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Google Analytics will let you tell it less

Opt in to giving it nothing
Wed May 26 2010, 15:41

ANONYMOUS BROWSING is almost possible but still not quite here with Google Analytic's latest features that can keep some IP address data from webmasters and allow surfers to opt out of giving usage tracking information.

A beta version of a browser add-on that allows surfers to escape logging of their website visits for Internet Exporer, Firefox and Chrome has been released. Google Analytics' opt-out browser add-on gives users a choice of whether or not information about website visits is collected by the program.

The search company's blog posting announcing the changes was written by Amy Chang, Google Analytics director of product management. She said, "The add-on stops data from being sent from your computer when you visit websites that use Google Analytics Javascript (ga.js) to track usage."

While the partial IP address feature is for website owners that want to offer visitors the option of making their IP address information be sent to Google anonymously. Website owners can choose to have Google Analytics store and use only a portion of the IP address for geographic reports.

Sadly though any browser will leave a 'fingerprint' behind when websites log each visitor's OS configuration and version information, web browser and browser plug-ins. The moral of the story being, apparently, don't visit any sites you might not want anyone to know about. µ

 

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Comments
OptimizeGoogle

For years, Firefox extension OptimizeGoogle (along with its predecessor CustomizeGoogle) has been short-circuiting Google Analytics, Google's click-tracking and Google's cookies.

posted by : Anon, 26 May 2010 Complain about this comment
Or opt out entirely with Noscript and hosts file.

As I've done for years. Of course, doesn't stop original site from noting that, but makes it inconvenient for centralized tracking.

The offered "opt out" is sheer illusion. More interesting is WHY they're even putting it out. I'd say it's either a placebo for those just now becoming concerned, OR a way to directly get a statement that in itself valuable information to -- whoever.

posted by : bigger_luddite, 26 May 2010 Complain about this comment
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