Technology Section

Google's Power Is Frightening - Download This Tool To Help Preserve Your Privacy

September 2006

Google is quite simply the biggest data mining company on the planet. For example everytime you use it it’s learning more about who you are, your surfing habits and interests etc.

So quite frankly it’s time to fight back.

One way to do this is to install the excellent Firefox plug-in called TrackMeNot.

And if you’re not using Firefox to browse the internet then you’re strongly advised to switch from your (likely) current Internet Explorer. Read this article for more details on why it's good to switch.

What Does TrackMeNot Do

Firstly the plug-in is written by a couple of Professors from New York University

• It periodically issues randomised search queries to the popular search engines, including Google
• By doing so it hides users’ actual search trails in a cloud of ‘ghost’ queries
• This means that data mining will have real difficulties in identifying a profile of you and/or your search habits

Summary

Expect this data mining problem to get worse over the coming years and to turn into a real hot potato when people realise just how much information certain companies hold on them. Having the information is only part of the problem, the real issue lies in what they’ll be doing with the data and who they’ll be giving it to (governments) or selling to (big business).

Download & more information on TrackMeNot

See Also

• How Valuable Is Your PC Data?
• Don't Waste Money on an Expensive Computer