What Google knows about you

"Google knows more about you than your mother."

source

This article is long but well worth the read. Google gathers information on everyone who uses any of their products. What exactly do they intend to do with all of this? One theory i've heard is that they are basically storing it for the government and releasing it when warrants are issued. The feds can't collect all of this information themselves because it would violate the Fourth Amendment. But if the information is volunteered to a private entity such as Google, it can be stored until needed and used against anyone.

It's hard to escape the need to use Google. I used the google search option to see if this article had been posted. It's no wonder they know so much about all of us.


TA

Indeed. It's quite scary when you read the fine print and do the research. Their being one of the beast search engine comes at a price.

I wonder if (and if Google would admit) their databases have ever been hacked. There's bound to be plenty of information on people in power which could be used in blackmail. How many votes have (or could be) been bought with Google search info?


TA

That actually isnt surprising, they also give information to third parties, the little ads on websites that sometimes seem personalized...that kinda thing. I wouldnt be surprised if the feds used it either. For the super-paranoid, do all your surfing on public computers, that might help. Otherwise, it seems like lately, weither its online or in the real world, someone tends to always be watching.

Google didn't give info to the government when the recording industry obtained a federal warrant to get the info on people who searched for MP3s. What makes you so sure that they're going to give info to the government for anything else? They use the information they gather to gain knowledge about their clientel, and can cater to that clientel. They may give your information to a third-party business in order to be able to sell you items of interest, but that third party doesn't include the government. Information gathered is used to help you, not hurt you.

reply to post by MoonChild02

Information gathered is used to help you, not hurt you.

Information stored is information that is obtainable. As i mentioned earlier, no security system is infallible. Anyone with a drive to do so, could access the information. A Google employee could be paid off or blackmailed, or the database could be hacked.


TA

I think this problem don't applys around google only, but its a good source of information, more then many would think.

Anything you give to the internet world can be tracked. To make your private last longer don't give anything about your person life, like names addresses numbers. If you have a facebook like site, you are F ed.

But if some secret services of the govern want to track you, i guess they have more powerful means and tools to find you. To avoid that, don't make big waves, mixing in a crowd is the best option.

I have conscious that any IP i can go can be stored in huge databases in endless tables. But its to boring tracking all the people what are doing all the time, unless you gave them a reason, so be careful.

to joking a bit, if you like to watch lot of porn maybe you ca slow some investigation about you, if the people searching are all male hehe

be cool

ah so so so said they say they know this about me but yet I could switch my NIC and explain to them how I've been using a unsecured WANs.

So, in theory, they know nothing.

Microsoft knows my email address, and what I receive from them.

Sad it be but they know nothing about me

For the rest of you....well....=(

So they know that at least one person in my household is a compulsive Gambler(not me). That one person in my house is addicted to world of warcraft, that at least one person in my household is a witch(yeah they might just use that one after they bring back the witch trials). That at least one person in my household loves books and at least one person loves paranormal stuff. I could go on but the point is, there is five people in this household and any one of them could do a search for something not to mention that I often allow others outside my houehold to use the computer. So what's the big deal?

So they know that at least one person in my household is a compulsive Gambler(not me). That one person in my house is addicted to world of warcraft, that at least one person in my household is a witch(yeah they might just use that one after they bring back the witch trials). That at least one person in my household loves books and at least one person loves paranormal stuff. I could go on but the point is, there is five people in this household and any one of them could do a search for something not to mention that I often allow others outside my houehold to use the computer. So what's the big deal?

oops

[edit on 12-5-2009 by ldyserenity]

reply to post by ldyserenity

So what's the big deal?

The government could us this info to put anyone on its "watch list." The guidelines are so vague that a simple Google search could cause them to label you a domestic terrorist.

Although, i think the fact that we're ATS members probably already qualifies us.

link


TA

[edit on 12-5-2009 by TheAssociate]

Add these to your local HOSTS file.

0.0.0.0 google-analytics.com
0.0.0.0 googleadservices.com

there are many more. Also, adding these may stop you from seeing content that you want to see... this is a baby step towards some privacy.

When in fear and doubt Yahoo! or better yet scroogle.org

That is why i use IXquick for my more unorthodox web searches.
I also use a proxy and i never use my real name on the internet.
So all that google has is someone at this IP does searches on strange web sites but not who it really is.

reply to post by ldyserenity


Have you ever heard of collective punishment. They do not care who they get as long as they get anyone.

Originally posted by BrainPower
That actually isnt surprising, they also give information to third parties, the little ads on websites that sometimes seem personalized...that kinda thing. I wouldnt be surprised if the feds used it either. For the super-paranoid, do all your surfing on public computers, that might help. Otherwise, it seems like lately, weither its online or in the real world, someone tends to always be watching.

Are you talking about ads that are personalized to where you live? This is extremely easy to do and only requires a users IP address. It's called geo-targeting.

The link below will show you all the information that is available from your IP address. And that is also as specific as it gets. Can't get someone's name, address or any personal information, it's actually based on the location of your local ISP hub. Most likely the zipcode is close to you, but off just a bit.

www.geoiptool.com...

Originally posted by TheAssociate
reply to post by ldyserenity

 

So what's the big deal?

The government could us this info to put anyone on its "watch list." The guidelines are so vague that a simple Google search could cause them to label you a domestic terrorist.

Although, i think the fact that we're ATS members probably already qualifies us.

link


TA

[edit on 12-5-2009 by TheAssociate]

But my point is they have no way of knowing who out of the five people in my household plus a number of neighbors who've used my computer,is looking up what. Not to mention the Ip will be another neighbors as I am using their wireless signal to connect to the internet. That Kind of makes it difficult to label anybody.

Welladay... Google must know more about me than I know about myself then. Perhaps I could ask them to let me know who I am and what I'm about. It would save me sooooo much time and trouble. They could even sell me some books to help me further understand myself. Or maybe a subscription or two to some approved websites. Maybe even prescribe some useful prescription or medical advice. My, my, my.

reply to post by TheAssociate



Good post
Theres a very interesting interview with Kathryn Albrecht about this subject::
www.youtube.com...

reply to post by karl 12


Thanks, karl 12. Cool and kinda scary video. I don't know why so many people are taking this lightly, but to each his or her own. I'm always suspicious of anyone who gathers information on me, whatever the purpose may be.

DrMattMaddix, good advice. I use PeerGuardian2 which blocks Google analytics, among other info gathering entities. I recommend using it no matter what you do online: it's not just useful for blocking the MPAA/RIAA snitches.

Thank you all for the replies,


TA