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This is your life, according to Google

arstechnica.com — Google's new Web History feature provides a fascinating look at your web surfing habits, but to take advantage you'll need to give Google the permission to keep tabs on you. Faustian deal or no-brainer?

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titlesaysitall 1 year 175 days ago, made popular 1 year 175 days ago

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greenmountain, on 10/12/2007, -13/+9This feels like a big brother version of the old joke about what to do about a bug in the software,
call it a feature.
From Arstechnica:
"The data is available only when the user logs on with a Google account and password, the same account used for other Google services such as Gmail. In order to track web surfing information, the user must have the Google Toolbar installed in their web browser, and have PageRank enabled. The Web History feature can be turned off and on as you like."

I know squat about servers/webdata etc...could this info be collected simply via having the google toolbar?
How much info are cookies good for?
thanks
- marcuschi, on 10/12/2007, -3/+62Screw that, I'm still waiting to be able to Google my future.
- dle5, on 10/12/2007, -1/+72If you want to Google your future, use Chinese Google.
- macaddct1984, on 10/12/2007, -3/+41Digg gets featured in their screenshot!
  
  http://www.google.com/history/images/screen_wh.gif
- ACrazyGerman, on 10/12/2007, -9/+24Said it before I'll say it again.
  
  "Hey Google has given us so much free stuff, I say let them follow me around, I bet I know more free porn Sites then they do! I try to give what I can I really do."
  
  I don't know why a bunch of people are freaking out about a history function.
- kidc, on 10/12/2007, -1/+22How is this useful for me to track my website habits? I know where I go: porn, porn, porn, email, porn, digg, porn, digg, porn, porn, porn, porn...
- skyfire1, on 10/12/2007, -6/+1Oh God. This will be really embarrassing. Does it track your history when you've logged out? Stupid question but a question nonetheless.
- Haplo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5"I know squat about servers/webdata etc...could this info be collected simply via having the google toolbar? "
  
  In order to report the PageRank of a page you're visiting your browser *has to* send the URL of the page you've opened in your browser to Google. It's like if you call information for a phone number in order to get the right number you have to provide some information.
  
  If you're logged in, Google has more information, sufficient to connect the URLs you're sending them with your account.
  If you're not logged in, Google can only connect the information to an IP address (and your browser). And that's not specific enough. Imagine several people to use the same router. They would see each others history...
- Haplo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Also note that you simply can disable the PageRank feature (or call home) in the toolbar, see http://johnbokma.com/firefox/google-toolbar-customizing.html (which also explains how to customize the toolbar in Firefox).
- Xyleene, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4@greenmountain
  
  To add to Caplo's comment, cookies are useful to google when there's google ads on the page. If you're logged in when the ad is shown they COULD use the cookie returned and other info embedded in the url etc.. to associate the page view with your account.. not sure if they do thou. Either way it doesn't show up in your 'web history feature'.. they would use it internally for consumer profiling etc.
greenmountain, on 10/12/2007, -4/+14FTC Asked to Block Google-DoubleClick Merger
Civil rights groups have filed a complaint asking the FTC to block Google's planned acquisition of DoubleClick.
Three U.S. online civil rights groups today filed a complaint asking the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to block Google's planned $3.1 billion acquisition of DoubleClick Inc. unless the company agrees to stop tracking its users. http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,131007-c,legalissues/article.html+

Google defends saving user data forever by demonstrating public demand for the "feature".
- TomFrost, on 10/12/2007, -1/+45Jesus. Are people really dumb enough to not understand "If you don't want to be tracked, don't sign up?" There are a few layers of protection here.
  
  1. If you don't sign up, they don't store your history.
  2. If you DO sign up, they can only store your searches unless you use external software.
  3. The software is completely optional and not required for any other Google service.
  
  So if you're freaking out that Google's tracking you, and you signed up, downloaded the software, and enabled software tracking, then you are a ***** moron. Otherwise, you have nothing to complain about. The whole "oh no Google is unfairly tracking me!" argument holds no water when you specifically allow them to do so by your own choice.
- adidos, on 10/12/2007, -17/+4@TomFrost1
  
  While I do agree with what you say, it's not 100% true...
  They can still track your searches even if you don't download their browser toolbar thing. If you're signed into your Google account, your searches will still be tracked ;)
- justo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1this is sweet... if google can't get it, neither can microsoft
xekko, on 10/12/2007, -2/+25Sign in to http://www.google.com/history/
Click 'Pause' in the left-hand column
Click 'Remove items'
Sorted.
aaronridge, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3"Imagine always knowing exactly where you saw something online, like that priceless YouTube video of your friend attempting to perform dance moves from a bygone age."

Yeah, I'll pass on willingly taking the next step closer to a chip in my head and just bookmark stuff. Thanks anyways, Google.
- Akronos, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7This would actually be pretty useful for those research papers where you got some information from some site but now you don't remember it and have to write down some made up source for the citation.
ablez3, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4if you do not want them to save your search history.

Do not sign in

simple as that!
aitozed, on 10/12/2007, -6/+0http://www.scroogle.org/cgi-bin/scraper.htm
cglobe, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4I'd like to keep track of myself as well as Google keeps track of me already.
ksadya, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10can they add *filters* for search results of pages you've .. visited?
- krazytom, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4I was at the pornography store.... buying pornography.
kingcool1432, on 10/12/2007, -10/+0**Edited** Please bury
MacJazarus, on 10/12/2007, -13/+2I think its a violation of personal privacy for google to even OFFER such a service. Of course there are going to be millions of people who dont know better that will sign up for this. It's not their fault for not being clued up on their privacy rights and the potential of abuse of that info they willingly surrender to google or other sites for that matter that ask for personal details.

