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Filed under: Security, News, Microsoft, Search

Anonymity sweeps the internet: Microsoft jumps on the bandwagon

AnonymousAsk is doing it, Google's doing it, so of course Microsoft doesn't want to be left out of this new privacy sensation that's sweeping the nation. Of course, while Google announced a policy to limit how long it holds onto personally identifiable search data and Ask launched a service to let users delete their private data immediately after a search, Microsoft is calling for a new set of standards. No firm announcements of a new privacy policy here.

But it's not a bad idea. Microsoft and Ask have issued a joint call to develop a global privacy standard for data collection, use, and protection. They're looking to start a dialog with other industry leaders to develop privacy principles that protect users while making use of anonymous data to improve online search and advertising services.

While the press release has an altruistic tone, it also comes at a time when the European Union is pressuring Microsoft to change its privacy policy.

[via The Technology Free Press]

Filed under: Business, Internet, Web services, Google

How to use Google Analytics

If you've got a web site or blog, you're probably using a statistics tracking service like StatCounter, SiteMeter or Google Analytics. Without a doubt, Google Analytics is the most comprehensive system around for tracking and analyzing visitor data for your website. But there are so many bells and whistles that it can be a bit intimidating.

Nonprofit consultant Beth Kantor has put together a great primer on Google Analytics. It's intended for nonprofits, but it's useful for anyone struggling to make sense of all the graphs and charts in Google Analytics.



If you already understand the value of an web analytics package, we'd recommend skipping ahead to the 2 minute mark, where Kantor begins to explain the five steps you should take before setting up your account.

Filed under: Internet, Security, News, Web services, Google

Google takes baby step to protect your privacy

Got data? Google does. When you search the web using any search engine, you probably know that the search terms you use are archived -- possibly for an incredibly long amount of time -- and sometimes it's not as safe as you'd think.

Google announced late last night that your search data will soon sit idle for a much shorter period of time, theoreticly protecting it more from the prying eyes of potential hackers, lawsuits and subpoenas. In aid of compliance with EU rules on privacy, Google's new policy will see them retain personalized search history data for 18-24 months, and as they claim, makes them the "first leading company to publish a data retention policy".

While we're not sure they're the first, it is nice to see the monolithic and often mysterious Google come forward and display a bit of transparency on a subject that's near and dear to us as avid search users. While we'd prefer that everyone's search data disappear into the ether just as quickly as it once came -- giving you the user ultimate control over your level of privacy -- this is an important step and one that rival search providers will most likely follow. Who knows, maybe we'll start a privacy war and the length of saved search history will drop to nil. Not bloody likely, eh?

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The World's Hardest Game 2.0 - Time Waster

So, just how good at time waster games are you? Think you've got the stuff? Well, The World's Hardest Game 2.0 doesn't think you do. Yes, amazingly, it's possible to have a sequel to a game called "The World's Hardest Game". It doesn't seem logically possible, since if the first one was actually the world's hardest, how could another one come along and share the moniker? It made me doubt the name in the first place. That is, until I tried the game. The mechanics of the game are very simple. You are a small red square, ...

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