YouTube tracks IE users, even with “delete history on exit”

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kingdragonfly

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#198303 4-Jul-2016 07:38

I use YouTube on windows 10. Even though I have a Google account, I do not log into Google. I always have a "Sign In" button on YouTube, never my account name.

On Internet Explorer’s "general tab" I have checked "delete browsing history on exit" and on the privacy tab "never allow websites to request your physical location."

Even though I don't log in, I used Google MyActivity website

https://myactivity.google.com

First I choose "delete history" webpage, and after much pleading from Google, deleted all my history.

Then I went to the innocuously name "Activity controls" and "paused" Google's tracking. I have done this before, but at some point Google's decided to "unpause" it, without telling me. >:(

Yet even after I quit, and restart my PC, I get recommended videos that obviously are based on my previous searches.

For example, I was watching some 1940's PeriscopeFilm videos yesterday. Today the home page recommends a bunch of WWII videos.

Obviously Google / YouTube is tracking my previous searches, despite going to great lengths to stop it.

freitasm

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Geekzone

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#1585392 4-Jul-2016 07:59

But does it link this to your account and more importantly does it follow you in other browsers?

If you are not logged in, go to YouTube and do your normal activities, does it show related videos on another browser you never used before and log in using your account?

sbiddle

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#1585393 4-Jul-2016 08:10

One presumes you aren't actually deleting cookies which is very likely what they're using to identify you?

frankv

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#1585404 4-Jul-2016 08:58

Most likely it's cookies. But also...

There's no reason (apart from disk space, which is cheap) why YouTube (or anyone else) can't also track you using your IP.

1101

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#1585414 4-Jul-2016 09:15

Why would it be a surprise that Google is tracking & monitoring internet use, in every way it can ?
Just look at their past history of the lengths they will go , to slurp up as much data as possible, things that your or I would be arrested for for in many countries

2 choices : accept it as a cost of using their services & products
or - cut yourself off from google,chrome,gmail,youtube completely . Then wait as some other company starts tracking your internet use.

I assume they can also track via MAC address , so no real way around it.
You dont have to have any google related a/c's to be tracked , not logging in wont stop tracking .

kingdragonfly

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#1585544 4-Jul-2016 12:19

I have checked "delete browsing history on exit" so ther should be no cookie hanging around.

I do have Firefox, and it does not look like it's not tracking me across browsers. That could be down to cookie, or perhaps Google tracking doesn't happen in FIrefox..

The part that concerns me is it appears Google can track you without using cookies.

yitz

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#1585548 4-Jul-2016 12:31

Instead of using the "delete browsing history on exit" option, it might be easier just to use Internet Explorer's InPrivate browsing mode in the future.

freitasm

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#1585562 4-Jul-2016 12:56

kingdragonfly: I have checked "delete browsing history on exit" so ther should be no cookie hanging around.

I do have Firefox, and it does not look like it's not tracking me across browsers. That could be down to cookie, or perhaps Google tracking doesn't happen in FIrefox..

The part that concerns me is it appears Google can track you without using cookies.

Delete Browsing History is not the same as clearing cookies.

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frankv

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#1585567 4-Jul-2016 13:07

I assume they can also track via MAC address , so no real way around it.

Normally, MAC addresses only go as far as your nearest router.

But I'm sure it's possible for a web page to run JavaScript or whatever to find out what your MAC address is and send it back to Big Brother.

yitz

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#1585576 4-Jul-2016 13:20

There is such thing as Flash cookies which some websites use but I'm not sure if Internet Explorer clears those along with the 'regular' cookies.

If the OP wants to specifically prevent youtube.com from saving cookies, I understand you can block cookies on a per domain basis under the 'Per Site Privacy Actions' dialog.

kingdragonfly

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#1587941 8-Jul-2016 08:50

Delete Browsing History is not the same as clearing cookies.

It's a minor point, but "Delete Browsing History" can clear cookies.

Tools...Internet Options... General,

the text above the checkbox: "Deletes temporary files, history, COOKIES, passwords, and web forms information"

You can also double-check this by hitting the advanced button.

Flash cookies are a possibility, but I've disabled Flash. Its had way too many security updates, and it's too popular with hackers.

For a company whose official slogan is "Don't be evil", Google certainly dance in the dark side frequently.

darylblake

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#1588050 8-Jul-2016 11:16

Yeh but everyone is after meta data about people that visit them these days. Being able to get browser history is not a new thing, I mucked around with it 4-5 years ago, there have been a lot of bugs in browsers which were easy to exploit.

Firstly if you are running IE then you have serious problems to begin with. Even windows 10 users get MS Edge which is not IE and they get it with the OS. Personally I would just use a different browser.