Google knows where we are, and so do advertisers • Hacker News Board

Re: Google knows where we are, and so do advertisers

#121

Post by harry-wood » Thu, Nov 12, 2020, 1:40 PM UTC

I can recommend OpenStreetMap alternatives mentioned at the end of the article. I'm not sure why it says they "still collect data". Pretty sure OsmAnd and Maps.ME are not collecting data in any surprising/evil ways (particularly as they can work entirely offline!)

The article says they "just aren’t as good" which obviously isn't very specific, but if you live in an area where the map detail doesn't seem so good, then you're in luck. Adding details of your neighbourhood to OpenStreetMap is a lot of fun! Might seem like on odd way of looking at things, but seriously. You should try it. Contribute to a not-for-profit free and open map of the world!

Re: Google knows where we are, and so do advertisers

#122

Post by Kelamir » Thu, Nov 12, 2020, 1:40 PM UTC

Does removing Google-related apps(via ADB, for example) prevent one from being tracked by Google?

For example, I've recently removed "Google Play Services" and much of Google stuff has disappeared. In settings of location, before I removed the app, it was mentioned that Google collects location data for something. Now it does not say so, with the app being gone. Does it mean Google no longer collects it, or is Google somehow app-independent, and there's no way of avoiding their grasp?

Re: Google knows where we are, and so do advertisers

#123

Post by prepend » Thu, Nov 12, 2020, 1:42 PM UTC

dmortin wrote: post #118

submeta wrote: post #25

I am about to delete Google Maps on my iPhone. Are all those issues valid on an iPhone as well or does Apple limit it‘s privacy evading features? Edit: Done. Deleted it. Now if only I had an alternative to Garmin Connect. Love my fitness watch (Garmin Fenix), but hate the way they collect data about me. And no alternative.

> I am about to delete Google Maps You could just turn off location history in the settings.

I did this but it’s annoying because there are limited features with it off. And Maps bugs me every time to turn it off, there’s no way for me to decline forever or note my preference.

So it’s like having pop up ads.

The limited functionality is also frustrating as you can’t even save locations with search history turned off.

Google Maps product designers don’t care about good UX, they care about collecting data from users. They explicitly design bad interfaces into their products to drive behavior.

Re: Google knows where we are, and so do advertisers

#124

Post by prepend » Thu, Nov 12, 2020, 1:42 PM UTC

izacus wrote: post #59

mnd999 wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I did this and I don't miss it. Apple Maps is good enough these days.

Apple Maps of course collects a lot of the exact same data (make sure you double check their settings. But you could always disable location history for Google Maps as well.)

Apple Maps doesn’t sell that data to advertisers. And they collect much less than Google.

Re: Google knows where we are, and so do advertisers

#125

Post by stinos » Thu, Nov 12, 2020, 1:42 PM UTC

feralimal wrote: post #96

randomsearch wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> They were planned to make your private information into a commodity. Are you seriously suggesting then when Apple launched the iPhone it was a plan to spy on you?

Did you ever wonder about the discrepancy in tech that occurred at that time the first iPhone appeared? We were all using desktops or fairly clunky laptops. Then, out of nowhere, we have touchscreens, cameras, maps, etc AND the power of a desktop machine, in a device that's 1/20th the size! It was such a staggering leap! I think phones were technology that was so far ahead of what we were prepared for, we had no mean…

It was such a staggering leap!

In my memory this was a bit different though, or more nuanced at least. There was progress towards smartphones starting halfway the 90s, then somewhere around 2000 there was internet access and the first devices with mail/GPS maps etc came out. Then the first iPhone came, and indeed it was a big step, but cdefinitely not out of nowhere: most or all of the tech itself was already there. Just less polished and not always all of it in the same device.

Re: Google knows where we are, and so do advertisers

#126

Post by hutzlibu » Thu, Nov 12, 2020, 1:53 PM UTC

absolutelyrad wrote: post #109

tabs_masterrace wrote: post #57

The number of government requests for user information is actually scary: https://transparencyreport.google.com/user-data/overview So Google handed over info on 175k accounts in the last half of 2019 alone? It seems it's becoming common practice to routinely pull citizens data, without much of a warrant and without the target's knowledge. There used to be a thing called secrecy of correspondence, preventing governmen…

> https://transparencyreport.google.com/user-data/overview WTF? This makes me extremely uncomfortable for some reason. There was some hope in mind that Snowden was exaggerating but this is just insane. It feels like liberty has failed. There's no other option but to give in and accept. I submit to the overlords, but I'm not happy about this.

Why do you give up, because other people know more about you, than you thought?

Maybe giving up on the "nobody must ever know", but maybe not in general?

There are still quite some steps from here to 1984, despite people dramatizing.

Re: Google knows where we are, and so do advertisers

#127

Post by izacus » Thu, Nov 12, 2020, 1:55 PM UTC

prepend wrote: post #124

izacus wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple Maps of course collects a lot of the exact same data (make sure you double check their settings. But you could always disable location history for Google Maps as well.)

Apple Maps doesn’t sell that data to advertisers. And they collect much less than Google.

Last I checked Google didn't sell data to anyone either. I'm also interested in the claim that Apple Maps collects less data in this respect - they both report your current location for traffic analysis and have your day-to-day movement option available (the same that powers Find My Friends on iOS).

Are you sure you're just not rationalizing Apples collection? It's kinda important to be realistic when it comes to privacy and not be mislead by loud marketing.

Re: Google knows where we are, and so do advertisers

#128

Post by chopin » Thu, Nov 12, 2020, 1:57 PM UTC

dvfjsdhgfv wrote: post #81

c2xlZXB5Cg wrote: post #52

I miss the times when they needed to trick you into installing spyware. We now have fullstack client and server side malware built-in. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claria_Corporation

I also miss the times when Microsoft asked us if we want to send them a bug report when an app crashed. Today they feel they can send all they want both ways.

That was the point where I retreated from Microsoft. Couldn't be happier.

Re: Google knows where we are, and so do advertisers

#129

Post by rainingcatndogs » Thu, Nov 12, 2020, 2:22 PM UTC

inquirerofsorts wrote: post #53

tpmx wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The combination of occasional GPS/Wifi location data and continuous IP data is pretty powerful though.

There's a setting hidden away in android allowing apps to scan local wifi/bluetooth networks even when wifi is turned " off ". Enabled by default of course.

What settings is that?

Re: Google knows where we are, and so do advertisers

#130

Post by texasbigdata » Thu, Nov 12, 2020, 2:24 PM UTC

absolutelyrad wrote: post #109

tabs_masterrace wrote: post #57

The number of government requests for user information is actually scary: https://transparencyreport.google.com/user-data/overview So Google handed over info on 175k accounts in the last half of 2019 alone? It seems it's becoming common practice to routinely pull citizens data, without much of a warrant and without the target's knowledge. There used to be a thing called secrecy of correspondence, preventing governmen…

> https://transparencyreport.google.com/user-data/overview WTF? This makes me extremely uncomfortable for some reason. There was some hope in mind that Snowden was exaggerating but this is just insane. It feels like liberty has failed. There's no other option but to give in and accept. I submit to the overlords, but I'm not happy about this.

This is bad math but there’s 220 million “elligible” Americans (not too young, not too old); if we assume 85% cellphone/ tech penetration that represents 0.1% of all Americans a year on napkin bar math.