How do you feel about using Google services?

[pdqgp]

I post references that people can read and evaluate for themselves. You post unverifiable claims. Which do you suppose is more useful to people?

You post links to things you have zero first hand understanding of and try and use the work of others, including media sites to stand as fact. My claims aren't unverifiable. My "claims" or as I share them first hand facts are pretty basic concepts.

You claimed that Google does things that Amazon and others can't. I pointed out you are dead wrong and you don't like it. Go ahead and believe Amazon or Apple don't subscribed to just as much data mining as Google. Again, know that you're wrong and I'm calling you out on it. In fact to argue against it without any experience other than general business understanding and common sense is a losing battle.

Apple uses the information you provide them through app purchases, your location, your cell phone records and purchases just like Google. They pay companies to monitor social media and provide them web histories just like Google. You really believe they don't? Very Naive of you if so. They know your music choices, app purchases, search histories and they do buy demographic data just like Google. They don't just pull ideas out of thin air.

Do you really think Amazon doesn't use data gather by the vendors who advertise and sell on their sites to pin point your interests or likely interests? Everyone shares and buys data. You can try as hard as you like but even you can't hide from big brother. Good luck trying. Next time you walk into Wal-Mart, know that your every movement is tracked and monitored. They know that if you're in sporting goods then go to automotive then over to produce. They know how long your "figure" or a "body" shopped an isle, where and based on sales that day, what was bought and how long the average shopper stayed in their store.

That data along with the data on what you bought is kept and shared/sold both ways by both vendors and stores both online and brick & mortar. Everything from your particular credit card to loyalty cards to web sites hit, cell towers used, location service points and even products you buy channels/television shows you watch contribute to the data mining in use today. Every company from your cable provider to gas station shares data about you.

But hey....if you don't believe me, then have fun living under a rock.

 

[ATC]

I think the most recent report might be of more interest:

https://www.eff.org/who-has-your-back-2014

A.

I think you missed the point of why I linked the 2013 report (the link for the 2014 report is embedded in the 2013 one - on top). What they show is that Google has been more proactive, and started much earlier than Apple, at protecting customer data and privacy. It wasn't until very recently that Apple started to match what Google had already been doing, a reactionary measure of sorts no doubt related to the Snowden revelations as all of a sudden this year a lot more people are concerned about their data and privacy.

This is the eye opening and interesting part for me, it's that Apple is just now catching up to Google wrt protecting customer data and privacy, something that flies in the face of popular opinion on this site.

 

[Alrescha]

My claims aren't unverifiable.

Yes, they are. Your argument boils down to "I'm right because I say I am". "These are facts because I say they are". i.e. you have secret knowledge. Thanks for playing indeed.

A.

 

[pdqgp]

Yes, they are. Your argument boils down to "I'm right because I say I am". "These are facts because I say they are". i.e. you have secret knowledge. Thanks for playing indeed.

I don't have secret knowledge. I worked in the industry and nothing I've shared is secret. The beauty of what I'm sharing is it's right there in front of everyone. You just like trying to deny it and argue. The beauty of ALL OF THIS is that it's RIGHT IN FRONT OF EVERYONE! Do you not see that? Do you think the ads on this very site even down to when and what page they are on is random? They know I'm accessing this site from one location, through a proxy across the country and for how long, etc.....they even know if we mention the work Verizon more than Apple.

Next time you wake up and turn on your phone think about a few things.

Does the fact that your cell phone sat in your home for 8-10hrs charging reveal anything to anyone? Who? Your cell provider? The stores around you? Your credit card companies....

Does the fact that you watched ESPN or Sports Network for 2hrs, tuned into basketball for 5 minutes then flipped to Soccer mean anything to anyone? Are you so naive to think your TV Providers aren't using that data? What do the advertisers know soon after?

Did you drive to work or a shopping center? Where? Did you then use a credit card? Did you hit a bank machine and if so, how much did you withdraw? Do you carry balances on your cards? Do you own your house or have a mortgage or perhaps rent?

Did you download an app today? Game or sports centric app? Did you surf....on your phone, tablet or computer? Don't worry...thousands of companies already know. Do you use email regularly or text messages? Again, already out there.

You're right, they are facts because I say they are. However, I'm not alone and will say that if you think any of the above isn't happening or if you really need me to "prove it" then congrats on being the dumbest dude around.

If you have and use a cell phone, credit card, online social media, listen to music, watch television and eat out, you've shared more information in one day than you can protect from others for the rest of your life.

 

[pdqgp]

Alrescha you need to read up on neural networks and technology around artificial intelligence. They trump simple computer algorithms in accuracy and speed exponentially and are truly artificial intelligence systems that learn. Their use is widespread and just like Google Now, can predict with a high degree of accuracy an extraordinary number of your next moves, purchases and more.

The next time you search for anything and then eventually buy it, the trail along the way has been mined and used to make the next time you do so and even the likelihood that you will that much more predictable. From the web searches you do, to the stores you visit, in many cases the isles you walk down, and most easily the store you bought it at and credit card you used.

You'd be surprised to know that if you actually saw 1 weeks worth of data that companies know more about what you will buy in the following week and where than even you do. No bull. Again, items on sale and where they appear in ads and at particular locations is not just guesswork.

 

[Alrescha]

I don't have secret knowledge.

In previous posts I demonstrated exactly how Google can know what I claimed, and how it was unique to Google. Perhaps you could provide similar information about how Amazon does it.

Amazon is a customer of many data mining companies. I'm not going to post any documentation as I'm not going to have anything lead back to me directly. I'll leave it to you as a cynic to believe they are not. I know first hand they are.

