnakeswithLasers
- Start date
- Status
SnakeswithLasers
Member
I just want to be rid of it. There's something strange about consolidating my whole life into one service. I'm not saying Google is evil, so don't send anyone after me yet, just that I'd like to try to lead my internet life farming out less information than I currently do.
I find it comparable to walking around my neighborhood with some dude following me around, writing down everywhere I eat, what books I browse through, the conversations I have, the things I buy, or even window-shop for. It feels odd.
Keep in mind, I'm above the mean age around here and I don't feel comfortable with Facebook (or any social networks) for this same reason, so I haven't gotten involved in those either.
the only answer is to quit the internet then.
Battersea Power Station
Member
Go to google.com/dashboard once a week and erase your neighborhood stalker's memory.
sixteen-bit
Member
I recall there being a stripped-down version of Chrome with all the Google snoop stuff removed called "Iron"?
see, i go incognito for that stuff. I dont want my porn search history shared across all my devices
samus i am
Member
Busting myths about our approach to privacy
I actually saw the Google ads rebutting MS' claims this morning on the MTA. I was "Damn, that was fast!" Google didn't miss a beat.
hahah k you win
Fuck, made me spit out my water.
evil solrac v3.0
Member
you better quit GAF too, google ads and all that....
brianmcdoogle
Member
I don't use google for search. I use duckduckgo.com
I don't use google for email. I use my own domain and email server (not that expensive).
I don't use google for maps. I don't really need maps most of the days.
I do use google for googlereader or rss feed management. If there was ever a replacement for this, I'd be done with google completely. strange.
I don't use google for email. I use my own domain and email server (not that expensive).
I don't use google for maps. I don't really need maps most of the days.
I do use google for googlereader or rss feed management. If there was ever a replacement for this, I'd be done with google completely. strange.
I lead many internet lives. The one my family knows and loves, the one that GAF/General Internet knows and (hopefully)loves and the one where even the recommended search options would cause the most traveled of gentlemen s eyepieces to become dislodged.
Seriously though I just don't care, I have nothing to hide. The illusion of privacy is amusing to me. Unless you are 100% off the grid, there is a way to track you or find out what you've been doing electronically.
Inb4DeRPIuseTOR comments
It's really true though these days, privacy has become an illusion and if you disagree give it 10 more years. Things will be even crazier!
Inb4DeRPIuseTOR comments
It's really true though these days, privacy has become an illusion and if you disagree give it 10 more years. Things will be even crazier!
Anton Sugar
Member
Is there a good resource that really explains the pros and cons of Google's privacy policy vs MS? MS recently put out an article on switching from Gmail to Hotmail and I don't really know if I should buy into it.
EDIT: Also, in that article, not sure about their rebuttals. They say the Google doesn't read your mail. Of course they don't "read it" but they scan all of it for ad-relevance, in addition to spam/junk.
Actually bing maps is pretty damn good.
I probably use bing and google search equally.
Same with my gmail and hotmail.
I do love google docs.
This did get me thinking, I could probably quit google, but I would probably be then just in microsoft's camp. Which might be the same thing.
I probably use bing and google search equally.
Same with my gmail and hotmail.
I do love google docs.
This did get me thinking, I could probably quit google, but I would probably be then just in microsoft's camp. Which might be the same thing.
Love their description of Bing.
Neuromancer
Member
I use Altavista for everything.
Sign out when you do that stuff.
Fact of the matter is that Google consolidated their redundant privacy policies because 1) they were redundant, 2) they couldn't pool the info together.
Benefit of 1) Less "I agrees" 2) Better integration between services (which everybody clamors for).
If you don't like tailored stuff for you, just don't sign into your account when you're on their services. Hell, you can even opt out of search history per computer.
I just don't understand the hub-bub from the OP and everyone else that is freaking out.
Google isn't collecting any new data on us, they're simply aggregating what they've always had to better serve advertisers as well as their services to us.
Now if you weren't aware of all the data they've been collecting since day 1 ... yeah, I can understand the concern ... but that was a point of contention from like a decade ago. If you've been oblivious to their data collection all this time - it's you're own damn fault.
Google isn't collecting any new data on us, they're simply aggregating what they've always had to better serve advertisers as well as their services to us.
Now if you weren't aware of all the data they've been collecting since day 1 ... yeah, I can understand the concern ... but that was a point of contention from like a decade ago. If you've been oblivious to their data collection all this time - it's you're own damn fault.
Rocket Scientist
Member
One time, I noticed that I couldn't click on the ads in gmail. As in, the ads were there trying to sell me something, but I couldn't click it. So I sent Google a message saying hey the ad isn't working, because I like their services and rarely notice the ads and didn't want them to lose money. The only reason I noticed it those times was because they had just switched to the new theme.
brianmcdoogle
Member
the don't do any tracking, via cookie, sending html to a searched website (if you go through their preferences), and they don't do tracking via browser fingerprint.
if that helps.
Hobbestetrician
Member
Are you from Pawnee?
Good Job Bob
Member
Yup.
Rubbish King
The gift that keeps on giving
lost it.
Seriously though? This is quite frightening in all honesty and i dont like the sound of it one bit.
No, I mean the actual engine kinda feels Google-ish. Not a bad thing, but it seems to have that intelligent Google design that few other sites have.
All that does is prevent your browser from storing history on the local machine. Whatever tracking software is used on those websites is still logging your IP/ISP, etc.
Devolution
Member
Don't be evil.
I have noticed that topics concerning gathering data/losing privacy on the Internet are usually met with a lot of negativity...except when it comes to Google. And they probably have the largest collection of data on the planet. It's interesting.
I remember reading about the AOL log release all those years ago. Quite interesting how your life can be put together by looking at what you search.
I remember reading about the AOL log release all those years ago. Quite interesting how your life can be put together by looking at what you search.
Vicetrailia
Banned
Phonomezer
Banned
Been thinking the same lately, OP. Never used duckduckgo.com before, might give it a go!
lunchtoast
Member
Yeah, other search engines should do the top page definitions and such.
Starwolf_UK
Member
I like the birds eye view stuff but as far as thge map goes. Microsoft bought multimap then made it into an inferior version (its Bing maps incarnation). I forget the details but things like Ordinance survey co-ordinates are not longer given/supported.
What you do is scroll to the bottom and there is an option to manage your newsletters (or whatever) and you can choose not to receive such things. Of course like everything on the internet it is opt-out not in. In this case you have receive the e-mail of *things in product area you bought from* in order to opt out of recievinig e-mails about *things in product area you bought from*...
I miss web 1.0 rather than web 2.0s true form of everyone know everything about everyone and its going to get worse...
Neuromancer
Member
Great episode.
Fails the C++ test. Treats it as C. To be fair, google did too for the first 5 years of its existence.
Chet Rippo
Member
What the hell is Google+?
YouTube -> NicoNicoDouga
- Status