Assistance in controlling the results of your Google searching

[truenorth]

It is now known that Google (as well as many other sites) have instituted practices of aggressively monitoring a users use of their search habits. It is claimed by them that because there is just to much information now available on the Internet that it would be "impossible " in each instance to show it all. Therefore they say that when YOU search for something they use YOUR past search record to determine what they will show YOU. Many Government agencies are now involved under privacy considerations looking at the phenomenon. It has been determined that individuals searching exactly the same word or subject will get very different listings.
 Should you wish to eliminate the Google defining of YOUR search results it can supposedly be eliminated by stopping the personalized defining process from here:
www.google.com/history/optout
truenorth 

[Geek-9pm]

truenorth,
Excellent post!   

[truenorth]

Thank you.Hope it is helpful,truenorth

[JJ 3000]

It is now known that Google (as well as many other sites) have instituted practices of aggressively monitoring a users use of their search habits. It is claimed by them that because there is just to much information now available on the Internet that it would be "impossible " in each instance to show it all. Therefore they say that when YOU search for something they use YOUR past search record to determine what they will show YOU.

Doesn't this only apply if you are logged into a google account? gmail etc...

[truenorth]

Not according to the article that offered the ability. It is in regards to how Google deals with search results via it's search engine. As stated by doing the opting out function it seems to use the computer as the platform to disable the Google cookie from monitoring your searching habits and using that as the basis for presenting the results based on a 59 point assessment of your personal search habits and then "tailoring " the responses to any searches YOU make on Google. Examples in the article were provided to demonstrate the vast differences when a single word such as "Egypt" was searched. truenorth

[patio]

Doesn't this only apply if you are logged into a google account? gmail etc...

Nope...

[JJ 3000]

Why can't I see my web history without signing into gmail then?

I do have a gmail account but I've used it only once or twice. I've logged out afterwards.

I was curious so I signed into gmail to look at my web history. There was nothing there.

[TechGeek]

I think you do need to be logged in. Otherwise results can only be personalized based on your location and such.

It could be a privacy concern, but I personally trust Google with all my data (my phone contacts, my calendar, etc. is all there) and personalized results just help me find what I'm looking for even faster.

[kpac]

It could be a privacy concern, but I personally trust Google with all my data (my phone contacts, my calendar, etc. is all there) and personalized results just help me find what I'm looking for even faster.

Exactly. I think people just have to realise that there really is no such thing as actual privacy on the Internet.

[patio]

Never was...never will be...

[truenorth]

Personally i NEVER would be proposing this option for reasons of enhancing personal privacy. It was solely a suggestion to allow ME with MY search on Google to be provided WITHOUT someone else's input as to what my desired results would be. If i feel that something is less relevant i want to make that choice--not someone else (regardless of what their bias may be). truenorth

[patio]

There is always the opt out option...

[truenorth]

I think you will find that my original 1st post is exactly that.truenorth

[BC_Programmer]

yeah how dare they try to keep results as relevant as possible. The NERVE!

[truenorth]

exactly,truenorth