Google privacy policy starts March 1st....

[raedy4funn45]

Just a heads up... check the link below to see what Google knows about YOU! Google.com/history

You've probably heard that starting March 1, Google is going to unify all your privacy data from your various accounts, such as Gmail, YouTube and Web searches. What that means, in part, is that your past Web searches could become part of a big pot of information that's out there for Google to use to establish better profiles of its users for advertisers.

Don't want that? It's easy to clear your Google Web search history, but you'll need to do it with haste. Starting Thursday, the privacy policy goes into effect, although it's under fire, both in the U.S. and abroad. Despite the concerns, Google has said that the changes will not bring any new or additional data collection, and that most of its product-specific policies already allow information to be shared across product lines when users sign into their Google accounts.

Still, it doesn't hurt to wipe some things off your personal data map, including your searches. To get started, first, go to:Google.com/history. There, you will log in, using your Google sign-in.

Once you're logged in, you may be surprised by what you see -- I know I was. I found a history of all my searches, dating back to April 2007. My search history then showed I was doing research on various Palm products for myself (I went on to buy the Treo and still think of it fondly to this day, but don't necessarily want that info used in some weird way):

[Hue Briss]

If research on a Palm was the worst thing you found, I'd say your doing pretty good. What I was doing with MY palm while I was searching is what I don't want everyone to see!!!!

[Nicolet]

I wonder if it matters if someone was signed in to google, or just searching from the users IP address???

[Mssppislm]

Good info!

[bluffcityguy]

My ADD having kicked in at Nicolet's mention (in her .sig) of "new pics", I clicked over to her website... said website, while having its own domain, is hosted at one of those "free escort website" hosts, at which hobbyists can have a free registration (in case a lady decides to shield a few of her more intimate pictures from the hoi polloi).

Imagine my dismay when I discovered (there at the top where one can supposedly login) a big blue button inviting me to login with my Facebook account.

Now, I understand (from a provider friend in St. Louis) that some providers are using Facebook as a marketing tool, while some hobbyists maintain a separate Facebook account for hobby purposes. Some of you might... some of you might not. But remember: you are not Facebook's customer, you are Facebook's product, and Facebook is in the business of selling your information to people you may not want it sold to.

If you can't immediately (without thinking about it) understand why you don't want to log into an escort website with a Facebook account (whether reserved for hobby use or your general Facebook account, I don't care which), watch this. This is another one of those cases where The Onion is coming too damn close to the truth to be funny:

http://www.theonion.com/video/cias-f...cys-cos,19753/

(My STL provider friend and I have argued the point; I still think that the providers who use Facebook as a marketing tool are going to regret it someday...)

Cheers,

bcg

[bluffcityguy]

Originally Posted by Nicolet

I wonder if it matters if someone was signed in to google, or just searching from the users IP address???

IIRC, Google has been known to plant cookies which harvest your general surfing, not just your web searches using Google.

My general rule of thumb is that I do not trust Google (or Facebook, see above) as far as I can throw the apartment building I live in.

Cheers,

bcg

[raedy4funn45]

Many people use that Google option that keeps you signed in, which means ALL your searches are saved.

From now on, I will login to check mail, and immediatly log out.

I'm not paranoid, but I know the internet is watching me!

[Nicolet]

Wait, what, Facebook???? I don't HAVE a face book, in the hobby or real life! That is something the website puts up there, just like the 'undress her' button, which I do not appreciate because that looks like a way to get spam AND it looks like it would be MY fault for having it there.
I see a letter being sent to the webmaster of my site developing!
Thanks for bringing that to my attention, BCG! And I also agree that using Facebook is WRONG! I am glad I never got into that.

[coast_encounter]

I guess I will have to start using BING instead of the GOOG.

[bluffcityguy]

Originally Posted by Nicolet

Wait, what, Facebook???? I don't HAVE a face book, in the hobby or real life! That is something the website puts up there, just like the 'undress her' button, which I do not appreciate because that looks like a way to get spam AND it looks like it would be MY fault for having it there.
I see a letter being sent to the webmaster of my site developing!

It's something being done by the hosting service, I'm sure.

Originally Posted by Nicolet

Thanks for bringing that to my attention, BCG! And I also agree that using Facebook is WRONG! I am glad I never got into that.

Oh, it's ok in its place. Its place, however, is not in the hobby, IMNSHO.

Cheers,

bcg