CATEGORIES
- WEB STARTUPS
- WEB NEWS
- CONFERENCES
- VENTURE CAPITAL
- MICROSOFT
- WEB TECH JOBS
- YAHOO
- ADVERTISING
- VIDEO
- ALL TOPICS
- ALL COMPANIES
CONTRIBUTORS
- ADRIAN CHAN
- ALICIA NAVARRO
- ALLEN STERN-EDITOR
- CORSIN CAMICHEL
- DARREN HERMAN
- HANK WILLIAMS
- MARK DAVIS
- RICK TUROCZY
- SANFORD DICKERT
- SHANNON CLARK
My life without Google
Check out Part II of this article -- the summary.
How much did I use Google? Apparently a lot more often than even I could speculate. For the last two weeks, I've had google.com blocked at both work and home. The amount of data they're gathering on me is frightening. Not because of Google, but because I'm positive the government will legislate their way into Google's database sooner or later and start labeling people as suspicious. Political paranoia aside, let us look at the fact here; Life on the internet without using Google is hard.
The first thing to do was to block Google, but how? They're on almost every website out there, and they provide the best search on the internet. Well, I determined 2 ways. The first move was to route the google.com hostname to 127.0.0.1 in my computer's "hosts" file. I won't get into technical details since most of the readers here are familiar enough with technology. The second move was to install AdBlock software and filter out every Google-owned domain name I knew of. Together, these two should do the trick at preventing me from accidentally coming across Google on the web. It worked.
The first and most obvious thing I noticed is that some of my favorite websites loaded faster. I completely didn't expect it, but it's true. Without the AdSense and Google Analytics javascripts executing (and downloading) on some pages, the entire internet experience is a lot... faster. This, however, is where the benefits end.
I'm not going to lie, life without Google has been hell online. I initially wanted to give Ask.com a chance as my primary search engine. I like their interface and I like where they're going. The problem I encountered is that the search results just aren't good enough. They're pretty bad, actually. I'm lucky if I can find what I'm looking for 50% of the time. Despite what their advanced search page says, if you search for something in quotations, it doesn't mean that it will search for that exact phrase. For a company that relies on search, I wasn't impressed for too long. Their mapping service, however, is pretty good.
I used to enjoy Google News, so I've had to find an alternative for them as well. Web 2.0 to the rescue! Rootly has been a great alternative to Google News, and in some cases even better. I like the fact that their headlines update without refreshing the page. My only two wishes for Rootly are as follows; I wish their RSS links went straight to the news story instead of through Rootly. I wish their site's design were prettier. It's functional, but it won't be winning any beauty pageants anytime soon. Ultimately, the site accomplishes it's goal for me. Rootly has replaced Google News.
GMail is a service I used occasionally, but not often enough to miss it. I have pop accounts for my own websites, and I've not found a use for GMail, so I haven't had to replace it.
So, the question on everybody's mind. Will I be unblocking Google? Has my blockade been fruitless? Although I miss the fantastic search results, I would have to say "No, and no". I've found that I can get by, and even be more productive, without Google. "Don't Be Evil" is a great motto to have. However, I consider gathering every move I make on the internet to be evil and a violation of my privacy. I don't want this to turn into a political discussion about Google's data gathering, as there is a time and place for that.
My question to others who have blocked Google is this; What services have you found out there on the internet to replace Google services that you became accustomed to?
James Thomas is a web developer living in Orlando. During the day he can be found building websites for the mouse, and spends most of his evenings working on various projects in a feeble attempt to change the internet.
I've been using snap and clusty.com, and the few time I have to use google I use 3rd party solutions like dogpile
I also block coockies from Google.com to further enhance my security.
This is nothing more than a paid advert by ASK.com
First option of alt search engine is. . . . ask. Right after all the "I'm paranoid" writing that falls in line with their current advertising campaign.
Ask will never be anything more than a Z list engine.
If it is a paid ad for Ask, then perhaps they should 'Ask' for their money back..?
Hi DC - I can assure you this is not a paid advert in any way for ask. I have not received any money, nor contact from them.
I find that hard to believe.
Using the same language as their current advertising campaign and then you're first choice is ask.com . . . . quite the coincidence if you ask me.
