Results 1 to 12 of 12

Thread: Google tracks you, even with Location History turned off

  1. #1
    HEXUS.admin
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Posts
    31,709
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    2,073 times in 719 posts

    Google tracks you, even with Location History turned off

    Confirm computer science researchers at Princeton University.
    Read more.

  2. Received thanks from:

    lilyx (14-08-2018)

  3. #2
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Aug 2018
    Posts
    32
    Thanks
    8
    Thanked
    3 times in 3 posts

    Re: Google tracks you, even with Location History turned off

    This is why I use Vivaldi & DuckDuckGo. I keep Chrome for certain things but generally use Vivaldi for 99% of things. Google are not our friends

  4. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    North West, UK
    Posts
    584
    Thanks
    22
    Thanked
    38 times in 32 posts
    • big_hairy_rob's system
      • Motherboard:
      • ASUS Z170-A
      • CPU:
      • Intel I5 6600k
      • Memory:
      • 16GB DDR4 Corsair Vengence (3000mhz)
      • Storage:
      • Samsung 850 500GB, WD Blue 1TB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • MSI Radeon R9 275
      • PSU:
      • EVGA 550W (80 plus Gold)
      • Case:
      • Fractal Design S (Windowed)
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 64.
      • Monitor(s):
      • Iiyama ProLite E24B3HS 24", LG Flatron L1950SQ19"
      • Internet:
      • Plusnet (infinity)

    Re: Google tracks you, even with Location History turned off

    This is about as surprising as finding out that 'healthy junk food' makes you fat.

  5. Received thanks from:

    Corky34 (14-08-2018),lilyx (14-08-2018)

  6. #4
    Moosing about! CAT-THE-FIFTH's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Not here
    Posts
    32,042
    Thanks
    3,909
    Thanked
    5,213 times in 4,005 posts
    • CAT-THE-FIFTH's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Less E-PEEN
      • CPU:
      • Massive E-PEEN
      • Memory:
      • RGB E-PEEN
      • Storage:
      • Not in any order
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVEN BIGGER E-PEEN
      • PSU:
      • OVERSIZED
      • Case:
      • UNDERSIZED
      • Operating System:
      • DOS 6.22
      • Monitor(s):
      • NOT USUALLY ON....WHEN I POST
      • Internet:
      • FUNCTIONAL

    Re: Google tracks you, even with Location History turned off

    The only issue is multiple apps might be doing the same as will your mobile network.

  7. #5
    Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Posts
    138
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    2 times in 2 posts

    Re: Google tracks you, even with Location History turned off

    ...and yet there are people out there that won't buy Huawei phone because they're convinced that chineese will spy on them

  8. #6
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Aug 2018
    Posts
    32
    Thanks
    8
    Thanked
    3 times in 3 posts

    Re: Google tracks you, even with Location History turned off

    Quote Originally Posted by Moonister View Post
    ...and yet there are people out there that won't buy Huawei phone because they're convinced that chineese will spy on them
    I'd be more concerned about the Chinese funneling it back to the NSA

  9. #7
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Posts
    2,207
    Thanks
    15
    Thanked
    114 times in 102 posts

    Re: Google tracks you, even with Location History turned off

    As said it's not exactly surprising, actually the only thing that IS surprising is how long it's taken to 'come to light'

  10. #8
    Long member
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Posts
    2,427
    Thanks
    70
    Thanked
    404 times in 291 posts
    • philehidiot's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Father's bored
      • CPU:
      • Cockroach brain V0.1
      • Memory:
      • Innebriated, unwritten
      • Storage:
      • Big Yellow Self Storage
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Semi chewed Crayola Mega Pack
      • PSU:
      • 20KW single phase direct grid supply
      • Case:
      • Closed, Open, Cold
      • Operating System:
      • Cockroach
      • Monitor(s):
      • The mental health nurses
      • Internet:
      • Please.

    Re: Google tracks you, even with Location History turned off

    Simply put, I assume that nothing I do on my phone is private. If I want any degree of privacy then I use TOR and private browsing but even this isn't entirely secure. Google has a mini stroke sometimes when I use TOR and just do a simple search. I assume anything I put into my phone Google (or any of the other major companies) knows. This is because I don't read terms and conditions. This approach has been shown to work as when I downloaded my Facebook file there was nothing in there I didn't expect them to have.

    If I want true security then I use Kali Linux (on a VM for what it's worth), TOR and stick to SSL encrypted sites. Even then I doubt I'd really have it. I assume any Google services (or anything "free") is tracking me and for the most part I have nothing to hide. I once did a packet capture on my phone and the sheer amount of data being sent even whilst I was doing nothing was scary. If you want your eyes opening as to all the stuff your phone is regularly sending out about you, download packet capture and ensure it has the appropriate SSL keys so you can read the data. Then sit there for 2 minutes and look through the data.

    I've found not only do they lie about whether services are tracking you but also if you want to even think you're disabling things then you often have to go through an insanely difficult route to do it.

    These companies are insidious and one of the best things that ever happened to me was getting banned from Twitter for hate speech. This was after Frankie Boyle and Doug Stanhope blocked me for offending them. I tried signing up again using TOR but they demanded a phone number and there's no way I'm giving them that - it's like gold to them. Google does have my phone number but that makes sense for two factor authentication given the level of reliance I have on their services. I just assume they know everything about me... which they clearly don't as the adverts I get served are hilarious.

  11. #9
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Posts
    221
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked
    9 times in 9 posts

    Re: Google tracks you, even with Location History turned off

    File this under "Things That Don't Surprise Me At All".

    I've had location history on for a while now. If they're tracking me anyway, might as well get the extra benefits out of it. I've used it a few time to retrace my steps.

  12. #10
    Previously known as Wozza365
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Posts
    439
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    18 times in 17 posts
    • Wozza63's system
      • Motherboard:
      • ASUS M5A99X EVO
      • CPU:
      • FX 8150 @4.2GHz
      • Memory:
      • 8GB Kingston HyperX 1600MHz
      • Storage:
      • Intel 120GB SSD, 4TB Seagate
      • Graphics card(s):
      • XFX R9 390
      • PSU:
      • Corsair TX850
      • Case:
      • Akasa Venom Toxic
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7
      • Monitor(s):
      • Acer XG270HU + Iiyama E2473HDS x2

    Re: Google tracks you, even with Location History turned off

    Quote Originally Posted by lilyx View Post
    This is why I use Vivaldi & DuckDuckGo. I keep Chrome for certain things but generally use Vivaldi for 99% of things. Google are not our friends
    I tried Vivaldi but it just sucks. So many basics missing. Device sync, can't drag tabs to new window, can't middle click pinned tabs to close. So many basic quality of life features that are included in Chromium (Vivaldi's base) and even in IE that Vivaldi is missing. Shame because it does have some nice features.

    Brave is a little better but still missing things.

  13. #11
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Posts
    304
    Thanks
    113
    Thanked
    12 times in 12 posts

    Re: Google tracks you, even with Location History turned off

    Quote Originally Posted by philehidiot View Post
    This was after Frankie Boyle and Doug Stanhope blocked me for offending them.
    you offended frankie boyle?
    that`s a turn up- what the hell did you say?
    what the hell did he say back?
    jeez.
    mind blown 8()
    Last edited by Strawb77; 15-08-2018 at 07:45 PM.

  14. #12
    Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Posts
    159
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    4 times in 4 posts

    Re: Google tracks you, even with Location History turned off

    This just in:
    Water = wet

    more news at hexus.net as the story develops

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •