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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

#201

Post by jlgaddis »

r3pl4y wrote: post #139
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 keep getting Ads about cars (probably because I'm 30 years old male) despite the fact that I've never even learned how to drive or been interested in cars in general... I assume their target grouping just isn't fine grained enough.

On 2015-08-12, early in the morning, I Googled the name of a local automobile dealership to find their web site. That afternoon, I bought a new truck and drove it home.

Nearly a year later, I am still seeing ads for that dealership as well as competing dealerships in my area.

Re: Google will use Chrome browsing data for ad tailoring

#202

Post by forgottenpass »

vu4374fv18 wrote: post #76
Brainix wrote: post #54

Dear 2016, You haven't figured it out yet, but we consider advertising unethical. Yours, 2066

Grandpa, I heard you were an activist back in the before-time, what did you do when they were burning the earth? Oh, I was mostly worried about how an advertising company was using my interests to decide whether to show me an ad for batteries or hair cream.

"And grandpa, what was great uncle vu4374fv18's fight?"

"He snarkily shitposted to the internet whenever someone cared about an issue that wasn't the most pressing societal issue at the time. Even if their profession brought them into closer proximity to one than the other."

Re: Google will use Chrome browsing data for ad tailoring

#203

Post by eeZi »

makomk wrote: post #178
fauigerzigerk wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But Google has created a perverse incentive here. They give me a ton of choices, so many and so vaguely explained that I couldn't possibly understand what they really mean and I get suspicous of everything they offer me. So what I do is disable everything without even thinking. Later when something isn't working as expected and it turns out it's because of one of those privacy settings, I start to think about whether…

Google also has an obnoxious "if we can't keep it, you can't either" approach to user data. For example, I have location history turned off for obvious reasons and tried using the Google Maps app. I wound up having to re-enter my destination several times due to accidentally doing something that cancelled the navigation and caused it to instantly forget the destination. As another example, Google's new Allo messaging…

I have location history turned off, yet it still shows me previous destinations (thankfully, I like that one).

Re: Google will use Chrome browsing data for ad tailoring

#204

Post by eeZi »

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.

Firefox is significantly less secure though. Chrome has its sandbox and a highly effective XSS auditor. Firefox has neither.

I do not appreciate this change, however, and I hope that they reconsider it.

Re: Google will use Chrome browsing data for ad tailoring

#205

Post by ajslater »

happyslobro wrote: post #197
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…

With Facebook ads, the price of impressions reflects FB's perception of the relevance of the ad to the targeted audience. It could be that most advertisers are just really fishing for that one in a million conversion that leads to a car sale, or a Viagra dependency (if that's even a thing).

If I 'like' one of my gay cousin's posts on FB, I get the most interesting underwear ads for the next 3 days.

I suspect it boils down to what the ad customers are willing to buy and what they're willing to buy isn't very creative. They buy "people who liked a gay dude's posts" not "People who Facebook knows are super gay and into flashy underwear".

Re: Google will use Chrome browsing data for ad tailoring

#206

Post by unholythree »

wtbob wrote: post #158
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.

> Firefox Sync encrypts your data with a password-derived key so that Mozilla can't even see your browsing history. Not quite true: the JavaScript (!) that derives the key is served from mozilla.org; at any time they could choose or be compelled to alter it so that all users' passwords, or a single targeted user's password, is sent to Mozilla or anywhere else. The new Sync protocol is an abomination; the old one was…

You can still use the old, self-hosted one but it's inconvenient to set up with the latest builds of Firefox. I just install version 28, sync it and then let Firefox update to the latest version. Hopefully they don't kill (the semi-hidden) legacy support for the old protocol.

Re: Google will use Chrome browsing data for ad tailoring

#207

Post by sixothree »

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.

>how easy it would be for stranger to learn everything about me through my data.

Isn't that pretty much what's happening with your data at google?

Re: Google will use Chrome browsing data for ad tailoring

#208

Post by sixothree »

detaro wrote: post #30
incrediblygood wrote: post #21

I recommend Opera. Same rendering engine as Chrome, but faster and with built-in ad blocking.

And is in the process of being sold to a chinese consortium. So probably not a better option for long :/ http://www.zdnet.com/article/1-2bn-opera-takeover-gets-go-ah...

Say it ain't so Opera...

Re: Google will use Chrome browsing data for ad tailoring

#209

Post by 20andup »

sixothree wrote: post #207
20andup wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

>how easy it would be for stranger to learn everything about me through my data. Isn't that pretty much what's happening with your data at google?

Yup. And all it takes is for one mistake/button for my data to be shared with other people.
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