Which part of:
> For a company (Ask) that relies on search, I wasn't impressed for too long.
makes this post seem like an advert?
but i can picture that Greek guy saying "They're pretty bad, actually. I'm lucky if I can find what I'm looking for 50% of the time." of course it sounds more jovial when he says it than when you read it on a sterile webpage
Yup. Definitely an ad for ask.com. Just read this typical ad copy for ask.com:
"The problem I encountered is that the search results just aren't good enough. They're pretty bad, actually. I'm lucky if I can find what I'm looking for 50% of the time."
lol... I didn't even think of that but yes it's the same verbage. No, it's not an advertisement for ask. I use yahoo for my search now... if you read the article it's critical of ask's search results. "Their results just aren't good enough."
------
Wacky Labs -- This is supposed to look like a sig!
I would rather using Google at the first place.
And for more spesific answer (in case i couldn't get my desired answer) i am using yahoo answer or asking it in relative forums, luky now is social era in the Internet.
I swore off of Google back in 2004 and have not used them since. I thought back then they were getting too powerful and they are.
I do fine with Yahoo search and Ask.com.
i use the tor fire fox extension that uses a proxy, block google from putting cookies on, and clear all other cookies after every close. so i guess i still use google, but incognito ;) only problem is that i frequently get the dutch google site and surfing is slow at times.
tor's great, but can be slow. use this url to always get the english version: http://www.google.com/en
Any of you actually believe that Yahoo does not track their users searches ....
Also, look at your ISP, they have more info that Google, and the government can strong arm them a lot more
the recent cases where yahoo has been just given over its user data to the chinese government worries me. i think at least two guys are rotting in chinese jails because google told em who they were. their crime was dissenting... their wives are suing yahoo....
As far as I can remember, Yahoo handed over files and stuff to the government, Google had to be threatened and as of last week will be making ALL their searches encrypted...or something like that?
I do use Gmail and Google Reader (although I might find a replacement for Reader) and I'm not worried so much about the privacy aspect - email isn't secure to begin with, so if we're REALLY worried about privacy we'd all be using PGP for everything we do...
Google may have fought our government over privacy issues, but they sure didn't have any problem censoring themselves for the communist Chinese government. So you tell me which is better: the company that fights their own democratic US government but bows to the communist Chinese government's requests for censorship, or the company who agrees to both without prejudice.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4645596.stm
funny how rootly has the google ads right at the top, huh? dang. too bad it doesn't display nicely like news.google.com too... otherwise i'd be there.
ninja.com!
ninja is a google search, just a "customized" version of the same thing.
it's funny to read this article... some time ago i read that yahoo! freely gives information over to the government where as google doesn't (say they do), so i immediately switched to google. now i'm thinking i might swear them both off!
I would never be able to live without Google. Google for me is a way to live. I use it to search, their search results are always faster and the best.
I use it for News. Amazing aggregation of worldwide news.
I use it to read my blogs. Google Reader is one of the best (yet not popular) services they made.
I use to as my mail. Gmail is definitely best mail service around. Yahoo mail is really improving, yet still far away as I'm concerned.
Google Video: OK so I can live without this, but I still dont wish to. I find it amusing from time to time.
Picasa: Best Photo Album I used.
Google Bookmark: Maybe there are better bookmark sites, but this one already uses my current login
Google Docs: I'm starting to slightly use it.
Google Calendar: Best online calendar I used, even though I didnt use many. Still it needs more features
Google Groups: Very valuable resource and forum.
Google Talk: Being embedded inside Gmail, it's the choice for me.
Still, I share your fear that all my data is in one place.
I use almost all of Google's function. Even the Calendar. Google collects the same (now less, now that they dont save IP addresses for searches) as every other search company, they are just bigger. I think your experiment with google was pretty interesting. I couldn't go without google for the main reason that it is my email service. Gmail revolutionized email the same way it did search. Why sort when you can search. I have emails from 3 years ago when I started using Gmail, and I havent even hit 10% yet, and I have over 6,000 emails saved. And I don't pay a dime. I use picasa and have over 1,000 photos saved on there. I know of no major search engine or photo service that takes privacy so seriously. On top of that, their services are unmatchable. I go to my homepage, my emails load right there, a few RSS feeds, news headlines, sudoku if I am bored. I love Google.
You're paranoid about Google? I'd be more concerned about suckling from the mouse's teat personally.
