Nowadays a
lot of platforms, such as Microsoft, Apple, Google, Yahoo etc., are collecting
information about you.
Let’s talk
about the most famous one: Google.
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| google logo |
Google
is a platform we use in our everyday life. But did it ever come to your mind how
much Google actually knows about every single one of us? Everything that you
search for goes straight to its database. Google does not forget.
In
order to see the Ads that fit you, Google collects every search that you have
done. For example, someone who searches tech related topics
will get an iPhone ad. This is because the platform creates a profile of you
based on the things you search for. From this profile Google can get a lot of
information about you; for example, your age and gender, where
you live, study and where you are right now. Once you confirmed the location,
Google has every right to see where you are.
But
how does it know you are at home? it’s quite simple.
Where
you spend your nights the most is logically your house and the other dots are
the places you mostly go to.
So, if you have an android phone or a tablet, like a
lot of you do, there is a very big chance that you
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| Google locations tracked from my account |
have
used a Google calendar, Google+ or Google docs, therefore if you have one of
them, it is certain that Google knows what appointments and with whom you have.
But that is not all…
If
you chat with someone using any Google platform, Google links you up and knows
that you know each other, in that way it can form whole communities,
friendships etc.
So,
if you are looking forward to knowing all the information that Google collects
about you here are some useful links:
0-
Your activity:
Your
last Google activity, you can find here:
https://myactivity.google.com/myactivity/
https://myactivity.google.com/myactivity/
1-
What Google thinks
about you:
This
part is very important for Google to serve revenant ads. You can find it here:
2- Location history
to find out the
locations that Google has stored about you, you can find here:
3- Your entire Google Search history
each keyword you have searched or ad you have clicked is stored here:
https://www.google.com/history/
each keyword you have searched or ad you have clicked is stored here:
https://www.google.com/history/
4- Applications, extensions and devices that access your Google data--
these are very useful pages to have more control of your data: https://security.google.com/settings/security/permissions
these are very useful pages to have more control of your data: https://security.google.com/settings/security/permissions
5- YouTube search history
Google also keeps a history of your YouTube searches. You can find it here:
Google also keeps a history of your YouTube searches. You can find it here:
Googles also has
tools that help Publisher to see the pages you have visited on their website, for
how many times and how long you viewed them etc.., this is called Google
Analytics.
But thanks to “Google
Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on” you can prevent your data from collecting.
You can find it here:
So,
were you aware so much information is collected?
Were
you aware of the scope of the data that they actually collect?
Do
you think it is good or bad that they collect it?
What
will happen if any of the platforms provide information to the wrong people? Will
we all be in danger?
Sources:
Comments
Some people don't like the fact that google is collecting data about them, so they are not using it. I believe there is something about duck/with duck in its name, which can replace google.
They collect it mainly to provide better service to users, so it is planned as a good thing, but you never know how it will end.
It is definitely bad because with such amount of information Google can influence our life in many aspects, for example shopping (ads). They do not collect this data only for themselves to collect them. They make a proper research, learn how it is connected and finally use them to earn money. It does not matter if it is your private data or not - they do not really care.
I think that there may be such possibility that for example NSA already has this data. In my opinion we can feel safe anymore.
Platforms like Google or Apple prepared smart trap, we can ask whatever we want they will just remeber that and creates a profile of our-selfs to manipulate us. And what is interesting thats all lawful..
Despite my awareness, it makes my angry when I see my activity, whole history and even data from my navigation!
On the other hand, everybody is impressed with smart stuff. We use it everytime. Everybody is impressed with cars that know service is needed or smartphones that suggest suitable music for current mood. How to do it without collecting data about user? It's impossible.
So that's why even if I could stop using Google, I wouldn't do it.
When we talk about Google Analytics.
You said "Googles also has tools that help Publisher to see the pages you have visited on their website". I understand it as Publisher is able to see that I - specyfically Filip Małecki - visited his website e.g. 2 days ago. That's not true at all. He can see my activity (duration of my visit, subpages etc.), but he doesn't know it was me (by name). Then, you and your privacy is not in danger.
This tool helps designers to make or improve content of the websites. Such plugins as you advertised, don't prevent your privacy, but impede designers' work!
Of course, we can assume Google connect this data with your name in the background, but if so - such plugins don't change anything.
As far as I know there were no major incidents related to selling data by Google so far, so it's ok while they fund awesome tech projects and invest in science. If someone is really paranoid he can try using anonymous search engines like DuckDuckGo, but sometimes search results based on location are really useful.
I've also been aware that one could find somewhere the information about his/her activity, however I had no idea where I can come across it.
I don't like this possibility, I consider collecting data as a very dangerous invention.
We have so many facilities nowadays that without electricity it's difficult for us even to drive out of our own garage and gate of property, that's why I don't like being addicted to new technology which makes our brain lazy.
The bottom line is that if you want to be anonymous, then you better stop using the Internet ;)
Is it good or bad that they collect it? I think if you’re a terrorist or a drug dealer - it’s quite bad that Google collect this data. If you’re a person who likes to analyze yourself with a data you produce - it might be a great self-quantifying tool. If you’re just a person who doesn't trust corporations and the fact that they’ll keep your data private, you can just turn off tracking in settings or just use https://duckduckgo.com.
Also, almost every app uses analytics solutions such as Fabric.io or Firebase Analytics to track every button your press and how long do you use the app each day. I use it as well in my apps. Developers do it not because they want to spy people, but because they want to improve the product and fit it to your personal needs.
I don't like the fact, that companies collect so much informations about us. It mainly serves to target ads, recommend some products etc., what is not so important for me. I would be better not to store such a sensitive data, I always wonder if this kind of data leaks sometimes and we don't even know about it. Sometimes we hear about some leaks, but maybe it is only drop in the bucket.
However, it's not like there is no choice - for example in terms of Android, if somebody indeed wanted to stay outside of any Google services while still using the phone, it's possible, for example thanks to CyanogenMod - custom Android OS that in it's clear version has no single proprietary code from Google, and still allows to use the operating system in whatever way you want to. Of course, 99% of people, including myself, intentionally add proprietary google services to that OS, as it's true that for the small price of privacy, Google simply makes our lifes easier, and I can't really say that I'm unhappy with that fact. It's important to understand what is actually happening - what, when, where and why Google collects out data, and then decide if you're happy with that or not.
Of course we hate the invasion in personal space, but it's just a side effect of living in a modern civilization. You could either accept or isolate yourself.
I think it is really stupid to think, that no one sees what are we typing and doing in internet.
Well, Google knows everything about us, but also makes our life easier. We must deal with it.
It doesn't matter which system we use (Android, IOS, etc) Google crated too many tools, which can control what the users do or where they were.
Good option for someone who want to be anonymous at least partially is "duckduckgo". This browser doesn't track users, offers us truly privacy but it has one disadvantage, the results of searching some information are worse than in Google.