Google Reveals Personal Data in Search Results

March 30, 2016

Our lives are already all over the Internet, but Google recently unleashed a new feature that takes it to a new level.  Search Engine Watch tells us about, “Google Shows Personal Data Within Search Results, Tests ‘Recent Purchases’ Feature” and the new way to see your Internet purchases.

Google pulls the purchase information most likely from Gmail or Chrome.   The official explanation is that Google search is now more personalized, because it does pull information from Google apps:

“You can search for information from other Google products you use, like Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google+. For example, you can search for information about your upcoming flights, restaurant reservations, or appointments.”

Personalized Google search can display results now only from purchases but also bills, flights, reservations, packages, events, and Google Photos.  It is part of Google’s mission to not only organize the world, but also be a personal assistant, part of the new Google Now.

While it is a useful tool to understand your personal habits, organize information, and interact with data like in a science-fiction show, at the same time it is creepy being able to search your life with Google.  Some will relish in the idea of having their lives organized at their fingertips, but others will feel like the NSA or even Dark Web predators will hack into their lives.

 

Whitney Grace, March 30, 2016
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, publisher of the CyberOSINT monograph

 

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