|
Originally Posted by quack
|
|
Even the Google toolbar I'm told is spyware
|
It really depends on your definition of spyware. Google does collect anonymous browsing information and sends it back, but only if YOU check the box that allows it to do so during installation (and I would imagine they let you turn it off in the options after it's installed too). They don't try to hide it, it is a very blatant prompt.
Every search you do at google, msn, yahoo, etc uses a cookie and tracks what you search and where you go. If you use one of their mail services too, they could (even though they don't yet) associate your searches with your mail, and if you shop with them or visit ads, they track that, etc. So you are giving up more info with just your normal browsing habits than by downloading programs.
But most of this info is generally anonymous. They aren't going to call you or send you spam. They aren't stealing you credit card or trashing your credit rating. They are just getting information to help their marketers decide what products they want to offer that will appeal to the most people. So in actuality, you are probably doing yourself more of a service by giving them this information, because then they could come out with something that you really want...that anonymous info is like your vote on a new product.
The WORST that could be (and is to some extent) done is very specific ads targeted at you. But it's not like they would be extra or more, they would just be the original spots replaced with something directed at you. But as I would imagine like the majority of people here, we are the 'thinking' type of consumer...we like to do our own research before we buy, and ads rarely persuade us...we are the type of people marketers hate. We don't react on visceral emotions and we don't take an ad's word for a product reliability/quality/etc.
So I generally turn the anonymous info on. (Unless I think they will try and spam my e-mail or something, but then that isn't anonymous)