Speaking of someone watching you check this one out. Someone found a new use for Google Earth http://msn-cnet.com.com/8301-17852_3-20012396-71.html?part=msn-cnet&subj=ns&tag=feed

I just hope my local authority doesn't catch on to this.  No, I'm not worried about the un-permitted pool... but I wouldn't want the bastards eying off my cabbage patch and somehow deeming it illegal, would I???

No worries, G3!  Yeah, I thought 'No Script' blocked these sorts of things, but apparently not.  I've had all the Google trackers, etc, blocked in 'No Script' for ages now, yet there they were, active as ever.  No doubt the devious bastards at Google and others will inevitably come up with a method to bypass Ghostery as well, so let's hope the equally devious on our side of the fence keep coming up with new methods to exclude these verminous intrusions.

It'd be nice to think that's all it was used for, but I'm rather skeptical ... given Google's primary purpose is data collection for the purpose of ad placement/targeting.  If Google knows what a persons habits are it is easier to be ad specific... so why wouldn't they use Google Analytics to to ascertain a person's surfing habits, likes, dislikes.

That's the thing, see, Google has access (rightly or wrongly) to pretty much everything on the WWW, so my guess is yes, they do have access... cos Google provides a service only when there's something in it for them.  With Google, what seems to be free on face value always has a hidden cost ... as in Google becomes your constant tag-along companion...everywhere you go it follows, in it's insatiable thirst for knowledge and power

Yes, I'm quite distrusting, but why would I trust anyone who wants to know the ins and outs of a cat's arse?

Yeah, thought I'd do a community service while taking an enjoyable swipe at my least favourite internet entity... and others.

Thanks for that.

I had thought of it... but I didn't want to do that much of a community service.  My primary objective was to take a swipe at Google... and once I had, well all else went out the window.

Nah, seriously, I did overlook that bit.

Is this for Firefox users only?

I dunno, Google comes across as a "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" kind of company, so I find it hard to believe that they're providing site owners with google analytics free of charge and not making some use of it themselves.   What made me suspicious is when I was on Yahoo7 here in Oz to check the news, weather and TV guide... every page change/refresh and google analytics was there.  Hmmm, just seems strange that Yahoo would use its main competitor to monitor site traffic???

Oh, and this is for those who will say other companies do this kind of sneaky underhanded thing as well (mainly Kona ).... I know other companies are out there tracking internet users to see how they can make use of them.  For example, on Yahoo I notice 'Doubleclick', 'RightMedia' and 'Yahoo Overture' are there at every page change, and I believe these trackers are designed specifically to extract information purely for advertising purposes.

As far as I know, yes.

Yeah, but I'm more curious as to what it tells Google???  I mean, they can identify your location and IP address, so why wouldn't they use your interests and surfing habits to target you with specific ads... particularly with clients ads local to you??   It is their primary business (advertising), and it's what they do, so I'd believe in the existence snowballs in Hell before I believed Google would pass up on an opportunity to advertise/sell.

If there's anything I dislike... er, hate more than bankers and politicians, it's effing advertisers.  The bastards ply their trade in every free space and location imaginable... and it is so unsightly 99.9999% of the time, with billboards and advertising placards desecrating the scenery.  

So yeah, look out if you happen to be chucking a brown-eye (mooning) at the referee for a bad decision during the game.... expose it for too long and they'll slap an ad on yer arse.

Yep, it gets real blurry when you mention politician, bankers, lawyers and advertisers all in one go.... but at the end of the day, each of them has specialised in their own peculiar way to extract your cash from your wallet.

I look at Google the same way as I look at those software developers who released freeware that's a highly limited version of something you have to pay for.... the freeware is just a teaser designed to sell you something else/more.  And it's the same with Google... their freeware/services are just a lure to get peoples information.   I remember there being a big stink over Google's licensing agreement some years ago, where Google reserved exclusive rights to any and all information and/or materials belonging to users of various Google sites/services... so yeah, they are certainly information junkies.

And regarding all those trillions of terabytes of data, my concern with Google has always been, why do they need it all... and when do they stoop so low as to sell it (sensitive data, etc) to the highest bidder... any bidder.  I mean, they must think it is ALL valuable, right... otherwise why keep it???

Oh, look out... the black G van with the tinted windows is outside again.    Yup, after all the derogatory things I've said about them here in the forums over the years, I'll bet they're out there with all sorts of snooping devices to see if they can get some dirt on me to shut me up.   Nah, never, I say, their scare tactics aren't gonna silence me... Never, I say... Never!!!!

You don't trust the veterinarian?

Nah, and why would I???   Let's just say that I don't fancy what one would likely prescribe for a stomach upset, for example.

Sheesh, have you seen the size if those horse pills... not to mention the freakin' enemas.

Okay, just to 'stir the pot', where it is written that you can trust FireFox? 

I will now go and sit in the corner with my pointy hat on, no you don't have to show me where it is, I have dibbs on the corner.