6683 0 3 econsultancy_xml <p>Its definition of active users, however, means that cookies will be automatically renewed unless a surfer avoids returning to Google during the entire two year period. </p> <p>Google has been coming under pressure over the way it stores users’ search queries – an issue highlighted by the <a href="/blog/153-aol-search-data-still-available">AOL search data fiasco</a> last year. In March, it <a href="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2007/03/taking-steps-to-further-improve-our.html">announced</a> it would <em>“anonymize”</em> its search server logs after 18 months in a bid to improve security.</p> <p> <a href="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2007/07/cookies-expiring-sooner-to-improve.html">Global privacy counsel Peter Fleischer said</a> it had listened to feedback from users before <em>“taking a closer look at the question of cookie privacy”</em>.</p> <blockquote> <p> <em>"We've concluded that it would be a good thing for privacy to significantly shorten the lifetime of our cookies — as long as we could find a way to do so without artificially forcing users to re-enter their basic preferences at arbitrary points in time."</em> </p> </blockquote> <p>Fleischer said the original limit was set so far in the future because its primary purpose was to preserve this information on users - for example, whether they would like results in English.</p> <p>He said users would still be able to control their cookies via their browsers – although research by Benjamin Edelman last year found <a href="/blog/254-cookie-deletion-discrepancies-take-the-biscuit">Google cookies often escape detection by anti-spyware software</a>.</p> <FormattedContent xmlns="http://www.e-consultancy.com/schema/formattedContent/"> <Paragraph>Its definition of active users, however, means that cookies will be automatically renewed unless a surfer avoids returning to Google during the entire two year period. </Paragraph> <Paragraph>Google has been coming under pressure over the way it stores users’ search queries – an issue highlighted by the <Link URL="/blog/153-aol-search-data-still-available" Window="Self">AOL search data fiasco</Link> last year. In March, it <Link URL="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2007/03/taking-steps-to-further-improve-our.html" Window="Self">announced</Link> it would <Quote>“anonymize”</Quote> its search server logs after 18 months in a bid to improve security.</Paragraph> <Paragraph> <Link URL="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2007/07/cookies-expiring-sooner-to-improve.html" Window="Self">Global privacy counsel Peter Fleischer said</Link> it had listened to feedback from users before <Quote>“taking a closer look at the question of cookie privacy”</Quote>.</Paragraph> <Block> <Paragraph> <Quote>"We've concluded that it would be a good thing for privacy to significantly shorten the lifetime of our cookies — as long as we could find a way to do so without artificially forcing users to re-enter their basic preferences at arbitrary points in time."</Quote> </Paragraph> </Block> <Paragraph>Fleischer said the original limit was set so far in the future because its primary purpose was to preserve this information on users - for example, whether they would like results in English.</Paragraph> <Paragraph>He said users would still be able to control their cookies via their browsers – although research by Benjamin Edelman last year found <Link URL="/blog/254-cookie-deletion-discrepancies-take-the-biscuit" Window="Self">Google cookies often escape detection by anti-spyware software</Link>.</Paragraph> </FormattedContent> 2007-07-17T12:55:00+01:00 0 1 econsultancy_xml <a href="http://www.google.com"> <strong>Google</strong> </a> <strong>has had a re-think of its cookie policy amid concerns over the amount of information it holds on internet surfers.</strong> <p>In a blog post, the online ad giant said its cookies would soon be set to expire after two years, rather than in 2038 – its current time limit. </p> <FormattedContent xmlns="http://www.e-consultancy.com/schema/formattedContent/"> <Link URL="http://www.google.com" Window="Self"> <Emphasis>Google</Emphasis> </Link> <Emphasis>has had a re-think of its cookie policy amid concerns over the amount of information it holds on internet surfers.</Emphasis> <Paragraph>In a blog post, the online ad giant said its cookies would soon be set to expire after two years, rather than in 2038 – its current time limit. </Paragraph> </FormattedContent> false 1515 363819 Google cuts cookie expiration period false 2007-07-17T12:55:00+01:00 google-cuts-cookie-expiration-period 2009-04-28T22:54:21+01:00 2009-04-28T22:54:21+01:00 249