So how does one get to suckle milk from a mouse? I find it hard enough trying to catch the little buggers. Once you catch them do you use some sort of a mechanical device or the traditional method...
If you dont want them to index your search results, then turn it off. It's as easy as going to your settings and just flicking the switch.
Plus, exactly what is it that you are searching for that would label you as suspicious? I've got nothing to hide, if google wants to index my searches, its fine by me.
I understand the "nothing to hide" mind set. I sort of have it myself, but isn't that just another step down the slippery slope?
In the article I specified that it's not Google I'm worried about. I'm anti-patriot act. Without getting into more political discussion, I hope that's enough info to discern my political standpoint. :)
------
Wacky Labs -- This is supposed to look like a sig!
Sadly, this process is used in shopping offline. I am amazed everytime I receive my shopping coupons that the selection is uncannily like my own shopping list. Data collection is so vast that we are in danger of being assimilated into an on and offline Borg collective, where only those who have the right marking or barcode will be able to interact with society.
Charlie
You sure it is google and not your ISP or amazon or some other site selling your shopping info ...
It is amazing what some smaller companies can do while everyone is paranoid about big Google...
Not only is Amazon likely to sell your info, they had a project in beta that would give people different prices, depending on their previous shopping habits.
While Google has not released any info that we know of, they have agreed to collude with the Chinese government. I don't know if that includes disclosing search queries to the government, but it does involve filtering search results.
As a trans-national entity, Google would be able to keep its data on off shore servers (at least the archives) so that legislation or court orders would not lead to store rooms of everyone's data getting seized under the guise of National Security, sponsored by Boeing and AOL...
"While Google has not released any info that we know of, they have agreed to collude with the Chinese government."
Well, no.
While they're providing filtered search results in China, they have explicitly said that they will not offer services which might require them to hand over sensitive data to the Chinese gov't in the future. Thus, no gmail in China.
"While Google has not released any info that we know of"
We don't?
Yeah. Exactly. I knoew people who won't use Google, won't shop online, won't use online mail services, and even block cookies and tracking GIFs. But they'll buy their goods with a credit card and participate in shoppers' card promotions. If you're truly worried about evil tracking, you'll keep all your cash under your mattress, shop only with cash, and pass up the "good deals."
That's all very nice, but I didn't expect a site with an article like this to be using google-analytics.
What on earth makes you think if the authorities make their way into a giant's database such as Google's or Yahoo's logs, there would be anything to stop them from further accessing logs of other providers of the same service?
Seriously, tell me.
Nothing, really, but having your data all in one place makes it easy for them.
It's really not all that odd. You get unfiltered search results (you'd be amazed what you're missing) & avoid being tracked.
http://tor.eff.org/
I advise it in these days of infowars.
altavista. It's actually superior to google for music and video anyways, at least for the kinds of music and videos I'm interested in. The interface could use some work, but the results it returns are generally pretty good. It was after all, before google, the standard against which all other search engines were measured.
"It was after all, before google, the standard against which all other search engines were measured."
And why are they measured against Google now....
I'll let you work it out.
Altavista isn't Altavista anymore; it's just a slightly different mix of Yahoo.
It takes a long time to disable/enable google's search history, so i use alltheweb.com video search to look for porn.
askcom get paid results from google so you were not "google free" ;)
Is there any free substitute for Google groups? All of the usenet archives that I could find (I used Google to search!) are paid services. I can't imagine any tech-savvy person getting along without the archives.
Google Groups is the former Dejanews ... and the only free substitute for that was remarq.com which closed down years ago and now diverts to supernews.com
There are many archivers of specific Usenet groups or sets of groups, but nothing to the extent of Google, and for free. Google has deleted some groups for various (political, legal) reasons: ex.: alt.2600.fake-id
If this IS an ad for Ask.com, it seems like someone forgot they were trying to "sell" the product. Certainly a 50% success rate and a lack of consistency in "search by phrase" results isn't going to make any converts.
An "ad" for a search tool that claims half their searches don't work? Lord, save me from conspiracy theorists that cannot read.
