Monday, May 4, 2015

Deleting Your Google Search History

You can download and peruse what Google has collected about you over the years in a Zip file then open it up and watch in horror as everything you have ever searched for comes rushing back onto the screen right in front of your eyes. Or, you can delete that sucker forever going all the way back to your first Google search or as they put it, "To the beginning of time".

Or you can do both.

I had done this once a few years ago and then went into their preferences page and turned off the history function so according to what they tell you to your face, they do not collect and save anything after that point. (cough, cough)


Here’s How to Download and Delete What Google Search Knows About You

 


Daniel HowleyTechnology ReporterApril 23, 2015


 

Have you ever wondered what Google Search really knows about you? Well, now you can check, as Google has added a new feature that lets you view and download your entire search history.
Yep. Everything.
The feature, which was spotted by the unofficial Google Operating System Blog — though VentureBeat points out that the function was made available in January — gives you access to everything from what you searched for to the links you clicked on from those searches. It also shows you the addresses you’ve searched for.
I was even able to see the list of images I clicked on while searching for pictures of cats eating spaghetti. Now imagine what you’ve looked for. Oh, and clearing your browser history won’t delete this data.
But there’s no reason to panic, because in addition to being able to download your search history, you can clear it.

First, here’s how to download your history:

 

You click on that link right there and you go follow the very easy directions that nice fellow researched and published! 

 


One warning before you run over there and just blindly go deleting it without looking, there may very well be something in there that you want to save first, this is why downloading it first is a good idea.

The reason I say that is because not only does Google save your search history, those bastards have got their fingers in all kinds of pies that you might not think of right away, like images.
I found some very old family pictures from one of my Grandmothers side that were sent to me by her cousin that Google had stored and I did not remember doing.

I looked and didn't see a copy on this computer so I am guessing that they were saved on a computer that died and I no longer own but were also on some Google Drive thingy I didn't remember either.

Seriously, I don't want to step on anyone's toe's here, all I am doing is passing on the information that it is possible to do such a thing and giving you a map to find those directions.

You can bet your ass I deleted MY history though.........

I stumbled on this over at SurvivalBlog while cruising around.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

With the NSA, etc. already having copies of all OUR stuff, isn't this a bit like closing the barn door after the animals are gone? Kinda like a placebo IMO.

Dan said...

So......you REALLY believe that all that crap is TRULY deleted? My aren't you a special kind of ignorant. Once acquired such information will NEVER be removed. They 'might' let you view it.....then again you have no way to know if what they show you is real....but they will never part with Intel. EVER

Phil said...

Well Mr. Dan, first I would like to thank you for stopping by in the first place and then taking a moment to leave a comment, I do appreciate that even if you kind of didn't say many nice things.
No, I'm not that special kind of ignorant.
In case you missed it there was a small link to an article about PRISM included above. (Cough, cough).
The NSA gets my input to Google the same time they do and gets Google's reply to me at the same time I do.

The NSA more than likely has a copy of every single thing I have ever done on the internet as far as I know or care.
Fuck them.
I don't think I can make it any plainer than that.
Do I like it?
No.
Do I think it is in even the slightest, most twisted way anyone could ever come up with legal?

Fuck No.

Are they ever going to stop?
Again, Fuck No, not in my lifetime.

That is never going to stop me from sharing my thoughts or concerns on the internet though.
Not until they either unplug it or pry the keyboard out from under my cold, dead fingers.

Once again, you have my thanks for stopping by and if I was to lay odds I would say we have more in common than not so please feel free to swing by anytime, the door is always open.
I do not discourage different views around here unless you are some goat fucking rag head or a government dick sucking quisling.
Then I just delete your drivel and move on.
;)

Dan said...

It's not just the NSA.....GOOGLE and all the other 'private' collectors and purveyors of information collect it and keep because it is worth big money.....so when they tell you that you can delete something they are lying. It would be the same as allowing you to burn their dollars. Never gonna happen and anyone who buys their BS is a fool. Money is power. Information is BOTH.

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