In other words, "secret knowledge".

You're right, they are facts because I say they are.

Thanks for confirming.

if you think any of the above isn't happening

Where did you get this idea?

A.

 

[pdqgp]

In other words, "secret knowledge".

Not really. Thousands of people in sales, marketing, mgt., etc for any of their vendors knows this. P&G sells/shares information with all of their retailers who in turn share demographic and POS data back with them. Credit card companies tie it all together.

They know that YOU bought Lays Potato Chips on Saturday, charged it, bought it from xyz retailer and they know what else you bought that day too both in that same store and elsewhere. They know when you did it and if you had your phone with you and even if you used a QR Reader to scan for healthy choices, etc.....

You really think what I'm sharing is that secret and covert? WOW! You like and use Apple products/iTunes? Evidently you do as you are on this site. What do you think Apple knows about YOU specifically? I can think of no less than 10-20 things they absolutely know about you and your habits. Big brother man...and you're feeding him. And he's selling and sharing that data with others just the same. They really don't have to either. Your related purchases alone negate the need. You buy and use apps, music, books, movies, accessories, travel, etc. Again, more great data mining food.

Where did you get this idea?

You like to argue semantics? Did I imply you did or did I perhaps just cover that base ahead of time?

 

[Alrescha]

You like to argue semantics?

I'm not alone and will say that if you think any of the above isn't happening or if you really need me to "prove it" then congrats on being the dumbest dude around.

You ask innumerable questions as if they were topics of debate, then imply that I am dumb if I do not agree with you. The questions were not on the table in the first place, so they are just convenient straw men for you to swing at. I hoped you could do better.

The only notable thing I have claimed is that Google is in a position to track and compile data like no other company on the planet. I have demonstrated how this is so. You like to say it is not so due to your inside information, which you can conveniently not share.

A.

 

[pdqgp]

The only notable thing I have claimed is that Google is in a position to track and compile data like no other company on the planet. I have demonstrated how this is so. You like to say it is not so due to your inside information, which you can conveniently not share.

I've challenged you on your comment about " Google is in a position to track and compile data like no other company "

How so? What makes them any better or worse at this than Apple or Amazon or even Wal-Mart. I know the answers both ways, let's see if you do. 123 go. "demonstrate it" for me again please as I've yet to see you do so.

 

[Oletros]

Once the Chinese up their game, yes, I will I don't mind them as much as I mind the NSA

BTW, Apple is definitely less evil. It lets me choose which apps have access to my location, contacts, and calendar data. With Google it is all or nothing.

I find it at best extremely naive to still failing to comprehend the difference in approach to privacy by Apple and Google.

For my mail. I came across ProtonMail.

Principle over convenience

No, you're ditching your principles since Apple, Microsoft and Yahoo! also mine your data. You want to believe ones are better than others? Well, it is your prerogative, but they all mine your data.

 

[gotluck]

I think his answer would be ... because doubleclick is so widespread
which isn't really fair because it is not the user that chooses to use that service
Though Apple has their own ad service, and they would love for it to be as successful as doubleclick..

 

[Oletros]

I've challenged you on your comment about " Google is in a position to track and compile data like no other company "

How so? What makes them any better or worse at this than Apple or Amazon or even Wal-Mart. I know the answers both ways, let's see if you do. 123 go. "demonstrate it" for me again please as I've yet to see you do so.

Don't waste your time with him, you will only receive "Google is evil, Apple is good", nothing more.

And it is funny how he thinks that he has prove anything

 

[jamezr]

Not really. Thousands of people in sales, marketing, mgt., etc for any of their vendors knows this. P&G sells/shares information with all of their retailers who in turn share demographic and POS data back with them. Credit card companies tie it all together.

They know that YOU bought Lays Potato Chips on Saturday, charged it, bought it from xyz retailer and they know what else you bought that day too both in that same store and elsewhere. They know when you did it and if you had your phone with you and even if you used a QR Reader to scan for healthy choices, etc.....

You really think what I'm sharing is that secret and covert? WOW! You like and use Apple products/iTunes? Evidently you do as you are on this site. What do you think Apple knows about YOU specifically? I can think of no less than 10-20 things they absolutely know about you and your habits. Big brother man...and you're feeding him.



You like to argue semantics? Did I imply you did or did I perhaps just cover that base ahead of time?

Then to add to the data gathering all companies do.
grocery stores use the club card to give you discounts. Now every time you use the card they have all of your information. They know when you shopped and what you bought and your basic information.

They know from the products you bought...exactly the traffic flow you used to buy the products you did based on product placement in the store diagrams. Then they know your route home based on store location and your address. They can gather even more information if they choose to buy from other companies that just mine your data. Data gathering is the one of the biggest growing markets no one knows anything about. They do it behind the scenes and try to be as anonymous as possible.

When you agree to use any club/discount card from the grocery store or warehouse store you give them access to a lot of your information. More than you ever think especially when they combine it with other data they can easily get....

 

[Alrescha]

How so? What makes them any better or worse at this than Apple or Amazon or even Wal-Mart.

Already posted, already read by you, already responded to by you, and when asked to back up your claim you say "I just know".

A.

 

[rctlr]

I think it's safe to say that information you provide knowingly or not can be used to provide a profile of you.
Whether or not some services, like Google, or Apple, are then selling that information to third parties, we might never know.

For me, back to the original question, I've dropped Google except for You Tube.

I have moved onto other services, paid for them and under terms and agreements, any data is private and not resellable.

Anything super sensitive, I keep off the internet, period.

 

[maflynn]

[MOD NOTE]
I think we're done here.