Ask HN: Is My Google Analytics Tracking Code Private?

#1

Post by sockey » Mon, Aug 22, 2011, 8:19 PM UTC

Is there anyway a novice or expert could figure out who I am based on my Google Analytics tracking code?

I've searched around and delved into the GA documentation, but haven't found anything that references the tracking codes privacy.

Re: Ask HN: Is My Google Analytics Tracking Code Private?

#2

Post by ianhowlett » Mon, Aug 22, 2011, 8:52 PM UTC

Hi. If I can see your GA tracking code on a website, and I then go and check WHOIS and see who owns the site with that GA tracking code, there's a chance that if I see that GA tracking code somewhere else I could figure out that it's you. But I guess I'd really have to be looking, almost stalking you!

Re: Ask HN: Is My Google Analytics Tracking Code Private?

#3

Post by adamclerk » Mon, Aug 22, 2011, 8:53 PM UTC

The tracking code will usually be in the source of the page you've used it on.

var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker('UA-XXXXXXX-Y')

It's not going to be very private.

Re: Ask HN: Is My Google Analytics Tracking Code Private?

#4

Post by sockey » Mon, Aug 22, 2011, 8:55 PM UTC

adamclerk wrote: post #3

The tracking code will usually be in the source of the page you've used it on. var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker('UA-XXXXXXX-Y') It's not going to be very private.

I understand the code it publicly viewable. I want to know if it's possible to connect the UA code to the Google account that it belongs to?

Re: Ask HN: Is My Google Analytics Tracking Code Private?

#5

Post by dman » Mon, Aug 22, 2011, 8:59 PM UTC

sockey wrote: post #4

adamclerk wrote: post #3

The tracking code will usually be in the source of the page you've used it on. var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker('UA-XXXXXXX-Y') It's not going to be very private.

I understand the code it publicly viewable. I want to know if it's possible to connect the UA code to the Google account that it belongs to?

If you really care about it you can setup throwaway accounts.

Re: Ask HN: Is My Google Analytics Tracking Code Private?

#6

Post by jnorthrop » Tue, Aug 23, 2011, 7:32 PM UTC

I don't understand the question. A tracking code is definitively linked to a particular website. It is not linked to a person. Am I missing something?

Re: Ask HN: Is My Google Analytics Tracking Code Private?

#7

Post by mattgratt » Tue, Aug 30, 2011, 7:44 PM UTC

Yes. People use Blekko on GA and AdSense code to find who owns networks of sites.

The solution is to use a different throw-away account for each site.