Google To Make Search Data Anonymous

Danny Sullivan from Search Engine Land has reported that Google intends to “anonymize” the search data it collects after a period of 18 – 24 months. This move is intended to protect the privacy of its users. Until now Google has kept user search data indefinitely, making it possible for anyone who has access to the logs to track queries back to users.

Danny Sullivan in his article Google Anonymizes Search Records To Protect Privacy explains that when we visit any web site, the web server records certain information about our visit. Below is a simplified version of what Google records if we enter the search terms 'laptop broadband':

67.42.6.24 – 13/Mar/2007 00:44:15 – http://www.google.com/search?g=laptop+broadband – DQG4AADOkAAAAB_kWnOFCUZ15

There are four main segments:

IP Address – An IP Address is like an internet telephone number, and can be used in a similar way to trace a call back to the person who made it. The address can also tell what sort of connection was used and what location the request was made from.

Date & Time – Date and time request was made.

Query Terms – This is termed referrer information and describes the search terms entered.

Cookie – This is a unique code that is assigned to a particular computer by Google. This allows Google to record requests from each computer even if the location of that computer changes.

Google’s plan is to change the IP address and cookies, thus making it extremely difficult to trace a query back to a particular computer or user. Google is still working out the finer points, so stay tuned for more information!





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