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Really fishy Google email

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Subyman

Subyman

Moderator <br> VC&G Forum
So I know Google machine scans emails to show ads in the browser client, but something that happened today has me thinking they go even further now. I noticed the new Shadows of Mordor date announcement and sent my friend an email around 1PM talking about the launch date and linked the launch trailer in the email. Less than 1 hour later I get an email from wbgames talking about Shadows of Mordor launch trailer. I've never subscribed to wb games newsletter nor Shadows of Mordor newsletter. I clicked unsubscribe and it took me to a page that said I was recently subscribed to their newsletter service.

Maybe coincidence or do you think Google matches machine scan hits to your email and then shares your email with its partners even to the point of them sending you an email based on my sent mail? This is almost enough to get me to stop using gmail even for personal use (I no longer use them for business.) Last thing I need is my inbox cluttered every time I send a message.
 
They are actually VERY creepy with that stuff.

I rented several tools at Home Depot once on my credit card, when I was done the job and brought it back, when I went on my computer I was getting ads everywhere on tool rentals. Google probably has access to banking transactions and stuff like that. Probably special deals with major banks and CC providers where they can see where you spend your money. There needs to be a law where companies can't give or sell your information, but that's never going to happen since the government is on corporations' side, not ours. This stuff is only going to get worse.
 
I got the same email you did at about the same time.

They could have gotten mine from any number of lists. LOTRO, Tom's Hardware, etc. I didnt send anything, this is actually to my WORK email, so I dont correspond much about games from this one.
 
chihlidog said:
I got the same email you did at about the same time.

They could have gotten mine from any number of lists. LOTRO, Tom's Hardware, etc. I didnt send anything, this is actually to my WORK email, so I dont correspond much about games from this one.
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That's what I suspected, but it seemed a bit coincidental. I hate being signed up for newsletters. Half the time the unsubscribe button goes to a 404 page...
 
Red Squirrel said:
They are actually VERY creepy with that stuff.

I rented several tools at Home Depot once on my credit card, when I was done the job and brought it back, when I went on my computer I was getting ads everywhere on tool rentals. Google probably has access to banking transactions and stuff like that. Probably special deals with major banks and CC providers where they can see where you spend your money. There needs to be a law where companies can't give or sell your information, but that's never going to happen since the government is on corporations' side, not ours. This stuff is only going to get worse.
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Did you search for a tool rental place? I doubt they have access to banking info.
 
Subyman said:
So I know Google machine scans emails to show ads in the browser client, but something that happened today has me thinking they go even further now. I noticed the new Shadows of Mordor date announcement and sent my friend an email around 1PM talking about the launch date and linked the launch trailer in the email. Less than 1 hour later I get an email from wbgames talking about Shadows of Mordor launch trailer. I've never subscribed to wb games newsletter nor Shadows of Mordor newsletter. I clicked unsubscribe and it took me to a page that said I was recently subscribed to their newsletter service.

Maybe coincidence or do you think Google matches machine scan hits to your email and then shares your email with its partners even to the point of them sending you an email based on my sent mail? This is almost enough to get me to stop using gmail even for personal use (I no longer use them for business.) Last thing I need is my inbox cluttered every time I send a message.
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No. Google does not do this.
 
Subyman said:
Did you search for a tool rental place? I doubt they have access to banking info.
Click to expand...

Nope, I had a few other similar incidents, but that is the one that is the most remarkable given how blunt it was. At first I thought it was a coincidence, but after a while the ads went away and I have not seen them anymore.

Though even when I search for stuff that is kinda creepy as well. I was looking at camera lenses on Amazon just for fun. Now I keep seeing ads on Facebook about it. How does Facebook know what I was searching for on Amazon?
 
Google is creepy. Had a strange incident occur recently that has me questioning the extent Google mines data. The one gmail account I have is a throwaway account that I don't use to communicate with anyone, don't sign up to any services, no social media. Yet somehow Google added to that account's calendar an event belonging to a friend of mine. He doesn't know about this email account, he doesn't even ever call me by my actual name, always by a nickname.

I haven't a clue how Google pieced together that data and added a calendar item on its own.
 
cubby1223 said:
Google is creepy. Had a strange incident occur recently that has me questioning the extent Google mines data. The one gmail account I have is a throwaway account that I don't use to communicate with anyone, don't sign up to any services, no social media. Yet somehow Google added to that account's calendar an event belonging to a friend of mine. He doesn't know about this email account, he doesn't even ever call me by my actual name, always by a nickname.

I haven't a clue how Google pieced together that data and added a calendar item on its own.
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Reminds me of Google+. When it first came out, I decided to check it out. When I opted in to what should be a brand new clean account, I already had a bunch of IRL friends added to it automatically. Worse part is, I don't even use gmail, so I really don't know where they're mining this information. Prompted opted out, but really, I'm sure they still have a pretty huge shadow profile of everyone whether you like it or not.

Interestingly it was mostly former coworkers that were in there and was a bit sporadic, like it did not have my family or anything. Still very creepy.
 
Red Squirrel said:
Nope, I had a few other similar incidents, but that is the one that is the most remarkable given how blunt it was. At first I thought it was a coincidence, but after a while the ads went away and I have not seen them anymore.

Though even when I search for stuff that is kinda creepy as well. I was looking at camera lenses on Amazon just for fun. Now I keep seeing ads on Facebook about it. How does Facebook know what I was searching for on Amazon?
Click to expand...
I had a similar experience - I bought a shower valve. Unfortunately, the fittings were the opposite of what I needed (male where I needed female, and vice versa) - didn't feel like tearing the wall apart to replace everything. So, I returned it. Used a card that my wife's name was on. A couple of days later, my wife started getting all sorts of ads for shower parts. She had nothing to do with the purchase, never did a search on her computer.
 
I think it's more likely that stores are selling purchase information than it is that Goog is getting into peoples bank accounts.
 
Fuck Google! I never use those spies. Gmail, G+ or Chrome. They can cram it up their collective asses! Why anyone uses shit they know spies on you more than the government I'll never know. Live and learn folks!

Use Startpage or Duckduckgo as a search engine!
 
John Connor said:
Fuck Google! I never use those spies. Gmail, G+ or Chrome. They can cram it up their collective asses! Why anyone uses shit they know spies on you more than the government I'll never know. Live and learn folks!

Use Startpage or Duckduckgo as a search engine!
Click to expand...

Sadly they still have ways to spy on you through various means. But yeah, it certainly does not help to actually use those services.

I try to avoid google stuff as much as possible now.

It's too bad because Google is actually rather innovative and open source friendly, but their spy and creepiness is just not cool.
 
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