Is this the way the cookie crumbled?Internet News By Marc Chacksfield Friday at 12:51 UTC | Tell us what you think [ 0 comments ]
Tweet
Google - not planning to go on Safari again anytime soon Google has responded to claims that it has been cookie gathering through Apple's Safari website, explaining that it has not collected personal information but just wanted to know which users were signed into Google.
Rachel Whetstone, senior vice president of communications and public policy, has explained the situation in a statement and outlined the reasons why the search giant was found with its hands in the cookie jar after creating a loophole to circumvent Safari's security settings.
The loophole was originally reported by the Wall Street Journal, but Whetstone believes that Google's reasons for doing this were 'mischaracterised' by the paper.
"We used known Safari functionality to provide features that signed-in Google users had enabled. It's important to stress that these advertising cookies do not collect personal information.
"Unlike other major browsers, Apple's Safari browser blocks third-party cookies by default. However, Safari enables many web features for its users that rely on third parties and third-party cookies, such as "Like" buttons. Last year, we began using this functionality to enable features for signed-in Google users on Safari who had opted to see personalised ads and other content--such as the ability to "+1" things that interest them."
Temporary communication link
Whetstone's statement continued: "To enable these features, we created a temporary communication link between Safari browsers and Google's servers, so that we could ascertain whether Safari users were also signed into Google, and had opted for this type of personalization.
"But we designed this so that the information passing between the user's Safari browser and Google's servers was anonymous – effectively creating a barrier between their personal information and the web content they browse.
"However, the Safari browser contained functionality that then enabled other Google advertising cookies to be set on the browser.
"We didn't anticipate that this would happen, and we have now started removing these advertising cookies from Safari browsers. It's important to stress that, just as on other browsers, these advertising cookies do not collect personal information.
"Users of Internet Explorer, Firefox and Chrome were not affected. Nor were users of any browser (including Safari) who have opted out of our interest-based advertising program using Google's Ads Preferences Manager."
So there you have it – Google did something, which caused Safari to do something else, which in turn meant Google stopped doing something.
Cookies were involved but personal information was not. Phew.
Tags: Google, Safari, internet, cookiesTweetreddit!StumbleuponComment on this article Tell us what you thinkYou need to Log in or register to post comments By submitting this form you agree to our Terms of Use and so are legally responsible for anything you submit. DO NOT submit anything which may violate the Terms of Use or another person's rights including copyrighted or offensive materials.
Submit Explore News WebBroadbandVoIP Related News Google wins back typo domainsGoogle and Facebook bypassing Safari securityGoogle PageRank algorithm could help medical breakthroughsGoogle Wallet fixes pre-paid card issueAereo brings live broadcast TV over internet in NYC Related Reviews Kaspersky ONE Internet SecuityQ2 Internet RadioPanda Internet Security 2012 
The future of Google revealed DNA analysis, driverless cars, weather insurance and more
NEWESTMOST READMOST COMMENTED TECH NEWS HEADLINESLG Optimus Vu arrives to take on Galaxy NoteFacebook hacker jailediPad 3 leaks expose Retina Display, 8-megapixel camera?Apple App Store about to hit 25 billion downloadsHow to protect your passwords with KeePassTurn an old laptop into a CCTV cameraHow to install Android on other devicesMore TECH NEWS HEADLINES20 best mobile phones in the world todayBest TV 2012: what TV should you buy this year?Top 50 best free iPad apps 201250 best free Android apps 2012Top 50 best free iPhone apps 2012Best Android phone - which should you buy?Top laptops: 20 best laptops in the world TECH NEWS HEADLINESBest Android phone - which should you buy? (54)HTC One X: what you need to know (14)10 bits of tech your kids will laugh at you for owning (12)Future shock: the next decade in computing (10)10 things we wish Apple would reinvent (10)Apple boss dampens Kindle Fire competition (9)HTC One X 'ditches physical buttons' (7)Find a review
Do you subscribe to a film streaming service?
YesNo, not enough contentNo, I love physical mediaNo, too expensiveWhat's film streaming?Vote Results Where am I?Technology NewsTech newsApple newsMobile phone newsTablet newsTV newsCamera newsPC component newsPC newsLaptop newsInternet newsGadget newsGaming newsHome cinema newsHi-fi newsTechnology ReviewsDigital camera reviewsCamcorder reviewsMobile phone reviewsMP3 and iPod reviewsNetworking reviewsPC reviewsPC component reviewsLaptop reviewsTablet reviewsTV reviewsBlu-ray reviewsHi-fi reviewsTechRadarAbout usContact usSitemapReport this pageAccessibilityMedia enquiriesTerms and conditionsPrivacy policyAdvertising enquiriesJobsMore from TechRadarRegister & email newsletterFacebookTwitterYouTubeRSS feedsForumsPhone dealsSell your old mobileTechRadar Network3D RadarTap! magazineMacFormat magazinePC Format magazinePC Plus magazineLinux Format magazine
Copyright 2006 - 2011 Future Publishing Limited,
30 Monmouth Street, Bath, BA1 2BW, United Kingdom
England and Wales company registration number 2008885
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment