Comforting or Creepy? Google to Provide a Monthly Report of What It Knows About You
- Posted on March 29, 2012 at 9:41am by
Liz Klimas
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We all know that online tracking is increasing but to what extent is your activity being watched? In an effort to be more transparent, Google is helping you “step back and take stock of what you’re doing online” with a new optional feature called Account Activity.
(Related: Google’s new privacy policy rolls out today despite opposition)
If you sign-up for the service, Account Activity will provide you with a monthly report of all your online activities using Google products. Here‘s an example from the company’s Public Policy blog post on the new feature:
For example, my most recent Account Activity report told me that I sent 5 percent more email than the previous month and received 3 percent more. An Italian hotel was my top Gmail contact for the month. I conducted 12 percent more Google searches than in the previous month, and my top queries reflected the vacation I was planning: [rome] and [hotel].
What an activity report will look like. (Image: Google's Public Policy Blog)
Here’s what the report will provide each month according to Google:
- Transparency and control
- Summarized data associated with each product you use when signed in to your account
- Links to change your personal settings.
According to the blog post, activating this service could in fact allow you more privacy online as it will give you insight about your Internet movements when you’ve been signed on to a Google account. Here’s another example of how the service could be useful:
For example, if you notice sign-ins from countries where you haven’t been or devices you’ve never owned, you can change your password immediately and sign up for the extra level of security provided by 2-step verification.
You can opt-in to Account Activity here.
This feature comes as the Federal Trade Commission issued a report this week calling for web users to be given more control over the information collected about them while online. Suggestions include more transparent data collection and a Do Not Track feature, which would allow users to prevent companies from monitoring movements on the web.
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Sniper48
Posted on April 6, 2012 at 9:57pmGoogle isn’t a company, it is a thinly disguised secret arm of the federal government. There is no such thing as privacy in America and there hasn’t been since the McCarthy days. It is safe to assume that the feds know any and all that you say or write, AND that they will used it to force you to give up even the appearance of freedom a little every day. Anyone remember when America WAS a free country?
Report Post »ValdostaMRA
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 3:25pmI just checked mine! I doesn’t know anything!!! WTF Google Fail…
Report Post »wntsmallgov
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 11:58pmGoogle, the new government agency for spying on American People. I use Startpage now.
Report Post »ZaphodsPlanet
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 11:07pmGoogle, “Don’t be evil…… because we’re evil enough for the both of us”…..:)
They’re trying to cover their asses people. I’m sure this whole thing is backfiring on them. If you use gmail…… “Don’t be stupid” by continuing to.
Report Post »dukestreet
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 12:10amI have a fiend who recommended gmail. I check out their policy and decided not to do so.
Report Post »friendfor truth
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 10:19pmIf anyone thinks this is harmless, you are deceived. You can‘t tell me that this won’t lead to an eventual invasion of a person’s privacy. It’s already bad enough with facebook and other similar sights. Do people honestly think that they can be online and have no risk of being tracked, watched, etc?? Even this very sight is probably monitored and observed by third parties. Anytime you are online, you are taking a risk.
Report Post »Balpit
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 7:17pmThose confidentiality and privacy policies better be airtight.
Besides, I rarely use Google, so…
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 5:25pmgoogle redirect…unseen…yahoo redirect…you can see them tracking you.
Google is in Picasa too…google is in alot of free programs that come with hardware…such as digital cameras that your purchased and hooked up to your putter. Your firewall should catch those, if you know how to make the changes to your program.
I forget where the link is but you can request Google to remove all traces. They have name/address removal from the Google phone-book link…just google it. LOL
http://www.google.com/help/pbremoval.html
Are you a webmaster, (here is the link)? http://support.google.com/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=164734
That link has a google help feature to search out other ways to rid yourself of google…it’s a bloody mess…and then after that you have to go to ALL of the other search engines and coos that track, Ghost cookies that track..blah blah blah…
FireFox is pretty decent…just go to tools, open options, click on privacy, then click on exceptions and type in the web trackers that you want to exclude…with FF, add ghostery, add one click and clean tracks, add ISO cookie killer…(there are a few others that are helpful too)
This post is character limited, I can’t tell you everything…ha
Report Post »jhaydeng
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 6:26pmI would certainly like to “correct” them if something was wrong!
Report Post »jcldwl
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 6:36pmfirefox with the addons mentioned and if you want the type of searches you originally got with google before they started bubbling you then use duckduckgo as your search engine. It doesn’t appear they have been corrupted yet.
Report Post »Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 6:36pmIn case you still don’t realize that this website is just a money machine for Beck that feeds you fear mongering and red meat rabble rousing then install Ghostery and take a look at how many tracking bugs hit you when you come to this site and compare it to other sites. Most sites have 3 to 6. Some have none. This site has 25 to 30.
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 7:52pmjcldwl – Thanks man…excellent add on.
Yeah, GB has tons of ghost cookies.
