What The Heck...How?
 

I just downloaded google chrome, on this new computer. I googled an addon I had on my old computer. And the thing i searched for...for the first time on this computer....was purple, which indicates I've searched for it before. How would google or google chrome know I searched for this, on a completely different computer?

Re: What The Heck...How?
 

Either you've signed in to Google or it's remembering your IP address. That would be my guesses.

Everything you've searched for, every website you visit leaves a trail.

Re: What The Heck...How?
 

It would have to be the address, I didn't put in my google information.

Re: What The Heck...How?
 

I was going to say IP addresses because Google keeps track of everything a person searches on the web. I mean everything. Every email too.

Re: What The Heck...How?
 

That's a pretty creepy thing, dontcha think? Every google search I've ever done, is permanently saved somewhere.

Re: What The Heck...How?
 

Mskes me think, just what have I googled in my lifetime?

Re: What The Heck...How?
 

Yep, but that's what makes the browser so valuable. They're not free for nothing. In Google, simply because you browse incognito doesn't mean that your Google history isn't recorded, it is, but it's just not recorded in a history file on your computer.

Re: What The Heck...How?
 

Yep. Creepy I agree. They then put together a pretty accurate profile of you.
Try googling the things you have searched for in the past and see what you come up with.

I googled my name a few times and found in the permanent web searches websites I went to like Ancestry.com and found questions I had asked many years ago.

Re: What The Heck...How?
 

Exactly. :)

Re: What The Heck...How?
 

Don't know if this has anything to do with it, but you might want to check this

Re: What The Heck...How?
 

I figured it out. I forgot google bought out youtube. So when I signed into my youtube...tahdah! Whew. I was seeing a sinister situation building up. I mean, it still is pretty bad, but not as bad. At least it isn't instantly recognizing me.

Re: What The Heck...How?
 

google.com/history. Wow. Here's a few things I searched for in march. Fat greek chick. Spongebob. How to make unlockable youtube accounts. This is sparta demotivational posters. XD All searched within 10 minutes. Where the heck was my mind?

Re: What The Heck...How?
 

I see nothing in those search terms which should cause you any problems!

Re: What The Heck...How?
 

I'm not saying it would cause problems. I searched for nothing illegal, I'm positive of that much. But back when I was doing drugs...I searched for all kinds of information on different kinds of drugs, I searched for the latest and greatest way to grow pot constantly, things of that nature. I can only imagine what a google employee would think when going through my search history. At least if they made it to the end, it would be "Hmmph looks like he's ok now. It seems he's found JESUS!"

Re: What The Heck...How?
 

So whats a good search engine to use aside from Google? Or ones they own?

Re: What The Heck...How?
 

Hydroponics, just sayin.


No searches on mohawks ?

Re: What The Heck...How?
 

Use incognito mode or a VPN.

Re: What The Heck...How?
 

eh, the next in line would be yahoo, well actually probably bing but thats as bad as google. yahoo was the front runner for years, i imagine they've gathered a nice database over the years. but to be honest, all these search engines keep lists. thats where spamware, spyware, and the like comes from. lists of peoples names, ip addresses, and search habits. i manage to forget the things i know about the internet after awhile to have a false sense of security. kinda like drug addicts pretend their lives arent miserable.

Re: What The Heck...How?
 

If you use the internet you are being tracked, it's that simple. I personally couldn't care less.. If you could see some of my searches you'd flip... I am interested in all kinds of things just for knowledge... I work in a profession that deals with delicate (and in other situations pornographic) parts of the anatomy. I also have five sons and a husband who sometimes use my computer... grandkids galore playing on it... I'm sure the best method for growing pot and sponge-bob have both been googled from here.... and yeah, hydroponics :)

Re: What The Heck...How?
 

I am amazed by the sophistication of the cookies they have these days. I can be doing a google search for something and for the next day or two advertisements for those items will appear all over the place while I am on google and other sites.

It is spooky almost as if they are reading your mind.

Re: What The Heck...How?
 

Well, basically they are. But they are just reading what your typing, which just so happens to be whats on your mind. :heeheehee

Re: What The Heck...How?
 

