Posted on 02/19/2012 11:36:10 PM PST by LegendHasIt
OK, a few hours ago I tried to do a google search.... Something very benign (I do all my searches for things that 0bama & co wouldn't like with other search engines anyway).
So I type in my search terms and click the button.
And it comes back with a page saying "We have detected unusual search patterns coming from your computer. You must identify yourself to continue., with blanks to fill in, and one of those security scramble graphics where you have to type in the letters/numbers to prove you aren't a robot.
Of course I got the heck out of there immediately, and swore to never use google again, since I don't trust them anyway.
Then a full computer scan with Ad-Aware reported a "hostile entry attempt from google.com" and submitted it for "Threat Alliance analysis".
I don’t think the majority of the posters were wise to your tongue-in-cheek contributions. In fact, I don’t think the target of your original post asking ‘where you get this special search engine treatment?’ ever got the real point you were making.
So now we have an entire thread that, to the casual internet reader (non-tech-savvy), will seem to serve as a big ol’ warning about evil google (mea culpa: I really wish there was an effective alternative to it, but it’s so embedded into the way I surf and use the web, I can’t replace it). So in this case, a lazy reader will see this thread and add another log to their personal, virtual fire of google hate, when in truth, our thread starter actiually had a virus or other malware.
Lastly, I too fervently endorse the use of hosts file entries to block unwanted content (ads and more). I learned that originally right here on FreeRepublic.com more than 10 years ago. I use the 30,000 line one found at the first (he he) google hit for HOSTS MVPS.
Another alternate search engine:
http://www.duckduckgo.com
why are you using Google to get to FR?
I have been having problems with scroogle recently.
For a few days a message that google was blocking their searches would come up more and more frequently. Starting yesterday, when I click on scroogle link, I am redirected to my ISP search with the message:
“We are sorry, www.scroogle.org cannot be found.”.
I wasn't. The phone was blocking me getting onto the web until I entered the stupid letters (that I couldn't read).
All I could get to on my phone was my email. Then, google screwed up my email going to my phone. They updated something so that only email with a pop account was not going to my phone.
I finally took the phone to Verizon yesterday and let them change the entered info.
I think that is correct.
I have only gotten those prompts when I am searching and not finding what I want. I keep changing the terms or I start a new search with keywords garnered from a previous search and quick review of the front page results.
I do tend to use Ixquick and Start Page for most searches. I really don’t see much difference in the results. I read that Ixquick is following EU rules on privacy, so I think we can trust their statement that they don’t record IPs.
I gather that if you do not have Gmail open when searching Google, then you don’t get the keywords thrown back at you via ads. Is this true? I don’t use Gmail. My ISP provides a web mail and I use Eudora at home and the web mail when on other computers or traveling.
However: the history on any computer is open to authorities. They do know which sites you regularly read.
So, we won’t see you in the Resistance?
;-)
There is a new one called DO NOT TRACK PLUS. I run it in addition to Ghostery... seems to work well... catches most of the ones Ghostery lets through.
I added it to Firefox on mine. I believe I can trust these guys, because they are at least stating that they are not storing anything. Unlike Google.
I assume that if you are not logged in to your gmail as you search, that they can’t track your activity and link it to your gmail in the form of ads. I’ve had no advertisements come into my Droid phone despite my many searches. They DO know my IP though, as I do google searches and I’m sitting there looking at ads from Corpus Christi. I did a search on a book, and later on I saw google ads like an hour later for Amazon featuring the book I searched. A bit interesting.
This is all guessing though, I don’t know how Google does their thing, and I haven’t read their new privacy policy.
OH! heh. good, I pictured you doing what my mother does whenever she wants to go to a website she googles it then clicks the link instead of just typing it in the address bar.
All the ads I am served with as I surf the web are for companies from whom I have already purchased or they are simply advertisers on the opened site.
My husband is active on several specialty forums thru his Gmail and he isn’t getting ads from those market niches, except for those he purchases from on a regular basis.
I would notice Amazon books influencing the ads I see and I don’t.
It isn’t all that annoying.
Very strict privacy policy? Have you read it? Garbage!
I’m with you. Yahoo is the better, by far. I haven’t seen anything even resembling them wanting to get into our knickers as google has done.
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