How To Use Google And Still Remain Anonymous
Do you think Google is free? If you're thinking so, then you are wrong! You should keep in mind that there is somebody who is paying for all of its products, such as Gmail accounts, YouTube, or Google Maps.
And that somebody is none other than the advertisers.
Advertisers shell out thousands of dollars for their targeted audience.
In return, they come to know of the likes and dislikes of their audiences.
Each time you upload your preferences on to your Gmail account, Google stores them.
Google can market them to keen advertisers.
Web users like you don't have right to veto against it as you have already given your consent to Google to do it.
In light of this situation, you can't be a simple customer to this Big Brother of Search Engine community.
To be precise, you are a product.
This practice of doing business is taken for granted by most of the web users.
But, there is many a user who considers this practice to be creepy.
Few of them, however, know how to stop their data from being contributed to the Google collective.
Here are a few ways to make it possible.
Simply Start Looking for other option: This could be an easy way.
But, given the usage popularity, you can't afford to do so, simply saying! Still, you can explore the Search Engine market.
But, you need to ensure every time you check privacy policies of any such web services you select.
There are several search engines that are considered to be privacy-friendly search engines.
Some of them are Ixquick, Startpage, etc.
Despite the assurance of foolproof privacy protection by these search engines, you should look into it personally.
Read the Privacy Policy: The reality is majority of the web users can't imagine of not using Google.
However, if this is the case, what they can do at least is read the privacy policy of this search engine thoroughly.
Try to read between the lines of its charter stating privacy policies and terms and conditions.
Read them thoroughly to ensure that you are not accepting anything unknowingly.
Be Careful about your ways to sign in: Are you aware of the fact that your search results are being personalized? Thinking how does it take place? While searching or browsing YouTube, etc.
, your search results tend to get personalized with creating a Google account and signing into it.
Other than Gmail, Docs, and any such services where your search results are personalized by definition does not require signing in.
Still, there might be no respite for the web users using this search engine, because each time they use Google, it collects information from the system you are using! Scared? You don't need to be so as the way of tying that information to an individual user has yet not been introduced.
So, you can relax! Need to clear browsing history: Shortcut key-press, namely 'Ctrl + H', can give a relief to the users of Google account.
Upon pressing these keys, a window will open and it will give them an option to 'Clear all browsing data.
' With using this option, you can clear all your browsing history.
You can do it while you are already logged into your Google account.
Browse by concealing identity: There is no reason to worry about clandestine recording of browsing history for the web users who use the Google Chrome.
For, Google says that those who are browsing in incognito mode should know of the following facts: i) No recording of the web pages and downloaded files is done for the browsers browsing in incognito mode.
ii) Deletion of cookies is made at the closure of window while used in incognito mode.
iii) Changes to bookmarks and settings in this mode are saved.
Customization of Privacy Settings is possible: You can adjust your privacy settings.
To do it, you need to sign into Google account, click on your screen name and select 'Privacy'.
Upon selecting it, you can customize or adjust your settings for all Google products.
Although there are a number of search engines, Google tops all of them despite the fact that it markets data of its users to the keen advertisers.
But, it does not conceal anything from its users who can read its privacy policies and terms and conditions before using any of its products.
And that somebody is none other than the advertisers.
Advertisers shell out thousands of dollars for their targeted audience.
In return, they come to know of the likes and dislikes of their audiences.
Each time you upload your preferences on to your Gmail account, Google stores them.
Google can market them to keen advertisers.
Web users like you don't have right to veto against it as you have already given your consent to Google to do it.
In light of this situation, you can't be a simple customer to this Big Brother of Search Engine community.
To be precise, you are a product.
This practice of doing business is taken for granted by most of the web users.
But, there is many a user who considers this practice to be creepy.
Few of them, however, know how to stop their data from being contributed to the Google collective.
Here are a few ways to make it possible.
Simply Start Looking for other option: This could be an easy way.
But, given the usage popularity, you can't afford to do so, simply saying! Still, you can explore the Search Engine market.
But, you need to ensure every time you check privacy policies of any such web services you select.
There are several search engines that are considered to be privacy-friendly search engines.
Some of them are Ixquick, Startpage, etc.
Despite the assurance of foolproof privacy protection by these search engines, you should look into it personally.
Read the Privacy Policy: The reality is majority of the web users can't imagine of not using Google.
However, if this is the case, what they can do at least is read the privacy policy of this search engine thoroughly.
Try to read between the lines of its charter stating privacy policies and terms and conditions.
Read them thoroughly to ensure that you are not accepting anything unknowingly.
Be Careful about your ways to sign in: Are you aware of the fact that your search results are being personalized? Thinking how does it take place? While searching or browsing YouTube, etc.
, your search results tend to get personalized with creating a Google account and signing into it.
Other than Gmail, Docs, and any such services where your search results are personalized by definition does not require signing in.
Still, there might be no respite for the web users using this search engine, because each time they use Google, it collects information from the system you are using! Scared? You don't need to be so as the way of tying that information to an individual user has yet not been introduced.
So, you can relax! Need to clear browsing history: Shortcut key-press, namely 'Ctrl + H', can give a relief to the users of Google account.
Upon pressing these keys, a window will open and it will give them an option to 'Clear all browsing data.
' With using this option, you can clear all your browsing history.
You can do it while you are already logged into your Google account.
Browse by concealing identity: There is no reason to worry about clandestine recording of browsing history for the web users who use the Google Chrome.
For, Google says that those who are browsing in incognito mode should know of the following facts: i) No recording of the web pages and downloaded files is done for the browsers browsing in incognito mode.
ii) Deletion of cookies is made at the closure of window while used in incognito mode.
iii) Changes to bookmarks and settings in this mode are saved.
Customization of Privacy Settings is possible: You can adjust your privacy settings.
To do it, you need to sign into Google account, click on your screen name and select 'Privacy'.
Upon selecting it, you can customize or adjust your settings for all Google products.
Although there are a number of search engines, Google tops all of them despite the fact that it markets data of its users to the keen advertisers.
But, it does not conceal anything from its users who can read its privacy policies and terms and conditions before using any of its products.
Source...