I dislike Google

[elsdfr]

So this has been brewing for a few years now. I think Google is out of control and I need to ween myself off it (searching and email). I think they have access to way too much data as in they can see my searches and emails, who knows what they might do with it? Are my concerns ridiculous?

Does anyone else feel the same way and if so what are you doing about it?

[Skade]

I knew I couldn't be the only one silently freaking out, I seriously I feel like I'm being watched. But that migh just be my suspicious nature or maybe we have a point. Information is a powerful tool and when we're not the ones in control of it, we imagine all the ways it can be abused and/or used against us, even if we know it's nothing incriminating. Not much we can do really, except be careful what we write down.

[Rudy]

It's a problem, isn't it? I'm trying to ween myself from it but my search instinct is still to use google. I use yahoo's search when I can, or other searches if that doesn't work.

The search thing I can change, but there is not yet a good alternative to YouTube for most things, and my email is so firmly established as a gmail address, that I'm not sure I have the will to change it.

[mnmeq]

been thinking the same thing and also sorry that I didn't go with my instinct years ago and dump all of my spare $ into googles ipo years back.

[boldbidder]

The problem is Google's information retrieval tech is second to none. I'm not overly entrenched in the Google ecosystem, but searching and e-mail they've got me. Oops, I guess I'm even using Chrome as we speak.....lol

[elsdfr]

To search I've been trying to use ixsearch.com a bit more but I don't know if its got me yet.

I'm thinking about putting my domain and email machine back online in the mean time.

" Google has never been known to delete any of the data they've collected, since day one. For example, their cookie with the unique ID in it, which expires in 2038, has been tracking all of the search terms you've ever used while searching their main index. " - link (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.) - Or is it too late? :shocked:

[MaleVolentworld]

The government has the power to retrieve information off the servers which your internet service provider uses and has to keep for a certain amount of time by law.

Now this will terrify people here since a recent UK law made it illegal to view certain forms of BDSM, mainly the violent and those that incorporate dead bodies (acting) :S...what is worse? the fact that someone is aroused by the fantasy of having sex with a dead body OR that it's a crime to watch this weird role play?

[reb]

'We know who you are, when you poop, what you watch, how you sleep. You have nothing to be afraid of, because we will protect you. Your data is safe with us.'

J. Edgar Hoover

[Rudy]

'We know who you are, when you poop, what you watch, how you sleep. You have nothing to be afraid of, because we will protect you. Your data is safe with us.'

J. Edgar Hoover
Scary.

To be honest, though, I'm not actually worried about them having my data, I'm just worried about becoming overly reliant on one corporation.

[mnmeq]

my concern is less immediately for data integrity and more for the future implications of continued dominance; the power and ideological compromise that comes with monopoly and mass.

[Harmony]

So how long before employees start using google to try and dig up information on people? I mean, some companies already use Facebook and MySpace to try and see what a person is like....

[Rudy]

So how long before employees start using google to try and dig up information on people?

? I'm sure companies have been doing this for a while.

[boldbidder]

? I'm sure companies have been doing this for a while.

Wasn't that the extent of McCain's vetting team on Palin, a couple Google searches? Didn't know employers were scouring the social networking sites though, seems like the two should be mutually exclusive.

[Bobert]

They already do. Nothing new.


I like this one:
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(I'll post this in a new thread.)

[Harmony]

? I'm sure companies have been doing this for a while.

Had no idea. It would be pointless to do it on me. They would find a whole bunch of other people with my name. I've seen about four people in Indiana with the exact same name as me (First, Middle, and Last!).

Wasn't that the extent of McCain's vetting team on Palin, a couple Google searches? Didn't know employers were scouring the social networking sites though, seems like the two should be mutually exclusive.

They did a news exclusive in my area on how companies are using social networking sites to see what type of friends people have and how they communicate with each other. One employer said they search through peoples friends to see what they look like and how the interact and if they don't like it, they won't even consider someone.

That reason alone is why all my information is private on every networking site I'm on.

