Presumably this will also install the Google Updater so you can have 7 updater instances humming away in your task manager at any given time...
Google Analytics opt-out browser extension
41–50 of 52 posts
Re: Google Analytics opt-out browser extension
#42Earlier quoted context omitted.
Are you thinking of the "if you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place" quote? If you look at the full quote [0], it's actually quite reasonable and forthright. He's explicitly warning users that search engines, including Google, are subject to inquiries from law enforcement, and thus, should not be considered secure, rather than dismissing privacy out of…
No, I wasn't thinking of that quote but now I cannot remember the article. It was around the time Google released Buzz and I think it was he who hinted that how the users got it wrong. Am I wrong to think that it was him who said that?
Yeah, but Google should overthrow the government and set up one without subpoena power. Otherwise, they're just not doing all they could to protect my privacy.
(I think I'm being sarcastic.)
Re: Google Analytics opt-out browser extension
#43Earlier quoted context omitted.
Just disable Javascript, case closed.
How many people actually disable Javascript in their browser? I'm curious, because I find it essential to do almost anything online nowadays. Even voting on HN uses ajax.
About 2-3% of people.
http://visualrevenue.com/blog/2007/08/eu-and-us-javascript-d...
Re: Google Analytics opt-out browser extension
#44From a site owner's perspective, I don't like this. It's always been possible for a site owner to track certain things via access logs, I think Google should still allow for those basic metrics to be tracked via Google Analytics. While it's still possible to track site usage via logs, I don't think Google should give end users a way to bypass the wishes of a site owner. If someone is using my site, I believe I have t…
don't think Google should give end users a way to bypass the wishes of a site owner You don't think users should have control over their own property? If someone is using my site, I believe I have the right to have access to certain usage information. You have the right to ask for that information. You have no right to compel the user to answer.
You have the right to ask for that information. You have no right to compel the user to answer.
The user has no right to view the site owner's content. The site owner therefore has the right to make provision of analytics data a prerequisite for access to content. No one's bothered to do so because the proportion of people who opt-out is currently quite small.
Re: Google Analytics opt-out browser extension
#45Waaiitaminute.. if I want to opt out from your information-gathering program I have to install something on my computer and constantly run it in perpetuity? I can't wait until mailing lists try this: "To unsubscribe from our list, please send email every 24 hours to keepunsubscribingme@___.com. Here's a webapp to join to simplify the process." or "Would you like Sears to stop sending these coupons to your house? Plea…
To be fair, in a way, you opt-in. The website owner chooses to install it on their website. You visit the website, with JS enabled. If you don't like that the website uses Google Analytics, you are free to not frequent the website anymore, or to turn of JS. Your mailing list or coupon metaphors really aren't the same. Instead, it would be more akin to buying things from Amazon, asking Amazon them not to send advertis…
I'm aware of the implementation issues. That's why I don't dislike the idea. But they're just that, implementation issues. Look at it from the user's perspective. I'm me, I'm right here. Stop remembering me everywhere I go. Get it done.
Imagine if you were told you'd keep getting telemarketer calls because 'it's too hard to take you out.' You wouldn't care how valid that argument is.
The prevalence of CCTV is a good analogy, yes. I understand why they need to exist, but they still creep me out. I just go through my day trying not to think about them. I suspect a lot of people do the same. This plugin creeps me out in the same way, it brings up something I'd rather ignore.
Re: Google Analytics opt-out browser extension
#46Earlier quoted context omitted.
don't think Google should give end users a way to bypass the wishes of a site owner You don't think users should have control over their own property? If someone is using my site, I believe I have the right to have access to certain usage information. You have the right to ask for that information. You have no right to compel the user to answer.
You have the right to ask for that information. You have no right to compel the user to answer. The user has no right to view the site owner's content. The site owner therefore has the right to make provision of analytics data a prerequisite for access to content. No one's bothered to do so because the proportion of people who opt-out is currently quite small.
The site owner therefore has the right to make provision of analytics data a prerequisite for access to content.
Agreed. I just object to the imputation that it's wrong to provide users with the ability to not provide that data if they so choose.
Re: Google Analytics opt-out browser extension
#47Earlier quoted context omitted.
No, I wasn't thinking of that quote but now I cannot remember the article. It was around the time Google released Buzz and I think it was he who hinted that how the users got it wrong. Am I wrong to think that it was him who said that?
No, but I also don't disagree with him. He was right for the most part. More importantly, nothing has been done to fix the problem. Everyone blamed Google, but few people have actually attempted to fix the problem of privacy, or even offer up solutions. At the end of the day, Google has done more good for privacy then all the users screaming at them.
@jasonlotito Yes, I do agree that they are doing more for privacy than the rest.
Re: Google Analytics opt-out browser extension
#48From a site owner's perspective, I don't like this. It's always been possible for a site owner to track certain things via access logs, I think Google should still allow for those basic metrics to be tracked via Google Analytics. While it's still possible to track site usage via logs, I don't think Google should give end users a way to bypass the wishes of a site owner. If someone is using my site, I believe I have t…
Google Analytics and any JavaScript based analytics can only ever be regarded as indicative. If you think it measures your whole audience you're wrong. People might not finish load the page for example. Or they've ad-blocked the ga.js. Or they are using NoScript. Or they're using an accessibility layer. It may be the majority of your audience, but I'm fairly sure that even with this add-on/extension that GA will stil…
>Or they've ad-blocked the ga.js.
That's what I've been doing. I've simply been using AdBlock Plus to prevent anything from Google Analytics from loading. I found that Google Analytics would often take the longest of any element to load, causing my browser's progress bar to spin indefinitely instead of finishing the page. Blocking Analytics entirely got around this annoyance.
In any case, it's nice of Google to provide this to the privacy-conscious.
Re: Google Analytics opt-out browser extension
#49Or for the mildly more paranoid, block it entirely; just add the following to /etc/hosts: 127.0.0.1 www.google-analytics.com 127.0.0.1 ssl.google-analytics.com
Doesn't that slow down and/or break a bunch of sites?
You should get an immediate Connection Refused if there's no one listening on 80/443.
Re: Google Analytics opt-out browser extension
#50Earlier quoted context omitted.
Google Analytics and any JavaScript based analytics can only ever be regarded as indicative. If you think it measures your whole audience you're wrong. People might not finish load the page for example. Or they've ad-blocked the ga.js. Or they are using NoScript. Or they're using an accessibility layer. It may be the majority of your audience, but I'm fairly sure that even with this add-on/extension that GA will stil…
> Or they've ad-blocked the ga.js. That's what I've been doing. I've simply been using AdBlock Plus to prevent anything from Google Analytics from loading. I found that Google Analytics would often take the longest of any element to load, causing my browser's progress bar to spin indefinitely instead of finishing the page. Blocking Analytics entirely got around this annoyance. In any case, it's nice of Google to prov…
Are you sure you weren't experiencing this bug?
https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=487638