A tad nuts. You remind me of a paranoid customer I worked with a few days ago. Remember to lock your doors.
ok yahoo? wtf why would yahoo be a legit exchange for google? yahoo has actually gotten people arrested in china because they keep a log of where you've been whereas google is still fighting "the man" yahoo bent over and let "the man" butt beat them by handing over user information.
try http://clusty.com and http://scroogle.org for google incorporated searches without the lingering cookies or i.d.'s
I use clusty.com. For days I compared the results from searches between the two. I found clusty was just as good. Clusty was even better when it came to open source specific searches.
I will not use google or yahoo or ask. Or any other search engine that says they track your searches. Read their policies. And no I don't have any thing to hide, but look at the US today and the injustices that are taking place all in the name of national security. I personally want my personal life to be my own.
Use Firefox browser, download the NoScript add-on, disallow anything from google-analytics to run.
What the ****.
Stop making searches for kiddy porn and "how to make your own little mega bomb" and you will be just fine...
What the hell do you have to hide anyways?
Your expense sheet for hooker services?
WHAT?
Google getting too big...
Never good enough or too good to be true.
Fartheads!
Anyone who responds in this fashion hasn't thought it through enough. Honestly.
Get Firefox's NoScript plug-in and don't allow things like Google-analytics.com (which ironic enough is on this page).
It looks like there are currently talks of Microsoft purchasing Yahoo. If that happens I'll have to pass on Yahoo. Google does track your searches but it does so anonymously. It records a general location (city/state) and what was searched for. I'm sure it has the capability of being more exact in what it stores but at the same time it's in there best interest not to. Even if they did, however, I'm not too worried. I spend most of my time looking up good wholesome stuff like porn and how to manufacture explosives from household chemicals. Ha ha, just kidding... about the explosives.
The complete list of things to add to your HOSTS file (c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\HOSTS on Windows XP) and (/etc/hosts on Linux/BSD) is as follows:
-------------------------
127.0.0.1 pagead2.googlesyndication.com
127.0.0.1 adservices.google.com
127.0.0.1 ssl.google-analytics.com
127.0.0.1 www.google-analytics.com
127.0.0.1 imageads.googleadservices.com
127.0.0.1 imageads1.googleadservices.com
127.0.0.1 imageads2.googleadservices.com
127.0.0.1 imageads3.googleadservices.com
127.0.0.1 imageads4.googleadservices.com
127.0.0.1 imageads5.googleadservices.com
127.0.0.1 imageads6.googleadservices.com
127.0.0.1 imageads7.googleadservices.com
127.0.0.1 imageads8.googleadservices.com
127.0.0.1 imageads9.googleadservices.com
127.0.0.1 www.googleadservices.com
-------------------------
This way, you do not need to install additional ad-blocker software.
I do not use the Google Toolbar either - The Google Toolbar is the most widely distributed piece of spyware on the planet.
I use most of googles features, heck without google I would be lost, google rocks. Anyone that thinks it is giving away their security is a bit too paranoid...
You are the MAN!
You've just improved my surfing experience about 100%
Sites I go to now don't have adsense littered all over them ... just pure, clean content. Thanks!
I completely understand the whole Google thing, I have worked to aviod google as well. Instead of Google I use http://www.webcrawler.com and http://www.us.ixquick.com/
I find webcrawler gives me better results than Google and ixquick one step below webcrawler.
Exactly what information has Google gathered about you?
Everything you give them. Email records, instant messaging conversations, search history, EVERY website you visit*, etc.
* You must use the Google Toolbar or the site must utilise Google Analytics or other Google services.
It was bound to happen, just like MS on the 90's. Now it's google's turn, and there aren't any "software lock-in", proprietary protocol, interoperability issues to complain about. How about privacy? Yeah...yeah...that's the ticket. Cause I dont like the patriot act.... yeah...yeah, and my sister, she's in jail in china now... yeah....yeah..that's the ticket. Google sent my sister to jail in china. So, now I use crappy services instead.
(Just fyi, I work at Google.)
James, you said that to avoid Google collecting data on you, you've gone to Yahoo: "They [Yahoo] haven't yet given me reason to believe they're associating every action I make in some master database, though. This is good news, as I really have come to enjoy Yahoo!'s tools."
Yahoo has said that they store users' actions and use that for marketing:
http://preview.chiefmarketer.com/crm_loop/yahoo-071405/index.html
includes comments from Yahoo's Chief Data Officer: """He said, for example, that Yahoo collects over 10 terabytes of clickstream behavioral data each day, the equivalent of all the information within the Library of Congress.