[ClydeB]

So how long before employees start using google to try and dig up information on people? I mean, some companies already use Facebook and MySpace to try and see what a person is like....I preemptively do this for myself. Go out to google and other popular sites and see what can be gathered for me in the first few pages. Then if I find something I start hassling the people whom the search engine got if from. This way if someone from where I work had that idea. They will not find anything about me out there. Or as little as possible.

As an example, two years ago I found my birth records were online. Date, City, State, Parents full names as well as links to their data. The state of Texas had decided to post all that. Lots of good info for identity theft. It took me a month to get mine and theirs removed.

[Harmony]

I preemptively do this for myself. Go out to google and other popular sites and see what can be gathered for me in the first few pages. Then if I find something I start hassling the people whom the search engine got if from. This way if someone from where I work had that idea. They will not find anything about me out there. Or as little as possible.

As an example, two years ago I found my birth records were online. Date, City, State, Parents full names as well as links to their data. The state of Texas had decided to post all that. Lots of good info for identity theft. It took me a month to get mine and theirs removed.

That's a good idea! Thankfully, I never find anything on the actual me. Facebook made it so you can hide certain information from displaying in Google searches. So while Google can find it, when you click on the link you get nothing.

I don't really mind some of them... Like one of the girls with my name was apparently the MVP for her softball team. I'm cool with people mistaking me for her. ;)

[Allie]

My name is Allie, and I am a google-holic.

I tried to ween off google awhile back with Ask.com. I had a relapse and have not recovered as of today. I cringe when I come across site ads for Chrome. It's bad enough we're hooked on google and gmail!

I am livid at googlemaps. I could see my house and the streets to get there! Been trying to send in a request for them to remove it.

[Harmony]

I am livid at googlemaps. I could see my house and the streets to get there! Been trying to send in a request for them to remove it.

Yeah, I'm really not thrilled with that aspect of googlemaps....

[ClydeB]

Just make sure your home address isn't available on searches.

[Allie]

ClydeB,

How, please?

[Synchronicity]

Google unnerves me not because of the information they have, but because of the money they have. Google keeps pumping out high-quality software and services of all sorts, but when was the last time you paid a cent for any of it? Ad revenue can't be worth THAT much, can it? And have you seen the Google headquarters? It's like a 5-star hotel.

Could it be drugs? I think it's drugs.

[zippikay]

Google unnerves me not because of the information they have, but because of the money they have. Google keeps pumping out high-quality software and services of all sorts, but when was the last time you paid a cent for any of it? Ad revenue can't be worth THAT much, can it? And have you seen the Google headquarters? It's like a 5-star hotel.

Could it be drugs? I think it's drugs.

you don't suppose that google secretly got their funding from government, do you?

[Synchronicity]

you don't suppose that google secretly got their funding from government, do you?

Oooh, now that's a conspiracy theory I could get excited about.

[Xackery]

I've changed so many search engines I can't even tell you. If you're so paranoid about the information Google is collecting on you, then do something about it (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.). And stop focusing on Google, you do realize that your ISP are likely tracking your proceedings too, as are the routing tools to get to your various destinations, and even more likely the destination, too? But the one advantage you have is that does it really matter if they know where you go? Cookies are files stored on your machine, that can be cleaned off by simply removing it. Using them as an example is not good evidence to the evil of Google. Maybe if you look at their databases and what they store about you, THEN you have area of alarm.

Your topic makes me think of this link: To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

But seriously, quoting about a robber looking for lead top houses to commit robbery? That article is full of bullshit and over hype. If you don't want personal information stored on the internet, then live with a slower connection and do everything anonymously. But, even right now, posting, you are doing something personal. Even with an alias, your words are likely being tracked and associated to you in the case of an investigation.

Just like your phone calls are logged and easily tracked back to you.

Just like that front door of yours is likely easily opened with either a credit card or lock bumping (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.), and worse if someone uses this method to get in your house, steals things, then locks the door on the way out, the insurance company can claim that there was no theft and not give you money for the lost assets.

