Personal Search… a Matter of Trust

Written by: Terry Van Horne | December 9, 2009

I am a product of the sixties so inherently think all Government and big biz is fcked beyond practical use, unfortunately, the alternatives are worse so we “play along” out of self preservation.

I literally don’t vote because I believe we shouldn’t encourage government by participating lest they think I actually support the silliness. I don’t trust big biz or “the Man” because they think they know what’s best for me, when in reality, it is they think what is best for them is best for me, hence, my trepidation around privacy and the internet being left to big biz.

Early this week Google announced that Personal Search would be on whether you are logged in to your surf history or not. Google changed search history to surf history which should be an indicator of what they may do for metrics in Personal Search. Basically they won’t be restricted to just using query history but also activity off the Google site.

This is big because with the Double Click and AdSense ad networks, Google Search partners, the Toolbar, cookies, Google DNS, and Gmail Google’s ability to track a user’s online activity is extensive and in many cases does not require cookies. I’m basically assuming if you have a gmail account what you click and read is basically “fair game”…. regardless of TOS. Why? Read on.

It’s also why I have no webmaster account or gmail. I considered Gmail until I saw the fckers did not publicly post an abuse address, cursed them and closed the browser. The day I’m required to have a Google email is the day I find another way to make a buck.

WebmasterCentral turns inspired SOSG’s into uninspired cookie cutters learning the Google way to build websites. The information you get from WMC I can get somewhere else or it is data the “SEO system” has convinced you is needed. Most of it just takes your eye off the ball!

The Toolbar, cookies and G DNS are easy services to ignore or delete. The tracking via the ad network near impossible unless you want to remove several of the nets top properties from your surfing. Also keep in mind that with many people on cable modems static IPs are more common because most routers/cable modems will keep renewing their “IP lease”.

This could be the “secret cookie” I’ve read about elsewhere. Seems SEO’s really don’t need to know how the web works… they can make up stuff like Google has “secret cookies”. Yeah it’s called tracking static IPs nitwit. I would strongly advise you learn how cookies work.

Yes, you can opt out, however, IMO, I shouldn’t have to opt out of a service that is basically invading my privacy. There was a time when people’s privacy meant something to Internet companies… seems those days are gone lately, what with Yahoo! willingly providing info about users accounts to police… and charging for it (now that is inspired monetizing of your free service!;-).

That said, I can opt out and likely will set up some kind of proxy, not because I do anything wrong, more because Google’s CEO recently said “If you have something that you don’t want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn’t be doing it in the first place”. WTF ever heard of the right to Privacy? You understand sir it is a right from birth not something I have to earn.

He basically said I have no right to expect privacy. Opt out is BS only shite services that want to dupe you use! No? Think about the services that do it? Of course the absurdity of it would mean no one with a functioning brain agrees to enable invasion of their privacy so… “we make it opt out” and then whisper it in the corner… not too loudly someone may hear!

Don’t know about you, but, that quote scares the begeezes out of me, using the patriot act as an example of the need for it is Absurd? Ludicrous? Grasping at straws?

Mr. Schmidt thinks of national security when he thinks of the Patriot Act, me I think of the degradations and atrocities the Patriot Act, to some degree, enabled to be committed at Guantanamo Bay in the name of national security. Judge for yourselves.  Please don’t punish me Mr. Google! #JusSayin

Topics: Ranting Corner, SEO, Technology | View Comments