"There's no database on planet that can handle that 10 terabyte load," he boasted."""
Likewise, another 2005 article quotes a different person at Yahoo.
http://www.thestreet.com/_tscs/tech/kevinkelleher/10237949.html
says
"""
"There's no bigger collection of data on this planet. We're collecting 10 terabytes of data a day, and that doesn't include Web pages and 'html' content, which may be the primary focus of someone at Google," says Raghavan, a research veteran from Verity and IBM.
"""
In more recent articles, Yahoo employees have said that it's 12 terabytes of user clicks and behavior a day now.
From working at Google, I've seen how much we care about users' privacy. I wrote a post about Google and privacy just a few days ago:
http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/google-and-privacy/
Thanks Matt for stopping by! I agree that Yahoo has a lot of customer data as well. So does CVS, Kroger, Costco, Time Warner Cable, Comcast, Delta, etc.
I hope one day each company offers us a big red button that allows us to "start over" and deletes everything in their history about that particular customer.
Good thing you started off telling you're employed by Google. Now we've all seen the response to the latest Privacy International report. Google started attacking anything. The conclusions were flawed, biased for a member was employed by MS etc.
Trust me, Yahoo does _not_ link del.icio.us, flickr, kelkoo, etc. information together. They are all separate entities...
Here are some ideas.
To find even better results try using Del.icio.us
Recent yahoo tagged links
http://del.icio.us/tags/yahoo
Popular yahoo tags
http://del.icio.us/popular/yahoo
Also try finding friends with similar interests on Del.icio.us.
And send each other links via the del.icio.us interface
For example, if your friend was called JohnDoe
You would add send him a link by adding the tag "for:JohnDoe"
If you create a network of 10 active and like minded friends you will start forgetting Google...
Start using StumbleUpon.
Start absorbing and reading RSS feeds from forums you like.
Marcel
It's nice to be paranoid about your privacy, but the steps you're taking have probably made yourself MORE vulnerable on average, not less. Yahoo and Ask both clearly have given you reason to believe they have a vast databases of your queries. In particular, we know for certain Yahoo has such a database, since the government went after it with a subpoena for your search terms several years ago.
http://www.boingboing.net/2006/01/19/_doj_search_requests.html
Google not only resisted, they took the case to court and won.
Meanwhile, Yahoo is also the company that released information on pro-democracy dissidents to the Chinese government and got them arrested. Whoops!
That's not to say I trust Google completely (I turned off my web history), but if you're going to use another search engine, the odds are they are logging the same information and are less likely to be looking after your interests.
Oh, and there's ample evidence that big ISP (like aT&T) are giving complete feeds of all their traffic to organizations like the NSA. I don't know _what_ we should do about that, but it worries me a heck of a lot more than some search engine recording what porn we look for!
HOW DO YOU LIVE WITHOUT YOUTUBE?!?!
Try good old Sex for a change. It could actually take your mind off Youtube for good.
Oh wait, you can't!?!
Oh what the ****.
Keep watching Youtube.....
I'd like to digg this comment. Pretty please!
Wow. Quite the collection of people with aluminum foil hats on in this place.
To help you better avoid other tracking methods you should also not use a discount shopping club card (and pay more for your food), any and all credit/debit cards (carry cash for EVERYTHING) and bicycle everywhere you go (so you don't need a driver's license or tags).
You may also want to use a pseudonym so Google (and other web crawlers) don't index your site and associate your name with this tripe (9assuming you don't already - James Thomas is kind of plain and nondescript).
This should put you firmly back in time to where people were afraid of the "Red" threat during the cold war.
Reading this and realizing that you have traded one paranoia of days past for another thinking you are so important that the government is out to get you is sad. You must live a depressing and wasted life fretting over a day that will never come.
I pity you.
Sean T.
You should try being cursed with intelligence for just one day. ;)
------
Wacky Labs -- This is supposed to look like a sig!
The US just scares the wits out of me, to the point that I am uncomfortable living beside your country. I now know how the countries just this side of the Iron Curtain felt, only at least they had the free world to defend them. Now, the "free" world isn't so free and the US has torn up the Constitution.
