PSA for Android users.

"Doge_Supreme drives a BRZ" (doge-supreme)
08/23/2017 at 17:43 • Filed to: None

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Super interesting going through what Google tracks about you. Also time to disable Ok Google on my phone.

DISCUSSION (7)

CaptDale - is secretly British > Doge_Supreme drives a BRZ
08/23/2017 at 17:53

Yeah I have a lot of their stuff turned off mostly because I don’t use it anyway and slightly less because I want some form of anonymity when I can.

Doge_Supreme drives a BRZ > CaptDale - is secretly British
08/23/2017 at 17:58

I use a decent amount of the features on my phone, but I only give apps certain permissions. Should have figured google records more than it should, seeing as Amazon Alexas tend to do the same thing, or at least they did.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Doge_Supreme drives a BRZ
08/23/2017 at 18:06

Yeah I don’t use hardly any of Google’s direct stuff on my phone and mess with permissions a lot.

HammerheadFistpunch > Doge_Supreme drives a BRZ
08/23/2017 at 18:10

Im not really sure this surprises me or worries me. I can certainly see how it could, but I guess im just not that worried.

and 100 more > Doge_Supreme drives a BRZ
08/23/2017 at 18:23

The article is on The Sun, which is the British equivalent to the Enquirer, so take that for what its worth...

The article isn’t wrong, exactly, but this is all above-board info. If you don’t know Google is recording you, you’re not paying attention.

Also, a technical error in the article regarding OK Google: not only does it record the last 10 seconds of conversation after your say the phrase, but it keeps a rolling memory of everything being said for up to a minute before you say OK Google. This serves as a way to help build context for your searches, as well as speed them up. Example:

“Hey babe, is there a dim sum place near here?”

“I don’t know, but there’s that Korean place on 5th. Maybe they serve dim sum?”

“OK Google... Find Korean food near me.”

From the example, Google knows you want not just Korean, but specifically dim sum, that the “place on 5th” would likely be your first choice since you know where it is, and that you’ll likely be eating with someone. This helps them speed up and their searches and make them more specific to your needs.

Can it be used against you? Probably. Will it be used against you? Maybe.

Corkscrew'd > Doge_Supreme drives a BRZ
08/23/2017 at 18:38

I never liked the way they try and force you to use Ok Google with the latest update. I find having to resort to speaking to you device annoying, especially when you have to do it in public. It’s pretty much only useful while driving, but even then I have it disabled.

Takuro Spirit > Doge_Supreme drives a BRZ
08/23/2017 at 19:08

Pretty sure that’s a tabloid and pretty sure I don’t care what they think they know.