Just like using Microsoft windows and getting trojans like you have probably done at least once can reveal all your passwords, and potentially your credit card information if not cleaned immediately.. And theft online can be done anonymously and easily with the information gathered. No matter how secure or SSL the transaction is between you and the host, a trojan horse resides on your machine and will catch any key sent so long as it's active, meaning it will get your information prior to it being sent securely over SSL. (Which by the way, if you use WINE and get infected, you lose all your security too! Or if you install an application and give it rights to do the above in any OS really.)

Just like any public machine you have ever typed in a password could be using the above even if you are an ultra-secure freak who has never gotten infected by various tools, even with your kids using your machine. (Or heck, your kid may put a trojan on your machine. I used to as a kid!)

There's a lot of problems out there, but that doesn't mean you need to get super paranoid about them.

[boldbidder]

They did a news exclusive in my area on how companies are using social networking sites to see what type of friends people have and how they communicate with each other. One employer said they search through peoples friends to see what they look like and how the interact and if they don't like it, they won't even consider someone.

That reason alone is why all my information is private on every networking site I'm on.

Wow, I know jack crap about legal matters, but I gotta believe that some talented lawyer somewhere could sue for that. I've resisted the social networking craze, but if I did have accounts on some of those sites I'd definitely use whatever privacy options they offered. Did the special you saw say whether or not the various social sites were cooperating with the employers or were they just signing up with bogus accounts for purposes of snooping?

[Harmony]

Wow, I know jack crap about legal matters, but I gotta believe that some talented lawyer somewhere could sue for that. I've resisted the social networking craze, but if I did have accounts on some of those sites I'd definitely use whatever privacy options they offered. Did the special you saw say whether or not the various social sites were cooperating with the employers or were they just signing up with bogus accounts for purposes of snooping?

They just created an account. All you really need is a valid email address. They don't care what you say your name is. So the HR person or the Hiring person just creates an account and does a quick search.

[Synamon]

You are all so mean. What did Google ever do to you? :cry: It's ok Google, I :lovestruck: you. *

On a more serious note, privacy is an illusion, it always has been. That is magnified exponentially online. That said, there are common sense and technology driven ways to protect yourself.










* the bots are watching you know :suspicious:

[BobetteKyle]

Conspiracy theories aside, there IS that much money in advertising. There's AdWords, plus their affiliate network. $421.8 million revenue in '08.

So how long before employees start using google to try and dig up information on people? I believe it's standard practice for many. The world wide web is for public consumption, including what people post on the social networking sites (that's why some - like Facebook - hide detailed profiles/blogs/posts from people who are not your "friends"). The flip side of hiding what people may find is making sure positive information is there when they look.

I personally have no qualms with having basic information readily available (NOT social security number or family details often used for security questions...like mother's maiden name). If someone's after you, they are going to find you anyway. Might as well make it easy for the good guys to see how great you are. My name is on over 10,000 pages in Google and AFAIK I'm okay with the content on each of them. I do make it a point to NEVER say anything online I wouldn't be comfortable with a client, employer, my mother, or anyone else reading (because they might).

There's a lot of problems out there, but that doesn't mean you need to get super paranoid about them.Agreed. We put locks on our houses to keep out thieves and don't store our expensive electronics on the front lawn. We take these measures to make the risk of loss lower than the rewards of home and electronics ownership. Same with the Internet IMO. Cyberspace is a gold mine of advantages - free information, ways to connect, and makes us infinitely more productive among others. If we follow security measures (firewalls, anti-virus, regular scans, keeping up-to-date security software, etc.) then those rewards are worth the risk.

[Synamon]

Just make sure your home address isn't available on searches.

ClydeB,

How, please?
Don't type it in on Facebook for starters. Don't type it in anywhere that isn't encrypted (ie. when you order something). Sites do post their privacy policy, take the time to check those out.

[BobetteKyle]

The problem is Google's information retrieval tech is second to none...Yes, darn them and the PhDs they rode in on! ;)





BobetteKyle added to this post, 8 minutes and 56 seconds later...

How, please?
Don't type it in on Facebook for starters. Don't type it in anywhere that isn't encrypted (ie. when you order something). Sites do post their privacy policy, take the time to check those out.

