Google Wants More People Logged In

[engine]

Google Wants More People Logged In [techcrunch.com]

Schmidt’s response essentially is that the Google’s search algorithm will absorb more realtime and social data over time: “With respect to social and realtime, we use complex signals to do ranking. Over time we will add realtime and social cues.” Some of this comes in the form of direct data feeds, such as Google gets from Twitter. But to really be social, search needs to be personalized to each individual’s own social stream.

Schmidt acknowledges as much: “We are quite convinced that produces a better search result for people who choose to give us that information. We want people to be more logged into Google.”

In other words, Google will give you better search results if you share your social data with them.

I tend not to log in as I don't really want to share everything all of the time.

I really would like Google to stop trying to second guess my search requirements.

[MrHard]

I remember seeing a search history somewhere in webmaster tools. That means people can potentially find what you are searching for while logged in and connect it with your business.

I have also recently become concerned with storing links and SEO data in Google Docs and how the data there may be used for rankings/spam etc.

[rollinj]

Possibility: Having more people logged in may or may not give Google's users a better search engine or better search results.

Fact: It will definitely give you "better" advertisements however, and put more money into Google's ever growing pocket.

"What's that? 10 minutes ago you were searching for car insurance deals that payed us $10 a click. It was pretty sweet while it lasted, I think we made about $40 profit in just under 3 minutes."

10 minutes later...

"Looks like you got sidetracked by a family member's forwarded email. Don't try to kid a kidder, you haven't made a search in over 10.4381 minutes and I can see that you logged into gmail shortly afterwards. That's uhhhh, that's great. I mean, you're using our free service and getting a ton of enjoyment out of it."

1 second later.

"Let's see how you react to THIS prominently placed advertisement detailing the exact car insurance problem and solution you were just looking for the next time you click anywhere on the page. Hehehe."

30 seconds later.

"Reheheally.... OK, how about THIS one?"

1 second later.

"Bingo! See you tomorrow, buddy. Oh, and enjoy the free apps!"

[Sgt_Kickaxe]

Wired posted an article about how a college student got profiled by the FBI and they placed a gps tracking unit on his car without him knowing. A technician found it during an oil change and the student posted a pic online asking what it was. Six FBI agents showed up to claim their equipment and ask him questions about his family and travel habits.

The crux - the FBI says it was legal to do without a warrant. Our increasingly popular "must touch the creepy line" friend Eric must be thinking all our vehciles need to be lo-jacked ASAP too. Why stop at cell phones and computers and implants.

Twilight zone stuff perhaps but unfortunately our very serious current reality.

note: for the FBI to show up within 48 hours after someone posted a picture anonymously on reddit implies even more "tracking" was involved.

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

His repeated and disturbing comments about privacy may be part of an intentionally constructed "social engineering" campaign.

This is a very distinct possibility.

On a side note. I have seen few threads in WW where the participants were in such universal agreement about anything.

[OMZen]

Massive user data is Google's bread & butter so they are only going to get MORE aggressive going forward.


Those who are concerned should use either proxies or open source / free solution like tor project ( google that )

[blend27]

Those who are concerned should use either proxies

Who to say that proxies are not collecting their share of data? And I see more hits of comment spam/xss from the proxies available to "JOE, The Cookie Eater" that ever on my sites.

[Sgt_Kickaxe]

Those who AREN'T concerned should be

A lot of people online right now have no intention of buying anything tonight. Knowing which ones are in buy mode before they buy is PRICELESS data. Google wants it for free of course.

[norton j radstock]

...and another thing Google -please stop showing ads targeted to my geographic location. You may be clever enough to figure out where I am but surely you must realise that people are interested in things outside their home town.

[londrum]

google gets data feeds from twitter... i saw another thread on here saying that 71% of twitter messages are ignored.
if that is true then google's "social cues" are feeding in data that no one wants to read.

[dudibob]

Googles probably saying this as the majority of folk not involved with Google Analytics, Adwords, etc more than likely won't have a Google Account and that's probably why Google says this. Still though, personalised search is a pain and get's me too excited when I see my website in the top 3 for a pretty difficult term.

