Author Topic: Google knows all about you...?  (Read 7057 times)

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Offline Marcov

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Google knows all about you...?
Yes, (via TVtropes) I recently came to this site, and then further to this and this .

So, Google does this?

Have you experienced having Google show information that you just typed in the search engine in some random site, or as an ad, or whatever? How dangerous is this? Will Google literally actually SHOW your information to the WORLD, or at least to computers of your IP Address?

You probably knew this already, but well, not for me. I wasn't so aware of this 'till I discovered it.
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Part 1/4 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9K9-Y1JBTE
Part 2/4 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtQanXDRAXM
Part 3/4 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoBLKYt_oG0

Old (original) videos:
Part 1/4 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1ygskaoUtE
Part 2/4 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0uoPTksBlI

 

Offline Mars

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Re: Google knows all about you...?
I think this is called for then. Derp.

I think anyone who's ever discussed Google to any length knew this.

EDIT:

Not meant to  be offensive, just pointing out that on the internet, that's equivalent to saying "The United States is in North America" or "The British live on an island." Well known statements of fact if you will. There's nothing wrong with not knowing these things, but it's something that you'll learn quickly as you learn basic internet "geography" if you will.
« Last Edit: October 08, 2011, 12:36:03 am by Mars »

 

Offline Marcov

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Re: Google knows all about you...?
Well, I'm trying to know if this is really that dangerous. Fine if they actually DO record the information of what you search, but do they actually MAKE IT RECOGNIZED? For instance, will those searches randomly appear in your computer/in the internet? That's what I want to know.
With the rapid increase of FS fan-made campaigns, we're giving the GTVA a harder time with more violence and genocide.

~FreeSpace: The Battle of Endor (voice dub)~
Part 1/4 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9K9-Y1JBTE
Part 2/4 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtQanXDRAXM
Part 3/4 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoBLKYt_oG0

Old (original) videos:
Part 1/4 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1ygskaoUtE
Part 2/4 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0uoPTksBlI

 

Offline Bobboau

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Re: Google knows all about you...?
they don't keep enough to conclusively link it back to 'you', or at the very least they don't let that become public.

keep in mind any other search utility could do the same thing and not produce to you a tangible benefit.
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Offline The E

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Re: Google knows all about you...?
It depends. If you do not have a google account, then google will match your searches etc to your ip address. If you move to a different address, then that data collection process gets started again.

However, if you have a google account, then your search history and other statistics get linked to that account, and will thus travel with you to any other computer if you log in to that account.

Also, google in general doesn't "show your data around", it keeps it for itself. However, given that google controls a vast share of the internet advertisement market, they will use that data to tailor the ads you get to see to your profile as determined by your recent searches and the sites you have visited. For example, I did quite a bit of research into smartphones prior to me acquiring one, as a result, I get a higher than average number of phone-themed adverts at the moment.

And yeah, if you start moving to other search engines like Microsofts Bing, pretty much the same will happen; it's just that google is such a large player in the web that it's more readily apparent.
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Offline Bobboau

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Re: Google knows all about you...?
IIRC don't they have some place where you can tell them what sort of stuff you want tracked?
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Offline T-LoW

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Re: Google knows all about you...?
Well it's a good thing that I don't give a ****. Guess my life won't be affected by 'them' knowing that I use the services of the redtube from time to time - unless I want to start a political career :yes:
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Offline Spicious

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Re: Google knows all about you...?
IIRC don't they have some place where you can tell them what sort of stuff you want tracked?
https://www.google.com/dashboard?

  

Offline Klaustrophobia

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Re: Google knows all about you...?
while we're on the subject of google, does anyone know if i delete my google account, will all my "linked" accounts go with it, or just become unlinked?  i've really got NO idea how i even got a google account, but when i use the search engine lo and behold, i'm logged in with primary (not a gmail) email address.  i want this to go away, but i don't want to lose my youtube account that also seemed to become linked of its own accord. 
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Offline deathfun

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Re: Google knows all about you...?
Google. Stop messing with my chi
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Offline Bobboau

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Re: Google knows all about you...?
i've really got NO idea how i even got a google account ... my youtube account

I've got an idea. :)
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Offline Klaustrophobia

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Re: Google knows all about you...?
i've really got NO idea how i even got a google account ... my youtube account

I've got an idea. :)

i had that account YEARS before google took them over. 
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Offline NGTM-1R

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Re: Google knows all about you...?
However, given that google controls a vast share of the internet advertisement market, they will use that data to tailor the ads you get to see to your profile as determined by your recent searches and the sites you have visited.

Not always to advantage, as the advertize to me about dating sites for women and shows about Pan Am flight attendants.
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Offline Mars

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Re: Google knows all about you...?
They advertise porn, anti-depressants, liquor and android phones to me. . .

they know me well

 

Offline Bobboau

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Re: Google knows all about you...?
google took them over. 

and now I think we have identified when this happened.
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DEUTERONOMY 22:11
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Offline Iss Mneur

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Re: Google knows all about you...?
i've really got NO idea how i even got a google account ... my youtube account

I've got an idea. :)

i had that account YEARS before google took them over.
Yep, and over the last two years google has been working on integrating youtube with a google account.  Just recently they have actively started linking them, I now get a black banner at the top of the page when I visit youtube that links me to this FAQ article.  It think it should answer all of your questions...

BTW, it has never been a requirement for your google account to have gmail enabled (mine for example, didn't have gmail enabled until last year when I finally decided I wanted to use gmail for my primary email as well as my IssMneur related email (which has been a gmail account more or less since the beginning)) or for you to even have a gmail address as your primary google account address .
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Offline Flipside

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Re: Google knows all about you...?
There's just got to be an International 'Google how many fists would fit in a butt day' ;)

 

Offline Klaustrophobia

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Re: Google knows all about you...?
i've really got NO idea how i even got a google account ... my youtube account

I've got an idea. :)

i had that account YEARS before google took them over.
Yep, and over the last two years google has been working on integrating youtube with a google account.  Just recently they have actively started linking them, I now get a black banner at the top of the page when I visit youtube that links me to this FAQ article.  It think it should answer all of your questions...

BTW, it has never been a requirement for your google account to have gmail enabled (mine for example, didn't have gmail enabled until last year when I finally decided I wanted to use gmail for my primary email as well as my IssMneur related email (which has been a gmail account more or less since the beginning)) or for you to even have a gmail address as your primary google account address .

that doesn't answer any questions, it just spews a bunch of bull**** about why google taking over youtube and my old account is a good thing.  i want to know how to get rid of the google account i never agreed to have, not why google knows best.

EDIT: a few links deep i found it saying that deleting the google account deletes youtube along with it.  **** you google. 
« Last Edit: October 11, 2011, 02:26:20 am by Klaustrophobia »
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Offline KyadCK

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Re: Google knows all about you...?
Iss Mneur never said google knows best, he explained WHY your account has become a google account, and linked you to an FAQ explaining it.

The fact google it trying to link together all their different stuff (youtube, google+, etc) is why your old old old youtube account is now a google account. Thats the entire story.
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Offline Klaustrophobia

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Re: Google knows all about you...?
i know that youtube linked with google, my question was how do i stop it from doing that.  the answer is apparantly i can't.  and i meant google said google knows best, not Iss.
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