Ask.com introduces anonymous-ish searching - bit-tech.net Forums

CardJoe · 12th Dec 2007, 13:00

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2007/12...sh_searching/1

Ask.com now offers an Eraser option that nukes the logs of your search. Great, but you have to use Ask..

Delphium · 12th Dec 2007, 13:29

*waits for google to follow suite.

RTT · 12th Dec 2007, 13:30

I guess this will allow them to deny that people only use Ask to "Ask" for Google...?

quack · 12th Dec 2007, 14:03

Meh, I don't use Ask, and I don't actually mind Google saving my searches - Web History can be very handy if I need to refer back to something I've looked for.

I just looked at my Web History and saw "Total Google searches: 10400".

g3n3tiX · 12th Dec 2007, 14:57

The problem with google is that if you leave your gmail account logged in, they tie all you searches to your email. And they know (through youtube) what you watch. and even if I logout, as I have a fixed ip adress, they still know.
Only good thing is that we are 2 using the connection, so it may be either me or my brother doing those searches...^^

PrometheusCon · 12th Dec 2007, 15:53

They 'exhausted' their 'limited supply'. No free software anymore. FTL

quack · 12th Dec 2007, 16:11

^ Wrong thread.

Buzzons · 12th Dec 2007, 17:46

Tor. that is all

The_Beast · 12th Dec 2007, 23:00

I don't like the fact that Google is tracking my searchs but I'll deal with it

Drewvt · 23rd Dec 2007, 14:22

You don't have to wait. There is a lot you can do to increase your level of anonymity.

Tor and other anonymous proxies are great, but they do slow things down a lot.

The Firefox extension Trackmenot generates "noise" for all the big search engines; from a list of keywords (dynamic and changing, not fixed) it sends queries that mimic real query patterns but are meant to confuse the engine, so that the likes of Google have greater difficulty to build up a consistent profile about you.

Another Firefox extension, Customizegoogle, contains optional privacy features that alter the Google cookie, again with the object of giving you a bit more anonymity.

Dynamic IP addresses are indeed a good thing.

None of these tools are very powerful, in their own right (that's the reason no search engine has tried to ban them - not yet). But when combined, they add several thin layers of anonymity. Like an onion of moderate privacy protection.

12th Dec 2007, 13:00	#1
CardJoe Player Character bit-tech Staff Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 8,009	Ask.com introduces anonymous-ish searching http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2007/12...sh_searching/1 Ask.com now offers an Eraser option that nukes the logs of your search. Great, but you have to use Ask.. __________________ this is joe's non-bit-tech blog

12th Dec 2007, 13:29	#2
Delphium You there computer man fix my pants Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: on teh interwebz Posts: 1,256	waits for google to follow suite. __________________ \| Asus P5N32-E SLI \| Q6600 G0 @3.0ghz Watercooled \| 8GB Corsair Dominator PC8500 @1066mhz 5-5-5-15 2T \| XFX GTX285 \| BFG 8800GTS \| XFX 9600GT \| 1x 128GB Crucial M225 SSD \| 5x 500GB Seagate SATA-II \| BFG 800W SLI PSU \| Logitech Z-5500 5.1ch speakers \| 3x Dell S2209W 22"wide TFT's (5760x1080res) \| 1x Panasonic 42"Plasma \| All working on Win7 Ultimate x64* \|

12th Dec 2007, 13:30	#3
RTT bwarp Moderator Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Berkshire Posts: 12,987	I guess this will allow them to deny that people only use Ask to "Ask" for Google...? __________________ This post is non-negotiable. All terms and conditions apply. Arguing on the internet is like competing in the special Olympics. Even if you win you're still a retard.

12th Dec 2007, 14:03	#4
quack \o/ Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: England Posts: 5,222	Meh, I don't use Ask, and I don't actually mind Google saving my searches - Web History can be very handy if I need to refer back to something I've looked for. I just looked at my Web History and saw "Total Google searches: 10400". __________________ Denying Rights to Music lovers. Denying Rights to Movie lovers.

12th Dec 2007, 14:57	#5
g3n3tiX Resident frenchie Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: localhost Posts: 593	The problem with google is that if you leave your gmail account logged in, they tie all you searches to your email. And they know (through youtube) what you watch. and even if I logout, as I have a fixed ip adress, they still know. Only good thing is that we are 2 using the connection, so it may be either me or my brother doing those searches...^^ __________________ I also have a MTBF.

12th Dec 2007, 15:53	#6
PrometheusCon Stop! Hammertime. Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hel...err Pennsylvania Posts: 159	They 'exhausted' their 'limited supply'. No free software anymore. FTL

12th Dec 2007, 16:11	#7
quack \o/ Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: England Posts: 5,222	^ Wrong thread. __________________ Denying Rights to Music lovers. Denying Rights to Movie lovers.

12th Dec 2007, 17:46	#8
Buzzons Mod Master Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 2,086	Tor. that is all

12th Dec 2007, 23:00	#9
The_Beast I am The Stig Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 3,235	I don't like the fact that Google is tracking my searchs but I'll deal with it __________________ Rendering Machine - Gigabyte DS3L P35 - C2Q Q6600 - Antec New Solution Series NSK4480B - Corsair XMS2 2Gb - Sapphire 2600 XT 256mb - Seagate 'Cuda 320 GB - Antec Earthwatt 430 watt - Windows XP Pro -

23rd Dec 2007, 14:22	#10
Drewvt What's a Dremel? Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1	You don't have to wait. There is a lot you can do to increase your level of anonymity. Tor and other anonymous proxies are great, but they do slow things down a lot. The Firefox extension Trackmenot generates "noise" for all the big search engines; from a list of keywords (dynamic and changing, not fixed) it sends queries that mimic real query patterns but are meant to confuse the engine, so that the likes of Google have greater difficulty to build up a consistent profile about you. Another Firefox extension, Customizegoogle, contains optional privacy features that alter the Google cookie, again with the object of giving you a bit more anonymity. Dynamic IP addresses are indeed a good thing. None of these tools are very powerful, in their own right (that's the reason no search engine has tried to ban them - not yet). But when combined, they add several thin layers of anonymity. Like an onion of moderate privacy protection.