Wired posted an article about how a college student got profiled by the FBI and they placed a gps tracking unit on his car without him knowing. A technician found it during an oil change and the student posted a pic online asking what it was. Six FBI agents showed up to claim their equipment and ask him questions about his family and travel habits.

The crux - the FBI says it was legal to do without a warrant. Our increasingly popular "must touch the creepy line" friend Eric must be thinking all our vehciles need to be lo-jacked ASAP too. Why stop at cell phones and computers and implants.

Twilight zone stuff perhaps but unfortunately our very serious current reality.

note: for the FBI to show up within 48 hours after someone posted a picture anonymously on reddit implies even more "tracking" was involved.

Have you not heard Google have started testing self driving cars? They claim this is to save lifes and stop human risk while driving, more like they want to track what your near to server localised and personalised ads...

[tedster]

i saw another thread on here saying that 71% of twitter messages are ignored.

That's because Wired sensationalized the original Sysomos data - which was "29% of Tweets Generate a Reaction". There's all kinds of interest that doesn't generate a measurable reaction in the data stream.

[cien]

Here is the link to the FBI Spying story. This is really creepy! [wired.com...]

"We have all the information we needed," they told him. "You don’t need to call your lawyer. Don’t worry, you’re boring."

[time.com...]

[mhansen]

In reality, there is only one group of users who can LEAD others into knowing the truth, US. The SAME group of webmasters that led the sheeple to using Google in the first place!

Surprisingly, from a user standpoint, I LOVE Google services! The email rocks, the Docs work OK and almost everything in between works like a charm. Unfortunately, the cost of using those free services, is at the expense of my total privacy, which goes 100% of the way against everything I tell my children to avoid online!

"The Services" as they are called in the many privacy policies... are creepy as heck!

[MrFewkes]

If only everyone was as smart as me and aakk9999

[graeme_p]

and another thing Google -please stop showing ads targeted to my geographic location.

Google keeps showing me ads aimed at a neighbouring country.

I mostly use Firefox, but log into Google using Chromium.

[rise2it]

What I don't want is a search like Amazon has on it's website....I look up one thing - maybe something I don't want, or something I'm looking up for someone else - and then I'm bombarded for weeks with ads and special offers for that and similar products.

I don't trust Google to not do the same thing.

[walkman]

I actually logged out!

[Mike_Feury]

Amazon ... I'm bombarded for weeks with ads and special offers for that and similar products.

Use the "Fix this recommendation" link under any recommendation, it works well.

[walkman]

I just switched my search to Google scrapper with SSL too, and will keep it for as long as that works. I added it to the Firefox and all.

I've had enough

[tangor]

Those who are concerned should use either proxies or open source / free solution like

Or use Bing? Sorry, I know this is a Google Thread... but there is an alternative...

[chrislloyd515]

I find it much easier to stay logged into Google. It has some huge advantages

1. Can permanently disable personalization, across browsers and everything so less chance of it being re-enabled accidentally

2. I personally have the view that Google has 0 interest in me or the vast majority of SEOs, and good luck trying to separate the personal searches from the work searches!

3. I seem to get every new feature early and can adapt before public launches (had places search and instant for about 3 weeks before each launch)

4. The vast majority of people I know search logged in, so I need to target that audience with all the features they have so I can adapt for them, e.g. instant is disabled where I live without a Google account

5. If your going to be really paranoid through the amount of information your browser spits out Google can identify you through browser fingerprinting even if you have cookies disabled!

[londrum]

...its ironic that people feel the only way they can disable personalization is to stay logged in

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

LOL!

[prairie]

Noticed this today:

[encrypted.google.com...] (Beta)

Trying to allay concerns that Google isn't safe and highly interested in your browsing well-being?

Listen to this hubris:

"This secured channel helps protect your search terms and your search results pages from being intercepted by a third party." ... when did I get into bed with Google? ... and:

"While SSL helps prevent intermediary parties, such as ISPs, from knowing the exact search that you typed, they could still know which websites you visit once you click on the search results."

Google is an intermediary, and they collect everything they can get their hands on.

Honeymoon over Demented Google, rack off.