Google announces privacy changes across products. And you can’t opt out.

Google announced yesterday that starting March 1st, they will require users to allow Google to follow and track all their search history and activities of Google services to get a "better picture" of how people use their products. Including Android phones.

This is some of their services:


Gmail
Google Earth
Google Maps
Google Wallet
Google Books
Google Docs
Google Calendar
Photo hosting
Blogger
YouTube
Chrome

Think about it. How is a website like Google or Facebook, one of the most profitable businesses in the WORLD making their money when their services are free?

They sell your info.

They have been doing this for a while but this takes it to a new level. Consider this bit from The Washington Post

"The move will help Google better tailor its ads to people’s tastes. If someone watches an NBA clip online and lives in Washington, the firm could advertise Washington Wizards tickets in that person’s Gmail account.

Consumers could also benefit, the company said. When someone is searching for the word “jaguar,” Google would have a better idea of whether the person was interested in the animal or the car. Or the firm might suggest e-mailing contacts in New York when it learns you are planning a trip there."

Wtf? Invasive much? That is no excuse to force people into agreeing with this.

But hey that's my opinion.

So what can you do about this?

• Switch to Firefox and get the addons Flashblock, Adblock Plus, and Better Privacy for starters.
• Start using other search engines like Startpage that uses blocks out all identifiers and uses Googles powerful search database.
• Use "burner" accounts for everything, keeping your real accounts for when you need them.
• Drop gmail and use places like Hushmail
• Get a different phone like a Nokia N8 or N9 for you smartphone types or the good old Feature phones with integrated twitter, facebook, web, email, music etc with needing a google account.

This is just a few to get you started. You can also check out THIS for information on staying hidden online via proxies and VPN's.


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I wont know what it is all the sudden with governments and companies wanting to snoop and pry into out daily lives but its getting pretty out of hand.

Google accepting government data requests

"Google reports that it complied with almost all (93%) of the 5,950 requests for user information in the United States. In all, the law enforcement authorities demanded access to more than 11,000 accounts"

Important:
ACTA - Worse then SOPA/PIPA

How to bypass Internet Censorship SOPA/ACTA