A pefect example happened just now. I clicked on a link on the drudge report that took me to a news article at The Daily Mail, a UK newspaper.

While reading the article on that site I noticed advertisements on both sides of the page for some of the gelato makers I was looking at on Amazon the other day. The ads were for Amazon so Amazon must have a cookie doing this.

Re: What The Heck...How?
 

I googled for growing hemp. I found that it was all imported and thought maybe it would make a good cash crop for the farm... alas, it is illegal even if no THC is produced...

No ads were generated by that search :)

Re: What The Heck...How?
 

Re: What The Heck...How?
 

Makes me want to go and delete every cookie off my computer! I don't know that it would do any good though....

It's not a good thought to know you're being followed everywhere you go in internet land. What kind of database do they have to keep up with every single person on the internet?

Re: What The Heck...How?
 

ROFL... no... and Don vetoed my hemp for textiles idea anyway... He says he does not want to have to keep up with the tresspassers who are too stoned to understand the signs that say you can't get high on hemp.

Re: What The Heck...How?
 

A big one?

My kid says that FB is not only tracking us buy has facial recognition capabilities too...

Ever wonder what all the 'red light' cameras are really about?

Re: What The Heck...How?
 

To be perfectly honest with you. They do have the capability to stalk you and record all kinds of information on you. By analyzing your search history and behavior over a period of time they can pretty much tell your age, sex, race, marital status, income, etc etc.

Now, here is the down low. Could they use this info for no good? Sure they can. Do they? I highly doubt it, right now anyway. Will there come a time as we move closer to the end that the powers that will be will use this info for no good, very likely.

For now, its used for nothing more than marketing. Period. As some have posted that they see ads pertaining to their search patterns, thats really what it is all about. They determine what things your looking for, what your interest are and then in turn try to supply marketing ads that may suit your interest. The companies they are marketing for pay them to do this. Its all about money and marketing, not some evil big brother, for right now anyway.

And its what the majority want. It narrows down the search results to suit you. Just like Google pulls your IP address, determines where you are located. Then when you search for Starbucks, instead of getting results from every Starbucks in the world, you will get the Starbucks that are local to your area. It uses all of your other info in the same manner. Its just about marketing.

Here is another example. I own a webdesign business. I have all of my clients websites signed up with Google Analytics. Analytics records things like how many visitors each site gets, what pages they go to, how long they are on the site, where they are located, whether they are on a computer or moble device, what browser they are using. Now, there is also a section that tells me what their most likely demographic is. I emphasize "most likely". This section tells me what is most likely their sex, race, age, income level, marrital status, number of children,etc. We in turn use these statistics to see what kind of demographics are most interested in that particular site,product, or service. When we see that, then we can emphasize or target that demographic more and/or see what we need to do to get the business of the demographics that are not coming to those sites.

Its just a marketing game, for right now anyway.

Re: What The Heck...How?
 

But you may have someone knocking on your door one of these days.

Re: What The Heck...How?
 

So... they are measuring my weakness... And targeting me to recieve information, not about things I need but things I might buy, if only the right shiney ad pops up at a confluence of frustration, fatigue, financial plenty and fuzzy judgement... and then whammo! that comfort item is right in-your-face close, ready to buy!

Things I need I obviously remember to buy all by myself... I mean google has never had to pop up a TP ad for me to be sure it goes in the basket every month.

I'm not sure I like it... but having to search through 1.3 million Starbucks to get a latte would probably not suit me either...

Re: What The Heck...How?
 

Yes... well providing fresh milk can cause that same issue here... so it is what it is... big criminal that I am.

Re: What The Heck...How?
 

I can only imagine what "lists" I'm on after buying AR, Ka-bar knife, and a tactical flashlight all within a few weeks.

Re: What The Heck...How?
 

The same ones as me... and I probably got a few extra ones for that hemp query. :heeheehee

Re: What The Heck...How?
 

LOL

I wouldn't doubt it! Data mining, while incredibly useful is also scary.

Re: What The Heck...How?
 

I will buy a gun and come running to that defense.