Topic: Google Web History

[mistybear]

Boy I could have used this earlier.

http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/11520/53/

[Simon]

Ooh, some rather scary privacy issues there.   ':|

[mistybear]

OK I'll bite, such as? Or should I say, grace us with your infinite wisdom.

[Simon]

Well, it depends how 'safe' a surfer you are, I suppose, and whether you would be concerned about someone being able to trace your online activity.

Anyone who manages to discover your Google credentials can use Google Web History to follow your online tracks.

What about secure facilities such as online banking?  Even if someone couldn't actually access your bank account, they could access details of where you bank, where you shop, what you buy online, etc.  Call me paranoid, but Google seems to be continually gathering more and more information about it's users, and how do we really know that this information is 100% secure?

[mistybear]

OK I didn't think of that, only the hour or so it took me to find the on-line pc store that I finally decided to order from. Took me all afternoon to find the store that had everything I want at a decent price, and I didn't bookmark it. 

I do pay bills online accessing my bank, not such a good idea then.

[Simon]

Well, I don't wish to scaremonger, and I am one of the most paranoid when it comes to online security, having already had my credit card details compromised on two occasions, but I don't see any reason to take unnecessary risks.  Your browser itself can keep as much History as you want it to.  Default settings are usually something like 9 days, but I set mine to 2.

[mistybear]

I think you're right to be careful, I wouldn't call it paranoid. And yes I didn't realise that my history went back that far, Michael showed me this morning.
So I uninstalled the toolbar, but before it did, I was asked to explain why, as I was one of the first to use and uninstall the toolbar, I was happy to do so.

Why do these things always have to be in a toolbar, can't they be incorporated into an existing one. I want just one toolbar, and I'd like to be able to pick the things I need on it and delete all the other rubbish that tends to come with them. (Someone will probably tell me that you can already do this now)