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Google Analytics to allow per-user opt-out
Lovers of privacy and of "not doing evil", rejoice!The Google Analytics team just announced they are working on a browser-based opt-out mechanism. In simple terms, this means that a user could install an add-on or a plug-in and simply say "I don't want Analytics to track me, ever". Bam -- done deal. No more Analytics tracking for said user on any site.
I think this is a brilliant PR move on the part of Google. Out of a 100% of all browser users, how many know add-ons exist? How many are aware of Analytics? Out of those, how many would go through the trouble of locating and installing anti-Analytics for their browser? I'm guessing is comes down to less than 0.5% of all users. So it's a total win for Google here; privacy lovers can't whine because it's really the only Analytics suite with selective opt-out (to the best of my knowledge, anyway) while on the whole, Analytics won't be affected at all. Genius.
Comments
13
Subscribe to commentsmaster811Mar 18th 2010 8:26PM
This isn't exactly hard to do anyway, at least not with Firefox. Simply set No-Script to block anything from the google-analytics.com domain. Sorted.
dogboiMar 18th 2010 10:14PM
There's a plug-in for Firefox called Ghostery that allows you to do this already. It also lets you block affiliate ad trackers, and other such things. Highly recommended.
youngorthoMar 19th 2010 12:59AM
Sounds like Ghostery was sold to an advertising firm and they may themselves now be using tracking your browsing habits and profiting from that information:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/9609
DioMar 18th 2010 11:11PM
Is google ready to inform the clueless users that the they are being tracked by accessing any sites which uses Analytics and provide a link to the guidance / help page which is explains what is what with a link to download the add-on? Then that's what is called "No Evil." This is Do All Evil under the disguise "No Evil."
alex danteMar 19th 2010 2:30AM
How is it evil to show a site administrator useful usage statistics about the sites they maintain? If anything, doesn't that improve the end user experience? Isn't that the nature of the contract here, that you provide me with a small portion of non-trackable information and I'll do my best to tweak the site to suit?
Is Microsoft obligated to tell every IE user that their IP can be recorded by sites they visit? Should Mozilla be required to warn you when you fire up Firefox that sites can determine the screen resolution you're running at? When you buy a car, does Ford have to sit you through a training film to explaining that hitting other vehicles at velocity can kill you?
I really don't understand this persistent and pervasive paranoia. Google doesn't give a shit about you. Site admins don't give a shit about you. Noone is rubbing their hands together going "ah ha! Dio's using Firefox 3.6 with Windows XP, LET'S STEAL HIS IDENTITY!!!" When I fire up GA, the questions it answers for me are abstract ones about users-as-a-collective, there's _nothing_ that ties anything about you to the information I see.
What I can find out with GA is whether I need to modify my layout because there are more 800x600 users out there than I'd anticipated, it's not like I get access to your porn browsing habits or how fat you are, so give it a rest with the "no evil" crap already.
Crome TysnomiGnu32Mar 19th 2010 4:26AM
Agreeing with alex, this is a move for the paranoid. I can't tie the statistics I get to individual users and find out who they are (nor frankly do I care who they are personally). I use the statistics to check the browser share AND various graphical settings.
Sure I guess, an opt-out option is always peace of mind but this or the fact Google has an analytics suite doesn't make them "evil".
nicholascronwrightMar 18th 2010 11:10PM
If you are running a business does this mean you lose conversion tracking as well? It's a very short post over at the Google blog and doesn't make any reference to this fact. I know the business where I work uses Analytics tracking for conversion data on websites.
ProlornMar 18th 2010 11:11PM
IIRC, the Customize Google extension for Firefox also allows you to block Analytics tracking, among many other features. Been a while since I last checked, but it was there.
Will be nice to have an official solution, though. Props to the Analytics team.
JackMar 19th 2010 1:08AM
I think this is a bad move for Google for their Analytical product. Why use it when it's not going to be accurate.
You may get an average 10 views per day (low figures to make it simple) but if 3 people don't want to be tracked, your stats are wrong which organizations can make crucial losses due to this inaccurate information.
So it's probably best to ditch Google Analytics and go for something else.
JackMar 19th 2010 6:24PM
But now it is going to be more inaccurate isn't it?
Don't tracking programs need to have as close to 100% accuracy? Google is simply making a good product worse.
amiga_dudeMar 19th 2010 6:10AM
I just have Firefox to deleted all cookies.
Go to
1) "Options/Privacy/Firefox" will "Use customes settings for history"
2) "Options/Privacy/Keep Until" select "I close firefox" (This is hidden unless do previous set)
Then each time you exit out firefox all cookies will be deleted. Then I have little script that remove all those flash cookies. Just do quick google on this privacy killer "flash cookies"
RGMar 19th 2010 8:40AM
Back when I cared about GA it wouldn't even show me individual visitor IPs.
Sure I was going to check each IP and stalk my site visitors
Things like Myspace (setting up meetings, etc.) are privacy issues not analytics software
mmbbMar 19th 2010 7:51PM
hosts file:
127.0.0.1 google-analytics.com