Where are their (google) heads at? Dont be evil indeed.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/52336655@N00/114592975/in/set-72157600102900869/
Nougat, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9So, I can go to Google and search for "Google," and then my Google web history will have that in it. Then I go to my Google web history and search for myself searching for Google, on Google. Then I search my Google web history for myself searching my Google web history for myself searching for Google, on Google. Then --

I wonder sometimes how much of the data that's being aggregated by everyplace is actually valuable. Moreover, what is the actual value of the sum total of the aggregate data being stored, compared to the expenditure made to collect, store, and parse it. Somehow, I think it's a losing proposition overall.
DrScott, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4The issue here is that the internet isn't a big truck. It's not something that you just dump something on - it's a series of tubes. Before this 'innovation' I could rest easy, knowing that most of these tubes emptied above some proverbial drain pipe. Knowing that your whole cyber-LIFE is stored on some harddrive somewhere is a bit disheartening, I prefer the anonymity of the internet a-thank-you-very-much.
LadyRaven, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4After you log in click on My Account (upper right corner).
You'll see My Services and edit...click edit.
You'll have an option to delete your Web History service or close your account.
joe90210, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2so basicly, I give up all web anonimity so Google can tell me...what websites I like visiting?
Inqu, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2Thanks for another repeat of the same story on the front page. Short memory spans, huh?
hdtvdust, on 10/12/2007, -6/+3Wow...if this was MSN or even Yahoo trying to do this, the responses would NOT be "Just don't sign in" Amazing how much hypocrisy there is on Digg.
MacJazarus, on 10/12/2007, -7/+1I think its a violation of personal privacy for google to even OFFER such a service. Of course there are going to be millions of people who dont know better that will sign up for this. It's not their fault for not being clued up on their privacy rights and the potential of abuse of that info they willingly surrender to google or other sites for that matter that ask for personal details.

Where are their (google) heads at? Dont be evil indeed.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/52336655@N00/114592975/in/set-72157600102900869/

p.s stop burying my comment people have a right to be heard whatever their views are, bury the article if you want
- cdmarcus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4If you're not clued up on your "privacy rights" and you sign up for this service, and you suddenly regret it, it's your own damn fault.
  
  p.s stfu. Dugg down. I'm not going to use the service, I don't like it, but saying that it's immoral to OFFER the service is just plain wrong. It's not like they try to hide the fact that using the service requires that you send every web page you visit to google... when you enable it, you see a BIG WARNING!
HedonistOgre, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3I'm a Google junky. Homepage, Email, Calendar, et al.

But I draw the line right about here. I have my Google History paused and I curse toolbars in general.

Nice to know the technology is there but no thanks.
- Eragmus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Just to let you know, if you don't like toolbars but use Firefox, there is an option in the Google Toolbar to integrate with the search box and so hide the toolbar itself.
brianjlowry, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Who cares if Google tracks your browsing habits? I mean, really?
DeusNova, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4My life will probably be porn, technology and entertainment according to Google. =P
waluum, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Google Desktop is already a Faustian deal...

http://desktop.google.com/privacypolicy.html
blackcanoflysol, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1You would think Google's founder's knew how to look up porn on their own by now.
MikeWanDo, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2Doesn't my browser have a history function...?
ellemichele, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Maybe its me, but I don't see the draw. With delicious, technorati, etc....how many ways are there to keep track of where you're going on the Internet?
specialK16, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1As usual, it doesn't support Opera.

I use firefox while on Feisty tho.
BlinkBoy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Certainly not a new feature, I've been using it for a long time now.
kelindia, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Dangerous.....Dangerous...very Dangerous
Meowbiusfox, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1They aren't watching me stroke it are they?
deathseeker25, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0I like this service. It's interesting and, as a lot of users already said, it only affects your privacy if you login.
fastfood15, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1there's porn on the internet?
yeahbuddy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1If you ever plan on committing a crime or get busted for anything, you can bet the FBI would love to see this little google history you've created.

Not that I am worried, but if I died tomorrow, I'm not so sure I'd want everyone to know my browsing habits (just in case an investigation required looking at emails/websites/etc). How embarrassing!
canyadigit, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Google already keeps a record of all searches from every IP, and apparently they don't erase these records. I forget the case or the name of the tv show, but it was one of those dramatized crime solving shows and they used a suspect's google searches to help convict him of murder. Looks like the only new thing Google is doing here is letting you in on what they are already doing if you so choose.
mrgono3, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1This feature is kind of like the one already available in Google Reader. The "trends feature" tells you when and at what time during the week you read your feeds but also how much of a feed you read.
Ukonu, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0The feature they mention that I'm most interested in is the full text search of previously browsed pages in my history. Is there any way I could do this in Firefox without having to send Google my personal browsing information? An extension maybe?
capellathestar, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1This kind of reminds the "What brand of toilet paper am I" and the "How hot am I" personality quizzes.
Honestly, what's the point of this. Wouldn't you already know where you browsing?
monsterette, on 07/09/2008, -0/+1...hmmm...
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