Report Post »Tickdog
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 4:35pmThat would be one boring report…
Report Post »Windsong
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:42pmBecause of Google, I have resorted to the old way of researching. I go to the library and read. I know there are millions doing the same thing. Google is the perfect example of a company that did something extraordinary, then turned around and stabbed the people who supported them in the heart. As always…it was all about power. To heck with the lives they destroy.
Report Post »SUPPLY_SIDE
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 1:41pmGhostery blocks 19 trackers on this website alone…
Report Post »dont_drive_slow_in_the_left_lane_obliviot
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 2:06pmAt this moment it’s 21. Even msnbc and cnn only have 6. What’s up with that? Thank you Ghostery.
Report Post »SgtB
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 4:39pmJust installed Ghostery, I have taco on my laptop and it usually register ~ 13. Right now I see 26, way to go Blaze!
Report Post »IntegrityFirst
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 1:31pmSeriously, WHY do I need to know I sent 3% more email this month than last month? And for what trade off, so Google can own me?
NOPE.
Report Post »beebacksoon
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 2:42pmIntegrityFirst
Report Post »Google (and, perhaps, our govt.) is the ONLY one that would benefit from this info. Why would anyone, with just the minimal common sense required to function, would sign up for this??
Goldman-Sacs financial/marketing firm, has their fingers in Facebook’s (FB) info, since giving funding (bribe) to FB; and Robert Gibbs, former Obama press secretary, works for FB.
Hawkwing
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:21pmRead the article again.
Report Post »They collect the data wether you opt in or not, this simply allows you to see some what they collect.
Blamegirl
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 12:53pmIt‘s like we all know it’s going on, but we dont’ want to know to what extent. I think it’s far creepier what Target does with their marketing. They monitor in store customers on the internet and can tell when a woman is pregnant. That’s creepy.
Report Post »robinakilt
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 12:31pmHey Google “DON’T BE EVIL” I guess you forgot!
Report Post »Tigress1
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 11:02amWho asked them to do this? Who asked them to track us? Why have they bothered to find out how many emails I have sent or received? It means nothing, especially if they checked and saw that I have more than 2000+ UNOPENED emails! (Yeah, I’m one of THOSE people. Checking emails has never become part of my daily agenda. People who know me understand that they have to use the phone if they want to reach me!)
Report Post »FL_Catholic
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 4:17pmWho asked you to use free search site?
Who asked you to use their free email address(es)?
Who asked you to watch funny (or other!) videos on YouTube for free?
Nothing is free – it‘s just a matter of what you’re willing to spend: dollars or privacy points?
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 10:39amGoogle is evil
Report Post »Highland
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 12:32pmGoogle is uncomfortably friendly with Obama. Who wants Google to share info with the Obama Administration?
Report Post »Cyberfly
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 10:13amTotally creepy. I switched to Bing way back when Glenn first reported on Fox about Google collecting data on it’s users and refused to use any phones that were Android because it was tied to Google. I trust them as far as I can throw them.
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 10:40amWhy do you trust Microsoft?
Report Post »SgtB
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 4:23pmI also use bing, but sometimes I use Ixquick too. It isn’t that I “trust” Microsoft, but after hearing that Google actively pays homosexuals at a higher rate I decided that they wouldn’t get anymore of my advertising dollars.
Report Post »gryffn
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 10:01amIf you think Google will reveal ALL it knows about you, then I have some swampland and a bridge to sell you. I have moved to Gibiru for searches.
Report Post »13axes
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 9:57amGoogle is not to be trusted.I run a small computer shop and i will tell you the average Joe is computer illiterate.Stop using your real name,address,and phone # when signing up for free stuff on the internet,Google,Yahoo,Msn..,etc.Quit using google search,use duckduckgo or startpage,move your ie privacy slider up to medium high and block all third party cookies.Use Mozilla,with ad block plus and ghostery,instead of ie.Also google your own phone # and if it’s in the google phone book you can remove it,just type “google phone book opt out”
Report Post »13axes
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 10:17amalso uninstall the Google toolbar and Google desktop search,and any other toolbar installed,you do not need any toolbar,it just makes your browser run slower,and keeps undesirables from spying on you.most people are infected with spyware and malicious cookies and they don’t even know it.install superantispyware free edition and run a scan to remove the rest of the parasites from your computer
Report Post »gryffn
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 10:18amThanks 13axes. I just added duckduckgo to Firefox on the PC. Will check on my MBP if I can do the same.
Report Post »13axes
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 10:34amMicrosoft.com or time-a.nist.gov could possibly spy on you through your clock.double click your clock and click on internet time and uncheck the box.most people do not require this for there computer to function properly,i have had mine unchecked for 9 years and my clock is never off. i do not trust @.gov anything
Report Post »beebacksoon
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 2:50pm13axes
Report Post »Thanks for the tips. I’m one of those “average Joe”s. :)