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Google will use Chrome browsing data for ad tailoring

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Re: Google will use Chrome browsing data for ad tailoring

#111

Post by witty_username »

mthoms wrote: post #78
awqrre wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Features that communicate with Google made available through the compilation of code in Chromium are subject to the Google Privacy Policy." from https://www.chromium.org/Home/chromium-privacy

Any idea what specifically they are referring to? There is at least some "communication with Google" that could be considered innocuous. For example - accessing their Safe Browsing API (also used by Safari and Firefox).

Probably signing in with your Google Account on Chromium.

Re: Google will use Chrome browsing data for ad tailoring

#112

Post by SquareWheel »

whyagaindavid wrote: post #102
timothya wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To be fair, Chrome has exactly that feature to, and let's the user choose what they want.

Chrome does not have self-hosted server feature.

It does, but it's poorly documented and quite difficult to use. Use the flag --sync-url="" when launching Chrome, and I believe the server is run through chromiumsync.py.

Re: Google will use Chrome browsing data for ad tailoring

#113

Post by SquareWheel »

arkadiyt wrote: post #58
MichaelMoser123 wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

what about 'don't be evil'; have they silently changed the corporate motto, or is it now an 'opt-in' clause ? ( opt-in for the customers 'request that no evil be done to you', the customers are otherwise known as 'the product' https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2013/11/surveillance_... )

Google replaced "Don't be evil" with "Do the right thing": https://www.engadget.com/2015/10/02/alphabet-do-the-right-th...

That's not correct. Alphabet has the mantra "Do the right thing", but Google never changed theirs.

It's actually the very first line of their code of conduct.

https://abc.xyz/investor/other/google-code-of-conduct.html

Re: Google will use Chrome browsing data for ad tailoring

#114

Post by crottypeter »

zimbatm wrote: post #100
akerro wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think that's what I meant. Why is the new system better than the old one? There was a lot of FUD on reddit around it and I stopped following the news. Thanks for update.

The line of thinking was that people are used to email+password (as oppose to what was before). I think that was the right move. The system is still end-to-end encrypted, if you reset your password it will also reset the storage (by definition).

> reset the storage

Does that mean you lose your history when you change your password? Or just that you need to use the new password to access (old and new) data?

Re: Google will use Chrome browsing data for ad tailoring

#115

Post by lmns »

Sylos wrote: post #87
timothya wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To be fair, Chrome has exactly that feature to, and let's the user choose what they want.

Is Chrome's sync not a blob? I tried to find information about it online, but the official documentation [0] is less than helpful to say the least. I'm guessing when they say "stuff", that's a euphemism for blob, but fuck if I know, maybe they are just trying to be hip in their documentation. After all, it's also business time, in case you didn't know. Currently downloading the Chromium source code, to see if that's…

At least in the Debian builds of Chromium the sync component is included. So I guess it's open source?

Re: Google will use Chrome browsing data for ad tailoring

#116

Post by ungzd »

corecoder wrote: post #103

I don't know, I'm starting to think that all this is either propaganda for ad sellers or a prank Google, Facebook et all are doing to me. Google has my full search history, all my hangout chats, all my e-mails, and yet: * On my Android, it keeps proposing ultra boring "stories to read" about soccer, wannabe celebrities and YouTube videos of stupid teenagers doing stupid things; * With the sole exception of when the s…

And as I remember, it worked much better in 2005 when Adwords used only page information, not visitor's.

Re: Google will use Chrome browsing data for ad tailoring

#118

Post by SquareWheel »

mthoms wrote: post #81
Sylos wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know of http://ruinmysearchhistory.com/ . That however searches more for things like "how to appear funny", "why are my thumbs uneven", "am i lack toast and tolerant" or also "your youre difference".

Friendly warning to others: Do not blindly click on the link above without first reading what it does. Relevant thread: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11880008 TL;DR It may put some undesirable things in your search history and/or temporarily block you from Google.

Lordy, thanks for the warning. That's incredibly irresponsible of them.

Re: Google will use Chrome browsing data for ad tailoring

#120

Post by lensi »

wangweij wrote: post #18

While I am able to switch to another browser (I already did a long time ago), I don't believe I can avoid visiting sites "that show ads from Google". How much can Google collect from those sites?

The simple setting, most seem to be overlooking, is don't allow third party cookies. Voila.
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