Preventing Google from tracking my searches

Topic

New Reply

Whenever I do a Google search, and then hold my cursor over a link that it returns, it shows the final, target address where I will end up if I click on the link. However, if I click on that link, it immediately switches to a Google address, goes there for just a second, and then takes me to the actual target address.

I know that Google is tracking where I go whenever that happens.

Does anyone know an easy way to keep it from routing through Google, so that they can’t easily track where I go?

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 10 running in a remote session on my file server

Reply | Quote

Replies

See http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/29/google-privacy-changes-how-to-remove-web-history_n_1307489.html

Jerry

Reply | Quote

I use DuckDuckGo, it uses Google and other search engines and filter me from any tracking. https://duckduckgo.com/privacy

I’ve found it saves me a heap of time by feeding me real results, not those which Google’s tracking ‘thinks’ I want )or those that are paying Google to display them).

Reply | Quote

I use DuckDuckGo, it uses Google and other search engines and filter me from any tracking. https://duckduckgo.com/privacy

I’ve found it saves me a heap of time by feeding me real results, not those which Google’s tracking ‘thinks’ I want )or those that are paying Google to display them).

I use startpage.com when I’m not at work. It does exactly what you have described for DuckDuckGo.

The problem is, when I’m at work, Google is the official search engine that we are told to use, so I can’t avoid it when I’m at work.

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 10 running in a remote session on my file server

Reply | Quote

The problem is, when I’m at work, Google is the official search engine that we are told to use, so I can’t avoid it when I’m at work.

Hmmm. Startpage itself uses Google to provide its search results, so using Startpage might technically satisfy your work requirement.

If not, the Firefox (if you’re allowed to use Firefox) add-on GoogleSharing might help – it may or may not still be being developed, but it still works (albeit occasionally with problems). For an overview, see http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/security/googlesharing-a-way-to-prevent-tracking-by-google/3032

Reply | Quote

An alternative to the search engines mentioned above, you might want to check out the DoNotTrackMe add-in, depending on the browser you use. http://www.abine.com/donottrackme/faq/

Reply | Quote

Here is a trick that I sometimes use. In Google’s search results, right under each link, (usually in green) is the URL you want. I just select and copy that, and paste it into the address bar in a new tab. This is especially useful for those times when Google gets stuck trying to load that intermediate address before redirecting you to your final destination.

I have also used DuckDuckGo and StartPage.com, and use the DoNotTrackMe plug-in. I have no complaints with any of them.

Reply | Quote

Here is a trick that I sometimes use. In Google’s search results, right under each link, (usually in green) is the URL you want. I just select and copy that, and paste it into the address bar in a new tab. This is especially useful for those times when Google gets stuck trying to load that intermediate address before redirecting you to your final destination.

I have also used DuckDuckGo and StartPage.com, and use the DoNotTrackMe plug-in. I have no complaints with any of them.

I always try it that way. Sometimes, however, only the beginning and the ending of the address is shown.

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 10 running in a remote session on my file server

Reply | Quote

Use ixquick instead.

Reply | Quote

I begin in FF and then want to invoke Ixquick or Startpage, which search through a proxy. However, when I enter even the most innocuous query (say, cat), each service hangs, with a “rotating basketball” that never resolves, even after an hour.

I’ve disabled all the Firefox add-ons, plug-ins and scripts, including the pop-up blocker, No-Script and Adblock+, to no avail. Any ideas?

Reply | Quote

To follow up, I’ve been given permission to use startpage.com as my search engine at work. Case closed.

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 10 running in a remote session on my file server

Reply | Quote

By the way, Google Web History tracking can be turned off by going into your Google Account (or creating one) and going to the settings page where the Google History toggle is located. (Here.) Mine is turned off. I have a Google Account because I use GMail. You don’t even need to sign in to disable the more generic Google Web History analytics. DoNotTrackMe is also an excellent way to stop Google from tracking your web history and search history, though it isn’t 100 percent complete regarding Google Analytics.

-- rc primak

Reply | Quote

Hmmm. Does anyone really believe that disabling Google Web History tracking actually stops them from recording what you’ve been doing? And as for creating a Google Account in order to do that … well, words fail me! Far better to use a program that anonymises your searches, as other posters have suggested.

Reply | Quote

Hmmm. Does anyone really believe that disabling Google Web History tracking actually stops them from recording what you’ve been doing? And as for creating a Google Account in order to do that … well, words fail me! Far better to use a program that anonymises your searches, as other posters have suggested.

To just turn off the Web History does not require getting a Google Account.

If you have a Google Account already (as I have) you get more granular controls.

I have done it both ways, and the results are genuine and do stick for long periods.

But I do like DoNotTrackMe better.

-- rc primak

Reply | Quote