There are also the phone book databases ... if your name and number are public, then they are also in the online directory(ies). For Google phonebook, you can ask to have your listing removed. Do a regular Google search like this... phonebook:xxx-yyy-zzzz (where x,y,z are your number). There's a link under the listing where you can ask it to be removed. I expect you can do the same for other online directories (Yahoo white pages, switchboard.com, yellowpages.com white pages, etc).

[Rudy]

Like I said, though, I don't give a damn about the privacy; that should be clear. :)

My issue is becoming too dependent on one corporation. I mean, it's all free and good now, but one never knows how these things will change in the future. Monopoly is an ugly thing.

[Xackery]

If they charge later, then just use another solution. *shrugs*
I've done that countless times with FTP programs..

[Rudy]

If they charge later, then just use another solution. *shrugs*
I've done that countless times with FTP programs..
Ah, but their dominance of the market right now prevents any good alternatives from arising in many areas.

[Xackery]

I'm not sure how their dominance limits anyone from taking the initiative to make a product. <shrugs>. Maybe we're not in line for what makes them part of the market.. but it wasn't like Google was always # 1, and it's not like they're guaranteed to be # 1 forever.

We probably aren't in line for what defines a good alternative either, since, well, from how you speak of how bad Google is I would think any alternative would be better. <grins>

[Storm]

Ah, but their dominance of the market right now prevents any good alternatives from arising in many areas.

Right, but they're dominate largely because they are free. The barriers to entry for internet companies aren't exactly high. Especially since news of a new search engine in the event of Google charging would spread largely by word of mouth or its electronic equivalent (forums, sites like stumbleupon and fazed.net). Or, at least I hope that's what would happen.

[Rudy]

I'm not sure how their dominance limits anyone from taking the initiative to make a product. <shrugs>. Maybe we're not in line for what makes them part of the market.. but it wasn't like Google was always # 1, and it's not like they're guaranteed to be # 1 forever.
The good thing about software development is that it has absurdly high economies of scale. That is, you develop it once, and the marginal cost of production/provision for each customer is extremely low. When it comes to monopoly, though, this is a bad thing. Because of their immense market share, google can dump huge amounts of revenue into maintaining their technological advantage indefinitely.

We probably aren't in line for what defines a good alternative either, since, well, from how you speak of how bad Google is I would think any alternative would be better. <grins>
Which is precisely why I use other, admittedly algorithmically inferior, search engines whenever possible.

[RBM]

So how long before employees start using google to try and dig up information on people? I mean, some companies already use Facebook and MySpace to try and see what a person is like....

What ? You haven't been in an active job search for a couple years of what ?
Google was being used back then, before F. and MyS.

Twitter is now used.

[Rudy]

Right, but they're dominate largely because they are free. The barriers to entry for internet companies aren't exactly high. Especially since news of a new search engine in the event of Google charging would spread largely by word of mouth or its electronic equivalent (forums, sites like stumbleupon and fazed.net). Or, at least I hope that's what would happen.
True, but as I say, new internet companies can't afford to put but the smallest fraction of what google spends on research and development. There's nothing preventing these companies from entering, but their small market share prevents them from having enough funds to improve their software, which keeps their market share small, etc.

[Storm]

True, but as I say, new internet companies can't afford to put but the smallest fraction of what google spends on research and development. There's nothing preventing these companies from entering, but their small market share prevents them from having enough funds to improve their software, which keeps their market share small, etc.

Right, but their mere presence would also stop a true monopoly from forming. Further, if Google started sucking (like charging, using information in an unsavory way), people would leave Google and their funds would start to shrink. Another company would start to gain market share.

What we have to fear is Google buying out other search engines or somehow preventing access to them through less than noble actions.

[rara avis]

My parents have a landline - I can type their 9-digit phone number into google, click search, see my dad's name and address, and a google map to their house.


And there is something intuitively creepy about google's ad banners matching the content of your gmail.

[Rudy]

Right, but their mere presence would also stop a true monopoly from forming. Further, if Google started sucking (like charging, using information in an unsavory way), people would leave Google and their funds would start to shrink. Another company would start to gain market share.
I think that you're right, in the long run, but that it would take a lot of time, and lost resources, to make this transition.

