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(@adampski)
Posts: 29
Eminent Member
Topic starter
 

Many of you know what I'll be talking about but in case you don't, take a look at this link and sign into your Google account

https://history.google.com/history/lookup?hl=en

Since the creation of my Google account, November 2010, I've made nearly 13,000 Google searches. Nearly 12 p/day. I found that information quite astonishing and interesting; knowing this information demonstrates Google have kept record of my activity all along, and possibly shows how naive I am by relying on internet sources, and not paper/hard-back literature. eyeroll

I've been thinking today about using a VPN, in order to secure my online anonymity. Whilst in the quest of choosing a suitable VPN provider, I started questioning myself as to why I felt the need to do this. I started to think maybe I was becoming paranoid? I also questioned that why should I pay for a VPN service when I'm giving this information to Google anyway? Who under recent scandals are giving this data to those who I don't want to share it with anyway.

This kind of thought sprouted by this article by The Guardian. I too asked my Family today (prior to discovering the article) on their thoughts of GCHQ's and NSA's actions, and explicitly said they had natural trust in these agencies to do the 'right thing' with their data. I'm aware of how the internet works, and I also appreciate interception is the most effective way to obtain information. However, the principle persuades me to start protecting my online identity.

Do you guys have this Google Web History feature enabled, or disabled? Which ever your answer, why?
If I sign up for a VPN, and keep this Google Web History feature on, am I defeating the object? If I disable, I'm worried I will unfortunately lose out on some cool features provided by Google, as being a student I can benefit greatly by controlled search results.

 
Posted : 21/10/2013 12:49 am
Adam10541
(@adam10541)
Posts: 550
Honorable Member
 

don't sign in to your google account when you search )

 
Posted : 21/10/2013 5:51 am
(@adampski)
Posts: 29
Eminent Member
Topic starter
 

don't sign in to your google account when you search )

Highly impractical, especially on my Android devices!

 
Posted : 21/10/2013 2:51 pm
jhup
 jhup
(@jhup)
Posts: 1442
Noble Member
 

How do you think a VPN will protect your privacy on Google, if you are still logged into Google (since it keeps track of your search history by tying it to your account, not just IP)?

It is like saying no one can figure out where you work, because you vary your route. Yet you publish your work address in the yellow pages (for under 20 replace it with Yet you publish your work address in your e-mail signature)…

[…] I've been thinking today about using a VPN, in order to secure my online anonymity. Whilst in the quest of choosing a suitable VPN provider, I started questioning myself as to why I felt the need to do this. I started to think maybe I was becoming paranoid? I also questioned that why should I pay for a VPN service when I'm giving this information to Google anyway? Who under recent scandals are giving this data to those who I don't want to share it with anyway. […]

 
Posted : 21/10/2013 5:15 pm
(@adampski)
Posts: 29
Eminent Member
Topic starter
 

How do you think a VPN will protect your privacy on Google, if you are still logged into Google (since it keeps track of your search history by tying it to your account, not just IP)?

It is like saying no one can figure out where you work, because you vary your route. Yet you publish your work address in the yellow pages (for under 20 replace it with Yet you publish your work address in your e-mail signature)…

[…] I've been thinking today about using a VPN, in order to secure my online anonymity. Whilst in the quest of choosing a suitable VPN provider, I started questioning myself as to why I felt the need to do this. I started to think maybe I was becoming paranoid? I also questioned that why should I pay for a VPN service when I'm giving this information to Google anyway? Who under recent scandals are giving this data to those who I don't want to share it with anyway. […]

Yes, I know. Hence the questions I raised towards the end of my post. roll

 
Posted : 21/10/2013 5:23 pm
jaclaz
(@jaclaz)
Posts: 5133
Illustrious Member
 

As a side note, why exactly do you think that since all the NSA revelations a relatively little used search engine experienced an increase in traffic (almost instantaneously doubling and nearly tripling searches)?
https://duckduckgo.com/traffic.html

https://duckduckgo.com/

jaclaz

 
Posted : 21/10/2013 5:33 pm
(@adampski)
Posts: 29
Eminent Member
Topic starter
 

As a side note, why exactly do you think that since all the NSA revelations a relatively little used search engine experienced an increase in traffic (almost instantaneously doubling and nearly tripling searches)?
https://duckduckgo.com/traffic.html

https://duckduckgo.com/

jaclaz

Cool! Thanks for sharing that with me Jaclaz. Something for you too, if you haven't already became aware of it…

http//someonewhocares.org/hosts/

 
Posted : 21/10/2013 8:51 pm
jaclaz
(@jaclaz)
Posts: 5133
Illustrious Member
 

Cool! Thanks for sharing that with me Jaclaz. Something for you too, if you haven't already become aware of it…

http//someonewhocares.org/hosts/

Thanks, didn't know about that specific hosts file resource, duly bookmarked. )

jaclaz

 
Posted : 21/10/2013 9:06 pm
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