Caught the following
Previously, we only offered Personalized Search for signed-in users, and only when they had Web History enabled on their Google Accounts. What we're doing today is expanding Personalized Search so that we can provide it to signed-out users as well. This addition enables us to customize search results for you based upon 180 days of search activity linked to an anonymous cookie in your browser. It's completely separate from your Google Account and Web History (which are only available to signed-in users).
Implications?
Implications?
I predict the privacy experts having a field day lambasting Google over their tracking policies. For the rest of us, unless we get the magic key to unlock the secrets of the cookie it is just that, another cookie. Without the magical Google servers, or more importantly the Orwellian levels of information Google stores about us I think this new cookie will be no different than any other cookie.
I'm waiting for the first subpoena on Google to pony up historical search history based on a cookie. Because that's the implication for digital investigations. The examiner could potentially find a Google cookie and the investigator could follow that to get more info.
This may end up being just another tool or resource that some will know about and use, some will understand, and some will simply give a Naval Academy salute (shrugging shoulders) when asked about it.
I feel this is a slightly silly move on their part considering this.
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surely?