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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

#161

Post by oneloop »

madmax96 wrote: post #141
oneloop wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On the other hand, firefox is really sluggish.

> firefox is really sluggish Statements like this are very hard to quantify in a meaningful way. Especially on Windows, over a time interval I can notice a definite performance degradation of programs. Often times, completely deleting all program data and reinstalling seems to fix the problem. On GNU + Linux and macOS systems, I've noticed that Firefox is usually snappier to render pages. But I wouldn't go so far as…

I'm on Ubuntu. The installation isn't really fresh any more, but on a fresh installation, Firefox was sluggish. I only have 4gb RAM, but that seems acceptable for chrome.

Could you ELI5 Chromium's license to me? Is the whole thing open source, or just part? Can I build the whole thing myself, or does it rely on Google's magical binaries?

EDIT: also, smooth scrolling. If there's something that ruins my day is going on a browser with smooth scrolling. First world problems.

EDIT2: also, I'm struggling to remove add-ons. I know I have pocket installed because I see its icon on the top right, but it's showing up neither on Extensions nor on Plugins. Proof: http://i.imgur.com/ShUW5CK.png

EDIT3: manage to turn off smooth scrolling. Firefox is now skipping frames. Some times there's no difference (for example in google.com Firefox scrolls as well as Chrome.) Some times there's is a clear difference (for example, http://en.flossmanuals.net/chromium/ch008_installing-chromiu... Chrome is really smooth, while in Firefox there's noticeable jerking). Some times the experience is really REALLY bad (example, imgur)

Re: Google will use Chrome browsing data for ad tailoring

#162

Post by wtbob »

bad_user wrote: post #135
akerro wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Meanwhile, Firefox Sync encrypts your data with a password-derived key Didn't they drop it like 9months ago and moved to Firefox Sync?

The new system, Firefox Sync, is the one that encrypts your history with a password-derived key, by means of HKDF. Mozilla cannot decrypt and read your data.

> Mozilla cannot decrypt and read your data.

Completely false: they can if they want to. All they have to do is serve a new login page to you which transmits your password as well as the derived key. They control the login page, they control the JavaScript which derives the key. They can do it at any time, invisibly.

This is different from trusting them to make a trustworthy browser, because you download the browser once, while you may download the login page and associated JavaScript every time you login. They could target you, or all of their users, just once, or for a limited amount of time; unless you inspect the HTML & JavaScript source every single time you use your Firefox account you cannot be certain that they aren't being evil.

Firefox Sync is unacceptable for password — or any other private data — storage. This is a pity, since the old protocol was very suitable.

Re: Google will use Chrome browsing data for ad tailoring

#163

Post by nashashmi »

twsted wrote: post #156
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…

This is also my experience. And this is the second reason I use an ad-blocker everywhere. The first reason is that I can't stand being always tracked.

I always favored contextual ads. I turned off the ad networks once they started badgering me for things I was not looking for anymore, by disabling 3rd party internet cookies.

Re: Google will use Chrome browsing data for ad tailoring

#164

Post by nashashmi »

20andup wrote: post #110
dochtman wrote: post #79

Meanwhile, Firefox Sync encrypts your data with a password-derived key so that Mozilla can't even see your browsing history. Consider your choices.

I didn't realize how much data Google had on me until my search terms I used on my laptop was almost immediately available on my smartphone. I felt shocked and kind of stalked as well. The data especially on Android can easily be hacked if someone has the expertise. This made me think how easy it would be for stranger to learn everything about me through my data.

Expect it more in the future. Continuum and Continuity are just those very small attempts at bringing more data portability across technologies.

Re: Google will use Chrome browsing data for ad tailoring

#165

Post by nkrisc »

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…

I got married only two year ago yet Gmail keeps showing me ads about meeting mature singles (I'm not even 30) near me. Maybe it's because of all the viagra spam I get?

Re: Google will use Chrome browsing data for ad tailoring

#166

Post by noxToken »

PunchTornado wrote: post #147
neotek wrote: post #142

You can't go to Google and say "I want to buy a dataset (anonymous or otherwise) of males aged between 18 to 34 who likes cars and drink beer". You can go to Google and say "here's an ad I want you to show to a group of people, none of whom will ever be identifiable to me in any way, who are male aged between 18 to 34 who like cars and drink beer." That's what I don't understand about all this outrage - nobody, not F…

because it is very annoying to see everywhere on your computer ads for pillows for a month only because you've searched for pillows on google shopping. and i'm not talking only about browser, but every app that has ads, like skype. I was going crazy. never search on google shopping again on chrome.

This isn't meant to be snarky, but what ads do you want to see? If you don't care for ads in the first place, does it even matter what is advertised? NSFW and personal material withstanding of course.

Edit: To better explain, I also don't care for ads. Thus, I don't care if all my ads are from products that launched 5 years ago. Or for a new Hotmail account. Or a new PalmPilot. I would eventually notice, but I'd just shrug and continue browsing.

Re: Google will use Chrome browsing data for ad tailoring

#168

Post by SquareWheel »

ge0rg wrote: post #154
SquareWheel wrote: post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Does that also work for the Android build? Sounds like an incentive to finally try out sync...

It looks like it's doable with a rooted device. See section "Setting Flags for Chrome on Android".

http://www.chromium.org/developers/how-tos/run-chromium-with...

A successful experiment may be deserving of a blog post.

Re: Google will use Chrome browsing data for ad tailoring

#169

Post by swsieber »

xorcist wrote: post #144
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…

Very true. Customer data is big business, yet year after year it fails to deliver. Another classic is the repeated ads for the dish washer I just bought, for months at a time. There are glimpses of potential with targeted search results. It can be practical, for example when I search for open source software named after a common word. So the technology is there, but isn't remotely used to its potential. My only guess…

This is what happens to me - I need to make a purchase of some sort, and so I research for a couple days before purchasing. Then after purchasing, I see ads for said item for a while. Even on Amazon, where I bought the thing.

So close, yet so far...

Re: Google will use Chrome browsing data for ad tailoring

#170

Post by dajohnson89 »

neotek wrote: post #142

You can't go to Google and say "I want to buy a dataset (anonymous or otherwise) of males aged between 18 to 34 who likes cars and drink beer". You can go to Google and say "here's an ad I want you to show to a group of people, none of whom will ever be identifiable to me in any way, who are male aged between 18 to 34 who like cars and drink beer." That's what I don't understand about all this outrage - nobody, not F…

Even if the data is anonymized, isn't there a risk of a data leak, someone inferring your identity based on your browsing preferences? Like imagine someone who lives in a small town who's really into model railroads, and nobody else around is. Whoever from xyz location has done lots of browsing about model railroads, is likely that person and now we can see what else he/she's been browsing.
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