today’s KisPSA

Google started off the new year by announcing that they will be changing their privacy policies so that they can create more detailed profiles of their users. Starting March 1st, 2012, Google will combine information from user’s Gmail, Google Search history, YouTube, and other services. Prior to this change, Google profiled their users, but restricted the profile data use to the service from which the data was collected.

Because we have come to rely on web services so much in our day-to-day activities, it simply isn’t an option to stop using search, webmail, and social networking. But there are ways for heavy users to keep a low profile so that, should Google turn decidedly evil, you won’t be completely at their mercy. If you are concerned about the amount of information that Google knows about you for whatever reason, here are some techniques you can use to guard your privacy online…

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6 Comments!

  1. Claire: barbarian, etc
    Posted February 26, 2012 at 11:12 am |

    A week ago, we reported that Scroogle was being blocked by Google and searches on the privacy search engine were no longer working. Since then, the site continued not to work and now it is completely offline.

    The owner, Daniel Brandt, said he took it down “forever.” He blames both Google and DDOS attack by someone or a group of people who had a personal vendetta with him. He said even if the DDOS attack did not happen, Scroogle would only have lasted an additional 6 months due to Google’s throttling and squeezing of the service.*

    hahahahahhahaaaaaa Resistance Is Futile.

  2. PatrickP
    Posted February 26, 2012 at 11:44 am |

    “If you’re not paying for something, you’re not the customer; you’re the product being sold.” —blue_beetle, Metafilter discussion.

  3. Ironic in Denver
    Posted February 26, 2012 at 1:08 pm |

    Thanks for this post. I’ve been trying to think how to approach this problem, and this is both motive and starting point.

    About the “if you’re not paying….” thing: true enough, but paid versions of some things just aren’t available, and even if they were it wouldn’t solve the problem. Also, you *DO* pay for the iPhone and the various android phones; doesn’t keep Apple and Google from snooping around in your phone does it? And tracking where you physically go? Or some cop from using an app to snatch everything off your phone without a warrant while you sit there in your car?

  4. Caged Insanity
    Posted February 26, 2012 at 2:46 pm |

    That article has a wonderful list of things to do if you’ve never used the net.

    Something that they don’t point out, because it is the cold truth that people don’t want to hear, is there is no turning back. Once they have your info, you cannot get it back. You cannot force them to erase it, and they *will* use it to their advantage, no matter what the ends.

  5. mech
    Posted February 26, 2012 at 2:49 pm |

    Great video selection.

  6. dick, not quite dead white guy
    Posted February 26, 2012 at 3:53 pm |

    Eh.
    Since I saw their Leftist lean, thanks to this site, I don’t report to the Googlemmissars anymore. Haven’t been there in several years, delete anything ‘Google’ from any software that wants to install their apps.

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