Google goes SSL for searches

[borked]

https://www.google.com/

does sod all to prevent the Chocolate Factory from profiling you, but it does stop your ISP from profiling you, if you're into that tinfoil hat stuff...

[BigRod]

I wonder if SSL still gives you personalized results?

[LoveSandra]

bump 4 you

[darksoul]

Originally Posted by BigRod

I wonder if SSL still gives you personalized results?

SSL doesn't mean they can't track you, it means others like your ISP can't track you.
so yes.

[Serge Litehead]

good move by google

[martinsc]

i like ssl....

[GirlsOnYou]

Oh this sucks big time!!

"As another layer of privacy, SSL search turns off a browser's referrers. Web browsers typically turn off referrers when going from HTTPS to HTTP mode to provide extra privacy. By clicking on a search result that takes you to an HTTP site, you could disable any customizations that the website provides based on the referrer information."

This means that web stats can't track if a user comes from SSL google and under what keyword. But I'm sure somehow google analytics still can. they seem to be forcing everyone to start using their spying stats tool.

I really hope the SSL version of google won't become popular.

[borked]

Originally Posted by GirlsOnYou

I really hope the SSL version of google won't become popular.

I think they're aiming for it to become the default search page in the future....

Originally Posted by GoogleBlog

"We hope to expand the functionality once we better understand how it affects users' search experience," the spokesman told us. "We expect that encrypted SSL search will slow down Google searches by a small degree, and we don?t like the idea of rolling this out to everyone before we?re able to test the performance effects and gather feedback from our users."

[PornMD]

Originally Posted by GirlsOnYou

This means that web stats can't track if a user comes from SSL google and under what keyword. But I'm sure somehow google analytics still can. they seem to be forcing everyone to start using their spying stats tool.

If they were smart and greedy, that would be their aim so that eventually they can start charging for analytics and given how much traffic their SE commands around the internet, smart marketers who test/track everything would be forced to buy it.

[Serge Litehead]

secure search environment is a good thing for end user regardless if webmasters appreciate it or not. it's nice and refreshing to see a company that cares for their users privacy. Doubt it will become default search anytime soon.

[borked]

Originally Posted by holograph

it's nice and refreshing to see a company that cares for their users privacy.

You did hear right how the Google StreatView car was busted for collecting all public accessible WiFi info and data transferred across it while doing its rounds innocently photographing your neighbourhood right?

All Google is interested in is profiling its visitors so it can better target its ads. If that means while doing it, it can cut out its competitors, then it will do it.

[PornMD]

Originally Posted by holograph

it's nice and refreshing to see a company that cares for their users privacy.

I guarantee you they aren't doing SSL search because they give a shit about users' privacy. This is the same company that auto-added people's most emailed contacts to their Google Buzz, basically unleashing a flood of private information on the world with one fell swoop without anyone's permission, not to mention the streetcar thing. I suppose they could be worse however. *coughFACEBOOKcough*

[Serge Litehead]

Originally Posted by PornMD

I guarantee you they aren't doing SSL search because they give a shit about users' privacy. This is the same company that auto-added people's most emailed contacts to their Google Buzz, basically unleashing a flood of private information on the world with one fell swoop without anyone's permission, not to mention the streetcar thing. I suppose they could be worse however. *coughFACEBOOKcough*

my info and info of my contacts wasn't auto-added, I had complete control what and with whom I wanted to share in the Buzz and I was asked to confirm if I even wanted to bother with it at all ala opt-in to it. I've checked it out first day they released it. people don't read anything and they blame everything they can but themselves. and no I haven't heard about their StreetView car collecting public WiFis, btw is public WiFi private or public information? i think that's an interesting question

if you don't like google, think its an evil organization simply don't use it and block their spiders from your sites, problem solved

[borked]

Originally Posted by holograph

no I haven't heard about their StreetView car collecting public WiFis, btw is public WiFi private or public information? i think that's an interesting question

We'll have to wait and see

In the blog post, Google called the payload data collection "a mistake," and the company said it would ask a third party to review its data collection software and to confirm that it deleted the data appropriately. It also said it would review its "procedures to ensure that our controls are sufficiently robust to address these kinds of problems in the future."

Today, in a statement sent to The Reg, Google said that it deleted data collected in Ireland, Austria, and Denmark, after data protection authorities in those countries requested its deletion. It also said that it's keeping data from Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic, after those countries requested it be kept. And it has now decided to keep all remaining data as well.

"Given that there is some uncertainty about deletion generally, for example one DPA [data protection authority] changed its instruction from delete to retain in the last 24 hours, we think it makes sense to keep the remaining country data while we work through these issues," the statement reads.

But the company was also under pressure from Privacy International and Brussels to halt deletion, and German authorities have already launched a preliminary criminal investigation into the data collection, as other countries consider such investigations, according to The FT.

In the US, lawmakers have called on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the matter, and according to sources speaking with Reuters, both the FTC and the Department of Justice are considering the possibility. Meanwhile, two Americans have filed a class action suit against the company for intercepting their personal Wi-Fi data.

[fuzebox]

"Chocolate factory"

Love it

[CamsMaster]

lately google has done some important strategic moves, for their benefit

[Serge Litehead]

Originally Posted by PornMD

I suppose they could be worse however.

Imagine if a porn webmaster was running it

- blind clicks, popup hell, traffic schemes, installs, shady xsells, spamhell, selling user info - just a tip on an iceberg

[rowan]

Originally Posted by GirlsOnYou

This means that web stats can't track if a user comes from SSL google and under what keyword.

I've always wondered about the trend of using GET rather than POST for search engine forms - which would also hide the keywords, and any other relevant variables.

[The Duck]

Can't be bad.

[borked]

Originally Posted by CamsMaster

lately google has done some important strategic moves, for their benefit

I guess by definition, their strategic moves are always to their benefit