So who stopped using Google after their privacy policy went in effect?

[zokudu]

Too bad duckduckgo has a awful name to type in.

Strange in opera I just type d <search term> no harder or easier than g <search term> or b <search term>

 

[Red Squirrel]

lol no, the people jumping ship to Bing crack me up. MS does the exact same thing, I'll stick with google as I don't care what info they have for me.

The biggest issue I see with google though is they do it way more, and the fact that it's all linked up with Google+, which even if you don't want to use it, you still have a profile, and still have friends added to it automaticly by Google. At what point are they going to start leaking your search info, the sites you visit etc to all your friends, and anyone else that adds you? It's one thing to be in some big database that's only being used by automated processes, but when it's being thrown into a social network you did not actually want to be part of, that's where I draw the line.

I still use some google stuff like youtube, but I've greatly reduced using it for searching. Really the only two main google products I use are search and youtube. I don't have gmail. I never trusted my emails on ANY server that I have no control over. I run my own email server. Email is probably one of the biggest things they harvest, search data being another one, as well as what sites you visit.

Chances are if you have nothing to hide, you don't have to worry, but it's just the principle.

 

[Doppel]

Okay. Explain how Bing's privacy policy and Google's privacy policy is different and why switching to Bing stops your personal info from going online

At least for now google and bing are not sharing data (to my knowledge) and so aggregating it is more difficult. It's that simple.

Oh and yes I do think google actually cares a lot less about privacy than microsoft.

 

[pyonir]

I also cannot stand the Google instant search crap they added a while back. I actually wanted to switch a long time ago but never really bothered till recently. You can turn that shit off, but you have to be logged in to your google account for that setting to stick properly. That means logging in on very PC you use, thus enabling even more tracking. No thanks.

As long as you allow google cookies, no you don't. I have a comp that has never had a google login or been logged in and the instant search is not enabled after I turned it off. Not once have I had to turn it off again (I'm sure I would if I cleared the cookie, but haven't).

 

[Doppel]

The biggest issue I see with google though is they do it way more, and the fact that it's all linked up with Google+, which even if you don't want to use it, you still have a profile, and still have friends added to it automaticly by Google. At what point are they going to start leaking your search info, the sites you visit etc to all your friends, and anyone else that adds you? It's one thing to be in some big database that's only being used by automated processes, but when it's being thrown into a social network you did not actually want to be part of, that's where I draw the line.

I still use some google stuff like youtube, but I've greatly reduced using it for searching. Really the only two main google products I use are search and youtube. I don't have gmail. I never trusted my emails on ANY server that I have no control over. I run my own email server. Email is probably one of the biggest things they harvest, search data being another one, as well as what sites you visit.

Chances are if you have nothing to hide, you don't have to worry, but it's just the principle.

I agree with this. Unfortunately, I do use gmail. I just really love the service and have for years, but yes I agree about the lack of privacy there. I'm not willing to drop gmail yet but I have thought of it. I use hotmail as well for other stuff.

And you're spot-on on the leaked results. It will all be used to paint a picture of a person and before long you'll have the "super helpful" option to join like-minded people who also happen to search online for 30 minutes/day about what scat tastes like (I assume this is a hobby), something that maybe you didn't actually want anybody to know about but look there now your friends get to see what your favorite late night search activity is.

I'll not soon forget what a total fvck up the Google buzz was with the wide-open contact lists. That is absolutely amateur hour and shows that Google despite being a behemoth is still influenced by stupidity at times.

 

[Rifter]

No.

I also don't sit in a faraday cage wearing a tin hat.

I hate to agree with hal

But i 100% do in this case.

 

[cronos]

No.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

I'd rather have Google spy on me than give up using all of the awesome free stuff Google offers.

 

[Red Squirrel]

As long as you allow google cookies, no you don't. I have a comp that has never had a google login or been logged in and the instant search is not enabled after I turned it off. Not once have I had to turn it off again (I'm sure I would if I cleared the cookie, but haven't).

True but I find it's very flaky, I found that I had to do it at least 5 times before it finally took. That's before I blocked Google cookies.

 

[DesiPower]

I removed Google from Firefox's search engine thingi... moved several accounts away from gmail too.

 

[Imp]

So... I didn't bother reading their privacy policy pop-up. All I heard was that they started using more intruding cookies.

I never sign into my google account when 'tubing and googling, so I'm good? Right?

By the way, I kind of like the targetted ads. Now I actually see ads from store websites I was at a few minutes ago, and I also see stuff I've been searching for on Amazon or google. Creepy.

 

[SandEagle]

So... I didn't bother reading their privacy policy pop-up. All I heard was that they started using more intruding cookies.

I never sign into my google account when 'tubing and googling, so I'm good? Right?

By the way, I kind of like the targetted ads. Now I actually see ads from store websites I was at a few minutes ago, and I also see stuff I've been searching for on Amazon or google. Creepy.

even if u dont sign in, they get your ip and mac addy, location, etc. u will be on the grid.

oh snap, Google gunna find this thread now. mods, please exclude this URL from your crawler. kthxbye

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

I don't see the issue with it.

Everyone already knows there's a house at this address. They know that people live here. If they were really determined they could go through my trash, piece together all my shredded documents, and find out who lived here, what each person in this household does for a living, how much they earn, how much they have saved, who their insurance company is, where they buy their shoes from. Nobody gives a shit about this.

Whereas giving Google MAC and IP data is somehow a huge invasion of privacy? Don't get it, sorry.

Also, I love how a lot of those of you that switched can't seem to answer whether Microsoft is different to Google in the data collection deparment. Love it. Just like the crazy CAM crowd.

 

[lothar]

What is scary is hell is Google knows were you are if you are using WiFi with a broadcast SSID. They drove around and obtained the location of each router and use triangulation of the routers your wifi card can detect to determin your location. They don't even need your permission, they just do this.

Then stop broadcasting your SSID?
By broadcasting your SSID, you're already giving everyone implicit permission.

 

[yhelothar]

What are some ways you guys are concerned about google having your info? What particular info are you iffy about and why?

 

[lothar]

The biggest issue I see with google though is they do it way more, and the fact that it's all linked up with Google+, which even if you don't want to use it, you still have a profile, and still have friends added to it automaticly by Google. At what point are they going to start leaking your search info, the sites you visit etc to all your friends, and anyone else that adds you? It's one thing to be in some big database that's only being used by automated processes, but when it's being thrown into a social network you did not actually want to be part of, that's where I draw the line.

I still use some google stuff like youtube, but I've greatly reduced using it for searching. Really the only two main google products I use are search and youtube. I don't have gmail. I never trusted my emails on ANY server that I have no control over. I run my own email server. Email is probably one of the biggest things they harvest, search data being another one, as well as what sites you visit.

Chances are if you have nothing to hide, you don't have to worry, but it's just the principle.

False.
I have several GMail accounts.
None of them are linked up with Google+. Never have, and never will be.

 

[Deeko]

YouTube and Google Talk (via 3rd party apps) were already the only Google services I used. It's kinda hard to get away from YouTube, and I don't have a terrible amount of choice with IM service, so this is probably as Google-less as I'll get. To be fair, though, My usage hasn't changed with the new privacy policy.

 

[Imp]

even if u dont sign in, they get your ip and mac addy, location, etc. u will be on the grid.

oh snap, Google gunna find this thread now. mods, please exclude this URL from your crawler. kthxbye

Better start using Bing for porn?

 

[lxskllr]

What are some ways you guys are concerned about google having your info? What particular info are you iffy about and why?

http://donttrack.us/

 

[lothar]

http://donttrack.us/

Almost(if not) everything listed there can be blocked by using noscript, adblock plus, and flashblock.

 

[sandorski]

Started using Yahoo, but when it comes down to it, I'll probably return to Google in time. Mainly because it was a knee-jerk reaction and quite frankly I'm not even sure if Google's change is unique and/or not being done by others already. Just due to Googles dominance in the Market, everytime they sneeze we'll hear about it, everyone else barely can get their name mentioned regardless what they do.

 

[DCal430]

Then stop broadcasting your SSID?
By broadcasting your SSID, you're already giving everyone implicit permission.

They gather from your browser what SSID you are connected too, your browser actually tells them the name of the routers it can see. I did not agree to give them that information.

It wouldn't mater if I hid my router SSID, my neighbors are broadcasting theirs and my computer will still report it can see it to Google.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

They gather from your browser what SSID you are connected too, your browser actually tells them the name of the routers it can see. I did not agree to give them that information.

I'm gonna need a link for that.

 

[lothar]

They gather from your browser what SSID you are connected too, your browser actually tells them the name of the routers it can see. I did not agree to give them that information.

Shens.

 

[zoiks]

No. Google has much better technology. I like their services more. Plus I have nothing to hide.