See what Google knows about you

Google is really leading the pack when it comes to their transparency regarding user data. This plus the Google Dashboard means basically anything Google knows about me is shown at one glance and I can opt out at the click of a button.<p>They need to link to these preferences from the Dashboard (but I bet they're scared out of their minds that everyone will opt out...)

"Your categories: You have opted out of Google's interest-based advertising. No interest categories are associated with your browser."<p>To opt-out just go here: <a href="http://www.google.com/ads/preferences/html/intl/en/plugin/" rel="nofollow">http://www.google.com/ads/preferences/html/intl/en/plugin/</a>

I have no problem with targeted ads excepting one. Many of the categories have no product! Lots of software related thingys, but nothing I can look at :( Many of the magazines that I still subscribe to at least have adds that allow me to fantasize about what I could do if I had but the funds...

This is my full list, and none of it is surprising. I'm just glad they don't assume I'm older :-)<p><pre><code> Arts &#38; Entertainment - Movies - Science Fiction &#38; Fantasy Films Computers &#38; Electronics Computers &#38; Electronics - Hardware - ... - Chips &#38; Processors Computers &#38; Electronics - Hardware - ... - Sound &#38; Video Cards Computers &#38; Electronics - Hardware - Laptops Computers &#38; Electronics - Programming Computers &#38; Electronics - Software - Operating Systems - Linux &#38; Unix Internet &#38; Telecom - Web Services - Web Hosting &#38; Domain Registration Jobs &#38; Education - Education - Vocational &#38; Continuing Education Online Communities - Social Networks Demographics - Age - 25-34 Demographics - Gender - Male </code></pre> Honestly I don't know why this level is surprising. I think as the world gets more connected, the community is gonna get a little smaller (in feel, at least), and we're going to become less anonymous. If the bad guys get less anonymous too, and nobody pretends that this stuff is sufficient to definitely identify me, I don't see a problem. Yup, big "ifs."

You can also modify Yahoo!'s information on your account as well:<p><a href="http://info.yahoo.com/privacy/us/yahoo/opt_out/targeting/" rel="nofollow">http://info.yahoo.com/privacy/us/yahoo/opt_out/targeting/</a>

"Computers &#38; Electronics - Programming - Java"<p>Blasphemy!<p>Python for ever!

I use Noscript and have marked doubleclick as "Untrusted". It just shows "You cannot view or edit interests when you do not have an 'id' cookie. Opt-in to get a cookie."

This is pretty cool, but it thinks I've quite a bit older than I am. :)<p>I don't think there's anything wrong with targeted ads - I for one am not opting out!

Me: Male from 35 to 44, no other information:<p>That's not correct, I am a girl of 25.

"No interest categories are associated with your ads preferences so far."<p>Google has nothing on me, apparently.

On my original look at this, Google had one of my interests as hockey. I've never shown any interest in the sport, nor have any of my friends, so I was confused. Upon reloading the page, "Hockey" was gone, although I had taken a screenshot before, and noticed a number of other preference had been removed, leaving a much better fit of my activities.<p>Prior to my refresh I had video streamining, photo sharing, and online video as my "interests" despite the fact I don't tend to use my computer for these kinds of things. These are obviously things I <i>might</i> be interested in (25-34 male demograph), but am not particularly. I wonder why they would appear and disappear like this? How often are the preferences updated (hourly? daily? monthly?)

Fascinating - it got my gender right and age right but I have no clue where it got the categories from - books and web development are probably the only two things that are even in the ballpark. "Online Goodies"? - no clue!<p><pre><code> Arts &#38; Entertainment - Music &#38; Audio - ... - Song Lyrics &#38; Tabs Books &#38; Literature Internet &#38; Telecom - Web Services - Web Design &#38; Development Jobs &#38; Education - Education Law &#38; Government Online Communities - Online Goodies Online Communities - Online Goodies - Skins Themes &#38; Wallpapers Demographics - Age - 25-34 Demographics - Gender - Male</code></pre>

If anyone is interested, I found this existed from a daily newsletter I subscribed to - <a href="http://dlewis.net/nik/" rel="nofollow">http://dlewis.net/nik/</a><p>Sure the things on the list aren't that bad, but if google can get that much just from you browsing the web they could probably get a lot more. And yeah they are transparent by showing what they know about you and it's one click to opt-out but how would someone even find that page in the first place.

Why use a cookie if you could finally make use of the Do-No-Track header (or however it was called)?<p>Granted, that's a feature only found in newer browsers, but it could help speed up the adoption of that header.<p>Anyways, I will continue to just block everything that remotely looks like Google (besides the API, that is. It's disconcerting to see how many websites rely on it to function properly).

Interest are accurate, but they don't have my age, which is very weird knowing I have a public Google profile (Google+ profile now).

With this information, I have to wonder how I ever get mis-appropriate ads on sites (using adsense) these days? There have been some far misses (feminine products) that should easily be eliminated with the information on this page.<p>Wonder if adverstisers don't use this option?

Hopefully this will reduce the remarketing ads I keep seeing(doubtful). I click 1 link on HN and then usually it's a YC company fills up all the ad units on every page.<p>Ahh at least it's better then the get rich quick stuff or the 1-Secret Diet Trick ads on Facebook.

very cool<p>I too have the default appearing 25-34 age but my interests are spot on.

Ghostery + AdBlock, no information about me.

There were some funny choices in mine. Apparently I'm twice my age, love race cars, sports, and reptiles. All wrong.

Nice to see I at least view the ads of a much younger person as they are 35 years off on my demographics.

This is refreshing to see in some ways. I hope Google becomes even better at targeting.

“Firefox can't establish a connection to the server at googleads.g.doubleclick.net.”

Not sure if this is cool, or creepy. Nice that you can opt-out right there though.

hmm it does not work for me: <a href="http://i.imgur.com/SDvIl.png" rel="nofollow">http://i.imgur.com/SDvIl.png</a><p>And my browser's cookies are <i>not</i> disabled.

This always results in a redirect loop for me..

have to download a plugin to opt out wtf? they never hear of do-not-track?

Keep in mind that it's based on your current browser's cookies...I checked it at work and it says things like "Fiscal Policy News" and "Colleges and Universities" are among my interests...on my laptop, which I brought to work today, it's "Social Networks", "Soccer" and "Clubs &#38; Nightlife"

My Glimmerblocker proxy tells me that Google's info about me can be summed up in a 1 by 1 pixel transparent image. This makes me happy.

It's transparent but definitely not user friendly. When you opt out it uses a cookie so if your cookies get deleted you need to opt out again. Also, since opting out uses a cookie you must opt out on every browser on every machine you use. Definitely not convenient.