What we have to fear is Google buying out other search engines or somehow preventing access to them through less than noble actions.
I'm not actually worried about this, because I'm fairly certain anti-trust law can take care of something this blatant.

[Storm]

I think that you're right, in the long run, but that it would take a lot of time, and lost resources, to make this transition.

True, but sometimes perfect efficiency isn't possible. In the meantime, we have access to a fairly good search engine. For some reason, I'm thinking I downloaded a program to stop Google from logging my searches. Maybe I made that up, though? I do have an add-on that claims there is a "bug" on this site. I don't know what to do about that....


I'm not actually worried about this, because I'm fairly certain anti-trust law can take care of something this blatant.

We hope. Companies can be quite clever. And while America has pretty good anti-trust laws, other countries do not. See OPEC.

[Allie]

Data mining and loss of privacy are beyond our control at this point. Sure we can do certain things to minimize the exposure on our own, but we are still at the mercy of merchants and third parties we deal with on a daily basis. We could prevent searches/orders with our home addresses, but not the local tax appraisal offices. The FedEx deliveries. The contractors trying to locate the directions to homes. Collection companies. Anyone or any companies with the need to collect and search for information...and we have a lot of data for them to work with, willingly and unwittingly.

[elsdfr]

*dusts off his headless p500 and plugs it into the lan* Or perhaps I've just got too much free time lately.

[Undead Bonzi]

Noooooooo!

I use Google, gmail and Chrome! I'm doomed. Damn Google for making such excellent products to cleverly spy on me!

On a serious note it is interesting to realize just how much personal data can be found just floating on the nets. A correctly worded search can yield others information about yourself that you really don't want them to know.

[Harmony]

Like I said, though, I don't give a damn about the privacy; that should be clear. :)

My issue is becoming too dependent on one corporation. I mean, it's all free and good now, but one never knows how these things will change in the future. Monopoly is an ugly thing.

Have no fear there I use ask.com for nearly everything now! :thumbsup: No monopoly for Google!

[Allie]

Have no fear there I use ask.com for nearly everything now! :thumbsup: No monopoly for Google!


Maybe I should go on my rehab again with Ask.com. We'll be each other's support system. :laugh:

[PHS Philip]

You poor people, let me show you the light. Google should not be feared, It should be welcomed into your heart!

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[aku chi]

Had no idea. It would be pointless to [Google Search] on me. They would find a whole bunch of other people with my name. I've seen about four people in Indiana with the exact same name as me (First, Middle, and Last!).
Likewise. I'm suddenly very glad that my parents gave me such a generic name. :laugh:

The truth is that the internet is public domain and any privacy is an illusion. It is difficult to keep this in mind when you are web-surfing and sending emails. I suspect I've unintentionally posted more information than I'd like to be public, especially in emails... It might be a good thing that Google is repeatedly reminding us that information on the internet is public. So we should all thank Google for snooping.

[darynthe]

Yes, you cannot trust any big company with your info. Last time I did with Livejournal they got sold to a yes man of Vladimir Putin and russian camarades. Very funny. Almost worth it.

[DewFuel]

You poor people, let me show you the light. Google should not be feared, It should be welcomed into your heart!

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:laugh: great list.

[Vagrant]

Don't do that!

My brother works for Google! I support my brother's company.

[elsdfr]

Don't do that!

My brother works for Google! I support my brother's company.

/sarcasm?

My sister is in Marketing and I know her CEO is the devil incarnate... :confused:

[Chilifoot]

I believe it may get even worse. Android, the "free" Google operating system for smartphones does really require you to have a google account to be fully functional.

Using the "closed" iPhone of Apple or the "ugly" Microsoft Mobile based smartphones sounds rather good compared to the "big-brother" google based offering.

For email I use a paid account by a local provider. It costs but there is absolutely no advertising with it. And the free offering of this provider doesn't scan your emails afaik.

I believe there is a need for a big google scandal for the people to wake up. At the moment the shit happens only in the small.

[AnotherNormal]

Google is making $

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