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Science-Technology Title: Shock: Google Recording Porn Searches, Even 'Incognito' History Easily Obtainable Lets admit it: There are some things you just dont want other people to know you Googled. Whether its an adult topic, a sensitive medical condition, or simply something innocent like gift ideas for a surprise birthday party, we like knowing that some of our searches are off the record. Almost anyone who has ever used the Google Chrome browser is familiar with Incognito mode. Its purpose is supposedly to browse the web without leaving a history of sites visited or terms searched
but is Google keeping its promises to users? Chrome wont save the following information: Your browsing history, cookies and site data, information entered in forms, the Chrome Incognito home screen assures us. Googles own help documents go into more detail. Chrome doesnt save your browsing history or information entered in forms. Cookies and site data are remembered while youre browsing, but deleted when you close Incognito mode. To the casual reader, it certainly seems that Google is pledging not to retain the sites you visit or searches you make while in Incognito mode. Shockingly, however, USA Today has reported that this may not actually be true. Technology columnist Jefferson Graham revealed that when he requested an archive of his data from Google, he was stunned to see that Incognito searches were included in their extensive records. Graham used a tool available from Google that allows users to download and review the piles of information that the tech giant retains about each person. Mine arrived in a few hours, delivered to Gmail. After unzipping the files, most are categorized in clear-to-read English and go way back mine to 2009, the journalist explained. If youve done anything on Chrome or the Google-owned Android operating system, theres a good chance its in the archive. The list included everything: a voice request on Google Home to solve 6*12.50, I listened to Prince on Google Play last week, watched a James Corden clip on YouTube and every Google search, made both publicly and anonymously in Incognito mode, he explained. Emphasis added. That last bit of history was a surprise, the USA Today reporter admitted. Google tells users that searching in Incognito mode means Chrome doesnt save your browsing history and basic browsing history information like URLs, cached page text, or IP addresses of pages linked from the websites you visit,' he continued. We reached out to Google for comment, but have yet to hear back. How does Incognito doesnt save your browsing history turn into heres every Incognito search youve ever made? Its a very good question, and there doesnt seem to be a satisfactory answer. One possibility is that the tech giant is pulling a bit of a bait-and-switch. Your searches may be transmitted to Googles servers and archived there with your name attached. Chrome, the actual program running on your computer, may, in fact, clear your searches locally when you close the Incognito window, but everything youve ever looked for yes, even those late-night searches with Incognito are kept in Big Gs massive and increasingly creepy database. In other words, Chrome might not be saving your browsing history, but Google sure is. That loophole may give the tech company an out, but its unclear and perhaps even deceptive. Amid the recent Facebook scandals and Mark Zuckerbergs earnest testimony in front of Congress, many Americans are becoming increasingly aware of just how much privacy theyve given up for the sake of technological convenience. Whether its even possible to put the privacy genie back in its bottle remains to be seen, but taking a look at what major corporations like Google have in your file is an eye-opening experience. Poster Comment: This shouldn't surprise us. I recently download my entire Google history (or the parts they admit to possessing). It was 6 megabytes on disk, very small considering how much I use the web. It went back to 2007 and was much smaller than I expected even though I do religiously avoid Google searches and services whenever possible. And I do block the Google spy bug that is planted on virtually every page on the internet (except here at LF and a handful of other sites). Then I went in and deleted all of it from my Google account. But maybe that is just a ruse as well and Google still kept copies of it. Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top Page Up Full Thread Page Down Bottom/Latest Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 3.
#2. To: Tooconservative, Deckard (#0)
It does NOT. (Good thing that Patriot Act which "KEEPS US SAFE!" negated any reason for that pesky 4th Amendment, eh? I went in and deleted all of it from my Google account. But maybe that is just a ruse as well and Google still kept copies of it. Yup. The perception that you/we have any control to "delete history" of any of these data harvesting social media giants is merely a Placebo Effect. Psychologically we may feel liberated, but that's all it is.
We shouldn't forget that we won't have a history that needs deleting if we just avoid using these services and block all access to them. It is also the best way to starve the beast. In addition, if they compile vast dossiers of information on us even when we pointedly avoid any contact with them or any use of their services, it may well provide the basis for a massive class action lawsuit against the Googles and Facebooks and Twitters.
#5. To: Tooconservative (#3)
Just received a YUGE notice from Yahoo Services that request user-sign off on a disclosure acknowledge and agreement that they WILL be harvesting ALL data, selling it, OR GIVING it to...whomever. Wow.
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