New Google privacy rules March 1
Google’s privacy rules change March 1, and you know what that means. Starting Thursday, you won’t be able to search for Captain & Tennille lyrics without being spammed relentlessly about where to buy a muskrat fur coat.
The new privacy policy changes will help Google services work together to sell you stuff. (Image by Google)
According to respected computer nerds, the new rules don’t change what information Google is harvesting. What’s changing is that Google’s multiple services (search, Gmail, YouTube, et al) now use the same privacy policy, and all the information gleaned from your web travels is now compiled into one profile usable by all Google services.
Thus, if you send your buddy Bob a Gmail about how much you enjoyed test driving a new Mazda, you may start seeing more car ads when you log onto YouTube. In this example, before the changes you’d have only seen personalized new cars ads when using Gmail.
Personally, I am not freaked out by the amount of information Google and everyone else is compiling. Netflix knows what I like to watch on TV and suggests other shows I might like. I’ve found that useful. Amazon knows I like books about how not to get fired, and offers similar titles whenever I log on. Handy!
Fortunately for the paranoid, Google offers ways to prevent the gleaning of much information. Users can log onto the Google Dashboard to tweak privacy and other settings.
Some useful things to do are:
- Find out what information about you Google is tracking. Google knows the date I activated my Android phone, for example.
- Set up an alert anytime someone uses your name or Gmail address.
and, here’s the biggie …
- Delete all browsing history and opt out of Google’s “Web History” altogether.
Unfortunately, your browser may continue tracking your web activity. Those who want more privacy should check out Google Chrome’s “Incognito Mode.”
Looking for even MORE privacy?
I’d suggest never logging onto the Internet again. But remember, even Thoreau only enjoyed his “Life in the Woods” for about two years before moving back to a big city.
Maybe privacy wasn’t what he, or anyone else, is really looking for.
** Google privacy policy changes “Survival Guide” on ZDNET
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15 comments Add your comment
Just an Old Man
March 1st, 2012
2:45 pm
George – There is a HUGE difference between public record land sales and companies tracking your every movement online. Did you see the recent story about Target data-mining purchases and concluding that a teenager was pregnant (and sending coupons) even before her parents knew? And let’s be honest – does Google really need to know what kind of ’70’s music I like listening to?
Lumpy
March 1st, 2012
2:45 pm
Don’t worry about Google if you have a Facebook account. You have already given you privacy away, and your friends and family too.
Euny
March 1st, 2012
3:36 pm
If you haven’t already, please read M.T. Anderson’s YA novel entitled “Feed”– it provides a very scary scenario of what happens when companies use your preference data to advertise to you–and what might happen when you don’t fit their preconceived consumer types. It’s a great book.
effie udall
March 3rd, 2012
3:18 pm
What if a Google employee in charge of marketing was to follow you around town in a little car, as you ran errands in your own car, went shopping, dropped off the dry cleaning, etc. Wherever you went, the guy in the little car was following you and making notes on where you went, what you bought, who you contacted.
No harm in that, you say? Maybe not, but it’s dam’d annoying!
Sholeen
March 9th, 2012
5:52 pm
Just delete anything to do with Google, I set the browser settings to remove cookies, cache and history once the browser is closed. Can’t send a message otherwise. =o/