[OFF-TOPIC] Google is spying on you! 🧐

Question

Type this on Chrome browser if you don't believe... using your android phone
[history.google.com]
Every single thing you do.
It can even record what you say all the time!!

Answer 1

But I would like to ask about the voice recording part. Why does it require to record your voice all the time even without your permission? That is not something to be sold to the advertisers??

Answer 2

There's a reason most of us prefer Google simply because we can get what we need by providing a few keywords.

But how Google know what exactly we are looking for? — Studying user behavior. 🔍

Otherwise searching engine is as boring as a yellow book. 😉

Answer 3

As with most large companies, yes, Google does look at and track everything that you do. This doesn't necessarily mean that there's someone literally sitting at their computer all day watching what you do but they do keep all of the information. With that information, they usually sell it to other companies so that they know what you're looking for and what you're doing, allowing for them to put up ads related to that. As this may seem illegal, it is apart of the terms of service when you first sign up for a Google account, but literally no one reads that which is why you may not know about it. Furthermore, a lot of other large companies do this too such as Facebook and Amazon.

Also, history.google.com is used as sort of a history of what you do on your phone (similar to your browser history). They don't use the information from there per se and it is more just for your own personal use.

Answer 4

@Pro_exe It was actually you because of which all this started. Thanks for glowing my path.

Answer 5

Every website is spying on you. They track everything you do. Google is just doing the same as everyone else. They track what you do, hence cookies, and browser history. They even keep it after you delete cookies and such. The only point of deleting your cookies is to clearing your browser history, but it’s still all there, just invisible to most.

Answer 6

@Infinity Roberry? Maybe not. Remember all of this is KNOWN and LEGAL. Don't you remember their privacy policy claiming that they won't use these intrusions to track you but protect you against potential account thieving and make money? We can't know what they use those data for, or even if they take more than they say.
The only sure thing is that either you don't care about your privacy, either you protect yourself.
Personally I choosed to protect myself with little tips, like choosing another browser than Google Chrome (Firefox is the best in my opinion, but take the version 56, latest are lame...), another search engine (DuckDuckGo is fine but you must know what you're looking for, their search suggestion/autocompletion bot is completely dumb), use Tor to anonymise your websearches, don't link a Google account to your mobile anymore, use Youtube and other of Google services as guest as more as possible...
Then you'll be fine :)

Answer 7

The elexa or google home or whatever those things are called, record everything you do. That’s why I don’t have one. Even though I use browsers, and I’m sure they can’t do anything with the recordings, I just don’t want it.

Answer 8

Man. If you are worried about Google because they record your researches (typed and voice) then you'll be even more when you will understand that when you link a Google account to your Android phone, EVERYTHING is recorded.
Maybe not exactly everything, but which app you were on at a certain time is already a big thing, and also what you were doing using their services (YouTube, Drive and so on)

Answer 9

@Jan Markus Remember custom ROMs on Android.

Answer 10

Jan, that principle currently works for other purposes (not so vague). Especially because of the vagueness of the term in many cases.

Privacy on the web is currently almost impossible. We are always sharing personal information in some way or another.

PS: The source code of DuckDuckGo is private (largely), so you really do not have a certainty that they do not do something like google, lol

Answer 11

Is it really that much of an issue? I mean, how many of you have done something you don’t want to be known? It’s not that big of a deal. They’re just collecting data. I have used Firefox, safari, and such many times, but it doesn’t matter does it?

Answer 12

Even though they do track what you do on most search engines, there are laws prohibiting them from using it in ways that could harm or embarrass you. What information they collect from you cannot be released to the public without consent, and the only reason they would really need to use it is to make you more aware of certain products or companies that may be what you need. Of course, as Jan said, employers will look through you're online profiles to try and find anything that may not allow you to get the job, but larger companies are unable to give them any information that you have not posted yourself online.

Answer 13

I knew this all along