How Google is tracking you, and how to avoid it

From Google Redirects Fixer:

 

As already mentioned Google is contacted via a browsers (e.g.Firefox) built-in Phishing
and Malware protection settings enabled by default. ("phone home")

browser.safebrowsing.enabled
browser.safebrowsing.malware.enabled
urlclassifier.keyupdatetime.https://sb-ssl.google.com/safebrowsing/newkey

Chances are in your browser search plugins you'll have Google listed.

If your still using older browser (below Firefox 23) you could have a keyword.URL preference
that defaults to http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&sourceid=navclient&gfns=1&q=

Note: This preference was removed to consolidate search preferences in Firefox 23.

 

Fortunately, HTTP Switchboard can allow, e.g., googleapis for specific websites and still block them for all others if you select domain-level or site-level scopes. (This can't be done in Noscript unless you add relatively complex ABE rules.)

Now you might argue that it doesn't make any sense to use Google Chrome if you want to avoid Google tracking. But I still think it's possible by chosing the right counter-measures (besides chosing the appropriate settings discussed in other threads):

1. HTTPSB does a lot by blocking behind-the-scene requests (if configured accordingly).
2. You can use command-line switches like

Code:

--host-rules="MAP *.google-analytics.com 0.0.0.0","MAP *.googleadservices.com 0.0.0.0","MAP *.doubleclick.net 0.0.0.0","MAP *.googletagservices.com 0.0.0.0"

3. You can add specific Google services, e.g., to your hosts file.

 

NoScript can do it too using ABE. You can also do it with AdBlock Plus/Edge.

 

Yes, that's exactly what I wrote above ... However, it's rather inconvenient compared to HTTPSB.

That's true. But it's not very convenient, either.

 

One of its best features, for sure. I use it for only the sites that require content I'd otherwise block so the site will function properly.

 

Well google pretty much has a full monopoly of the internet so attempting to stop it from tracking you will be a constant game of catch me up.

 

Yep, its great for those materialistic individuals.

Certainly NOT great for real people

 

Unless you're some freak living in the woods you do have needs too and ads should be a nice way to find things that can satisfy your needs. Problem is that in the current state they don't.