From technology to politics to video games; these are the random thoughts of a geek with too much time on his hands
They're always watching me. Everywhere I go... they're already there!
Published on August 9, 2007 By Zoomba In WinCustomize News

There's been a lot of attention paid lately to how long search engines, specifically Google, retain personal information on people who use its services.  Privacy nuts have been getting increasingly nervous about the power a handful of companies have to gather and sort personal data.  To answer this growing fear, a website has appeared, aptly named "Googlonymous" it allows you to feed search terms into Google without giving them your data.

The service goes out, does the search for you and returns the results.  That way Google never sees you searching, they only see Googlonymous.

If you're up for some alarmist journalism to back up the fears, Googlonymous also has a CNBC special about the dangers of data retention and who's watching who on the front page.


Comments
on Aug 09, 2007
Googlonymous worked good for me, I figured it would be slow but it's not. The video was very informative, now I'm afraid to go out!
on Aug 10, 2007
I'm afraid to DL the flashplayer...   
on Aug 10, 2007

a 2 hour video? ...c'mon ....show just the pertinent bits, and I'll take the time to watch it.

Although ...the old adage applies anyway ...do something bad, and you'll be found out .... be a good upstanding citizen, and you have nothing to fear....

Heck, they can have all the info on me they want ...they'll soon see how boring I can be.

on Aug 10, 2007
.they'll soon see how boring I can be.


Same here....they'd need some pretty effective uppers just to stay awake. In fact, I'm so incredibly boring these days, I even put myself to sleep.

I don't have to worry about Google retaining my search info cos I don't use 'em any more ....read that once you invite them into your computer they can see (using technology similar to Stardock's political filter) into various rooms in your house to see which products you buy and how you use them....and I don't want 'em peering into my bathroom.

I don't want them to know I lied on the last market survey I completed - to receive a parcel of high priced brand name products instead of the generic crap I can afford. I'd rather they just didn't know that we don't use those expensive kitchen wipes; those fancy shmancy (prints) facial tissues; those hoity toity brand name cotton balls or the lanolin enriched make-up removers for the missus...yeah, we just keep a roll of generic toilet paper in most rooms for those accidental spills/impromptu sneezing fits, etc.

on Aug 10, 2007
be a good upstanding citizen, and you have nothing to fear....


Yes I will obey. Yes my papers are in order. I have nothing fear.
on Aug 10, 2007

So...

Instead of Google getting your info....some other bloody site gets it....

Yep, that'll work a treat.

Logic is a tad lacking, I think,,,,

on Aug 10, 2007

and I don't want 'em peering into my bathroom.

....I would'nt fear that, Starkers

...what, with the curried cabbage & all ....vapor cloud would be impenetrable by anything other than the hubble...   

on Aug 10, 2007
Wasn't there a "Law & Order" episode about this a while back?
on Aug 12, 2007
"Privacy nuts have been getting increasingly nervous about the power a handful of companies have to gather and sort personal data."

Privacy nuts? You mean that people who want to protect their privacy are nuts? Crazy? Out of touch with reality? OK, can I pick what kind of nut I am? You know. Walnut, peanut, cashew, almond, etc.
on Aug 12, 2007
Instead of Google getting your info....some other bloody site gets it....

Yep, that'll work a treat.


That was exactly my thought as well. I really don't see what's the point of this site.
on Aug 15, 2007
Just use TOR (free, see http://tor.eff.org) - one problem solved (but created others). Another option: Use a different search engine. Or a meta engine. Block cookies other than session cookies. Whatever you do though, you're always going to leave a trail on the 'net, and others will almost always be able to use that data in ways you won't like. Want to be anonymous? Log off, cancel your phone, drop your bank account, your credit card info, any kind of personal ID, social security number (if you live in the US) and so on.

Many companies gather anything they can about you and sell it. There's just about nothing you can do about it.