As for Google, well I too think that eventually the US government will force its way into Google's data base, so I keep putting in subversive search terms. I don't care what they bring up, but I end them all with " .... FBI/CIA, Bring cookies!"
I encourage everyone to do the same. If we fill the database with useless "suspicious" searches that go no where, the US government will just end up wasting its time and have to give up the idea.
Passive resistance, civil disobedience, these are our watch words and are enshrined rights that you will have to fight to keep. Remember;
"Those who would sacrifice liberty for security, deserve neither." - Benjamin Franklin
So instead you just have a government with the powe to censor news publications! Yay Canada!
Coming from a guy who's country doesn't let him own a hand gun. What about sacrificing liberty for security?
Great article! There should be a day when everyone does not do a Google web search to see how it affects them.
Thanks Ron... I meant for this to be more of a test case than true paranoia.
Once you get past the initial shock of not being able to find anything, it's not that bad. :)
------
Wacky Labs -- This is supposed to look like a sig!
Why don't you just block or remove Google's cookie each time you visit one of their sites? Surely that's much easier than just not using it altogether.
That's exactly what I've done, actaully... so I can't accidentally come across google content...
------
Wacky Labs -- This is supposed to look like a sig!
This is the one folks, better then yahoo!
http://us.ixquick.com/eng/protect_privacy.html
Ixquick's position:
You have a right to privacy.
Your search data should never fall into the wrong hands.
The only real solution is deleting your data.
We delete our users' privacy data within 48 hrs.
We are the first and only search engine to do so.
Why don't you just use anonymous proxies and surf the net like John Doe? I'm sure that would be less hassle.... They do it in China.
Just use a google proxy like blackboxsearch.com. All the results with none of the tracking.
A firefox extension called TrackMeNot probably does a good job preventing the google "master database" from cataloging a profile of you but frequently sending random searches. It may slow down your internet, but life without google is not possible anymore.
I use Live search. http://www.live.com/
It's pretty fast and almost as good as Google.
Umm... the much smarter alternative to all of this would be to encrypt anything on your computer with your name on it and just surf through a proxy or jump on a wireless network. Who cares if they have anonymous statistics if they can't be traced back to a name.
> hey haven't yet given me reason to believe they're associating every action I make in some master database, though. This is good news, as I really have come to enjoy Yahoo!'s tools
Well, if you registered for any of Yahoo's services, they do indeed maintain a database of what you do so they can target you. They have, and in fact have done such targeting longer than Google.
If you really fear the government will legislate Google, you'd better dump your ISP. I mean, they're logging literally everything you do, right? And in fact, the US government does want to tap into that data more.
I couldn't get by anymore without google - my home business runs on google - google apps - gmail + thunderbird for email - google docs for collaborative docs - google cal + calgoo www.calgoo.com for calendaring / meetings etc.
bizz
I use adblock, noscript and cookiesafe. That makes my setup pretty safe.
I also use tor sometimes, but it is just to slow to use it all the time, and i don't trust jap because they help law enforcement agencies, which are turning themselves like the big brother.
i guess we really need a better anonymous network. the blame is for tor developers, they made their net slow on purpose because people were using peer-to-peer software with it.
Glad to see that you found the experience of switching away from Google has been productive. There are plenty of other resources out there which are far superior. Instead of trying Ask, why not go for AskX, which gives a more holistic approach? Or Exalead, which has superior search syntax? Or Accoona, which is great for a focus on news and business information? Or indeed any of 100 other engines?
I've recently started running a day course called 'Better searching without Google' which looks at all the alternatives out there, and if you have time, take a look at http://www.philb.com/searchwithoutgoogle.htm and http://www.philb.com/whichengine.htm Really - there are LOTS of alternatives out there.
"The first thing to do was to block Google, but how? They're on almost every website out there, and they provide the best search on the internet. Well, I determined 2 ways...."
I think you have missed the most important way of blocking Google. Although you did well in blocking Google and Google-owned web sites, you may still have your browsing data gathered if you have the Google toolbar (with PageRank ON) installed in your browser. So, the most important thing you need to do in order to block Google is to log into your Google account and completely delete the "Web history". Only then you will be certain that you are no longer tracked.
Cheers,
Jovan
I made a commitment today to move away from Google completely. I had a problem with one of their services and the Google customer care completely shafted me.
So when I came across this and other articles, it's nice to know I'm not alone.