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Seems Google is tracking you ALL the time

by WraithSarko
10 replies
I clean browser with ccleaner
reconnect to web and go to yahoo
check cookies, there is a google cookie

the cookie comes back constantly even if you never touch google. it's called the PREF cookie. they say that they only use it to protect you of phishing sites, but then they say oh yeah we use it for some +1 tracking too. seeing as it was supposed to be only for protection from bad sites but then they decided to use it for +1 also...what else could they use it for if they wanted?

and here i was thinking I was covering my tracks

More info (using google of course)
HTML Code:
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=google+pref+cookie
#google #time #tracking
  • Profile picture of the author Mark Alan
    Easiest way to avoid this: Every time you want a new Google identity set-up a new user on your computer. Never log into your old stuff with this new user.
    Originally Posted by WraithSarko View Post

    I clean browser with ccleaner
    reconnect to web and go to yahoo
    check cookies, there is a google cookie

    the cookie comes back constantly even if you never touch google. it's called the PREF cookie. they say that they only use it to protect you of phishing sites, but then they say oh yeah we use it for some +1 tracking too. seeing as it was supposed to be only for protection from bad sites but then they decided to use it for +1 also...what else could they use it for if they wanted?

    and here i was thinking I was covering my tracks

    More info (using google of course)
    HTML Code:
    http://lmgtfy.com/?q=google+pref+cookie
    Signature
    Crazy Cheap Hosting Get Hosting for less than $2 per month + Free Domain Name Registration. Get Free SEO, Blogging and Internet Marketing Tips from the Solo Blogger.
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    • Profile picture of the author WraithSarko
      never considered that. I'm going to have a dozen user accounts on my own computer.

      thanks
      Signature
      SuperExpensiveNUKE...SubmitterEnvyNUKE...SENukeXCRaptastic
      I've spent the last 59 months building 412 MFA sites. Each site averages 8 cents per day...I said average, some make up to 17 cents per day, PASSIVE INCOME! This income allows me to live comfortably and buy ANY flavor Jolly Rancher or Skittles I desire. Don't give in to fear, it CAN be done!
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  • Profile picture of the author jvreview
    Since Google is in the business of advertising, tracking is one of the most critical factors for them. We're fighting a mega big brother here :-)
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  • Profile picture of the author GlobalTrader
    Google's tentacle's are everywhere!

    Do you have their toolbar installed? Did you visit a website that has adsense on it?? Did you visit a website with google analytics on it???

    I accidently learned about two years ago that just clearing cookies, temp files using ccleaner etc.. does not prevent them from tracking you and returning personalized results. You do not need to be logged into any google account for them to track you and return results based on the history they have built on you.

    I now use ccleaner about every other day and if I use Google to search (not logged into any particular account) I also change the city/state location to one I pick randomly because if I continue to search with my default city/state then my site will be returned to me in my serps (even after ccleaning) at a higher position than it is really showing to other google users.

    Also, there use to be a bit of code you could place on your search string results page, hit enter and it would take away any personalization - that stopped working about 3-4 months ago....they want total control of the net and will probably soon have it.
    Signature

    GlobalTrader

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    • Profile picture of the author Curtis2011
      Does it really matter?

      Tons of websites load cookies into your browser. 99% of those cookies are not doing anything malicious.

      Honestly, I just don't care if Google tracks my web history, as long as it isn't personally posted somewhere for the world to see. If they are just using the data to make their company and their search engine operate more effectively, I am fine with that.
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      • Profile picture of the author GlobalTrader
        Originally Posted by Curtis2011 View Post

        Does it really matter?

        Tons of websites load cookies into your browser. 99% of those cookies are not doing anything malicious.

        Honestly, I just don't care if Google tracks my web history, as long as it isn't personally posted somewhere for the world to see. If they are just using the data to make their company and their search engine operate more effectively, I am fine with that.
        Personally, I do not care, but I go to the extent of cleaning cookies that I do so that I get a more accurate picture of where my web pages are located in the SERPs. If I did not perform the functions I listed then my site pages would be showing up at number 1 on page 1 every time I ran a search inquiry to see where they really are sitting.
        Signature

        GlobalTrader

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      • Profile picture of the author WraithSarko
        Originally Posted by Curtis2011 View Post

        Does it really matter?

        Tons of websites load cookies into your browser. 99% of those cookies are not doing anything malicious.

        Honestly, I just don't care if Google tracks my web history, as long as it isn't personally posted somewhere for the world to see. If they are just using the data to make their company and their search engine operate more effectively, I am fine with that.
        i dont care about that either, I was more worried about everything i do to hide while trying to rank pages....meanwhile they can see everything
        Signature
        SuperExpensiveNUKE...SubmitterEnvyNUKE...SENukeXCRaptastic
        I've spent the last 59 months building 412 MFA sites. Each site averages 8 cents per day...I said average, some make up to 17 cents per day, PASSIVE INCOME! This income allows me to live comfortably and buy ANY flavor Jolly Rancher or Skittles I desire. Don't give in to fear, it CAN be done!
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6821451].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Mark Alan
      Like I said it's much easier to simply add a new user to your computer. For added privacy take your new user to a new ip before you log in. I have several user accounts on my laptop and I log into each one from a different IP. Typically, I might have one user account set-up to use at the local McDonalds, another at Starbucks. And don't forget you can do all your work at home save it to a USB drive and take it to your local library for use on their computers when you need to interact with a Google Service.

      Originally Posted by GlobalTrader View Post

      Google's tentacle's are everywhere!

      Do you have their toolbar installed? Did you visit a website that has adsense on it?? Did you visit a website with google analytics on it???

      I accidently learned about two years ago that just clearing cookies, temp files using ccleaner etc.. does not prevent them from tracking you and returning personalized results. You do not need to be logged into any google account for them to track you and return results based on the history they have built on you.

      I now use ccleaner about every other day and if I use Google to search (not logged into any particular account) I also change the city/state location to one I pick randomly because if I continue to search with my default city/state then my site will be returned to me in my serps (even after ccleaning) at a higher position than it is really showing to other google users.

      Also, there use to be a bit of code you could place on your search string results page, hit enter and it would take away any personalization - that stopped working about 3-4 months ago....they want total control of the net and will probably soon have it.
      Signature
      Crazy Cheap Hosting Get Hosting for less than $2 per month + Free Domain Name Registration. Get Free SEO, Blogging and Internet Marketing Tips from the Solo Blogger.
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  • Profile picture of the author BAC
    Recently google apologies for tracking users information, this news i read on top ny news websites. Google was not following its own tos for its users.

    Thanks,
    VGM
    Signature

    Get Content Targeted Super Real Traffic to Boost your Adsense Revenue!

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  • Profile picture of the author contentwriting360
    Banned
    Hi WraithSarko,

    You don't need to create several user accounts. The first thing that you need to realize is that you're getting such Google tracking cookie because you might have installed a browser add-on that's associated to Google. What browser are you using? Search on Google and learn how to manage add-ons.
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