I am a bit paranoid when it comes to privacy policies and data protection. I also get a little freaked out by the way ads are tailored to conversations I am having by email. Mention caravanning in the Isle of Wight and suddenly banners are unfurling down the side of my email of caravans parked on the Isle of Wight.
And don’t even get me started on Facebook’s Timeline and the privacy issues there.
When Google sent through their recent email alerting me to the changes of privacy, I immediately had to take a look. You might want to know that Google collects information about you and makes inferences as to who you might be. From that information, it will partner with other sites so that you are targeted with the “relevant” ads. If you want Google to stop collecting this then you can opt-out. Nice to be asked beforehand though, ay.
If you go to this link:
https://www.google.com/settings/ads/onweb
You will see who Google thinks you are. To my horror, I, according to Google, am interested in fast food, pet food and maths (somewhat wide of the mark!). I am also, apparently, aged 45-54, and MALE. (I’m not. Younger and a lay-dee).
Did it get your demographic and interests correct?
Facebook Ads are just as bad. I mentioned in my info that I liked the 70′s prog-folk band “Caravan”, so I now constantly get adverts for awnings
Google thinks I’m male, aged 18-24, who likes punk rock and classical music…I can live with that!
Rock on! That’s waaaay cooler than Google’s perception of me!
Just checked what Google thinks of me:
In Firefox, my browser of choice, it doesn’t know anything about me
In Chrome, which I use for testing now and again – same
Why should it have so much on you and nothing on me ?
1) I don’t use google for email – no brainer really. Would you trust all your personal details to an advertising agency ?
2) I have firefox set to delete all cookies when I close it. Another no-brainer.
I do use some Google tools such as Webmaster Central, but it won’t be keeping any cookies about me.
3) I use the Adblock+ plugin, so I don’t get all those annoying adverts polluting the webpages I view
Am I paranoid ?
I don’t think so. I’m just careful with my personal data. Its the internet version of shredding bank statements before putting them in the recycling.
Great comments and advice John. Thank you. You are like the Milk Tray man. You leave no trace
Great article. Judging by all the foreign ladies who want to befriend me and send me personal photos, I am either male or batting for wrong team, but on Ipeekyou, they list my age, and that is not exactly something I want to shout out at the world.