Google is allowing advertisers to fingerprint you
(ghacks.net)
Google has announced a change to its advertising policies that will allow advertisers to use digital fingerprinting starting February 16, 2025.
Google has announced a change to its advertising policies that will allow advertisers to use digital fingerprinting starting February 16, 2025.
Ask HN: How to turn off Gemini crap in Gmail?
(ycombinator.com)
After months of saying no to gemini popup, Evil google has finally shown it on my mailbox. I don't like it. Anyone has found how to turn it off?
After months of saying no to gemini popup, Evil google has finally shown it on my mailbox. I don't like it. Anyone has found how to turn it off?
Ask HN: Google forcibly enabled Gemini in our Corp Org. How to disable?
(ycombinator.com)
Google is playing strong arm tactics trying to get ahead of their competition. Our users logged in yesterday to see Gemini enabled in Gmail.
Google is playing strong arm tactics trying to get ahead of their competition. Our users logged in yesterday to see Gemini enabled in Gmail.
Google.com search now refusing to search for FF esr 128 without JavaScript
(ycombinator.com)
Google.com search now refusing to search for FF esr 128 without JavaScript
Google.com search now refusing to search for FF esr 128 without JavaScript
Google's search market share drops below 90% for first time since 2015
(searchengineland.com)
Google’s share of the global search engine market fell below 90% for the first time since 2015, according to Statcounter. Google’s global search market share was under 90% during each of the final three months of 2024.
Google’s share of the global search engine market fell below 90% for the first time since 2015, according to Statcounter. Google’s global search market share was under 90% during each of the final three months of 2024.
Google is making AI in Gmail and Docs free, but raising the price of Workspace
(theverge.com)
If you wanted to use all of Google’s AI features inside Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Meet, and the rest of the Workspace suite, you previously needed to pony up another $20 per user per month for the Gemini Business plan. As of Tuesday, it’s free.
If you wanted to use all of Google’s AI features inside Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Meet, and the rest of the Workspace suite, you previously needed to pony up another $20 per user per month for the Gemini Business plan. As of Tuesday, it’s free.
Google’s OAuth login doesn’t protect against purchasing a failed startup domain
(trufflesecurity.com)
Millions of Americans can have their data stolen right now because of a deficiency in Google’s “Sign in with Google” authentication flow. If you’ve worked for a startup in the past - especially one that has since shut down - you might be vulnerable.
Millions of Americans can have their data stolen right now because of a deficiency in Google’s “Sign in with Google” authentication flow. If you’ve worked for a startup in the past - especially one that has since shut down - you might be vulnerable.
A decade and a half of instability: The history of Google messaging apps (2021)
(arstechnica.com)
Sixteen years after the launch of Google Talk, Google messaging is still a mess.
Sixteen years after the launch of Google Talk, Google messaging is still a mess.
On Google’s Policy Change Towards Fingerprinting
(lukaszolejnik.com)
While I once hoped 2017 would be the year of privacy, 2024 closes on a troubling note, a likely decrease in privacy standards across the web. I was surprised by the recent Information Commissioner’s Office post, which criticized Google’s decision to introduce device fingerprinting for advertising purposes from February 2025. According to ICO, this change risks undermining user control and transparency in how personal data is collected and used.
While I once hoped 2017 would be the year of privacy, 2024 closes on a troubling note, a likely decrease in privacy standards across the web. I was surprised by the recent Information Commissioner’s Office post, which criticized Google’s decision to introduce device fingerprinting for advertising purposes from February 2025. According to ICO, this change risks undermining user control and transparency in how personal data is collected and used.
Google launches a 'neutral' Chromium development fund
(theverge.com)
Google is partnering with The Linux Foundation to launch an initiative meant to “fund open development and enhance projects” in the Chromium ecosystem, according to an announcement on Thursday.
Google is partnering with The Linux Foundation to launch an initiative meant to “fund open development and enhance projects” in the Chromium ecosystem, according to an announcement on Thursday.
Google loses in court, faces trial for collecting data on users who opted out
(arstechnica.com)
A federal judge this week rejected Google's motion to throw out a class-action lawsuit alleging that it invaded the privacy of users who opted out of functionality that records a users' web and app activities.
A federal judge this week rejected Google's motion to throw out a class-action lawsuit alleging that it invaded the privacy of users who opted out of functionality that records a users' web and app activities.
Google and Linux Foundation Launch "Supporters of Chromium-Based Browsers" Fund
(phoronix.com)
Google and the Linux Foundation today announced the creation of the "Supporters of Chromium-Based Browsers" fund to help provide funding to open-source developers working on Chromium-based open-source projects.
Google and the Linux Foundation today announced the creation of the "Supporters of Chromium-Based Browsers" fund to help provide funding to open-source developers working on Chromium-based open-source projects.
When you search for ‚Google' on Bing, Bing masquerades as Google
(daringfireball.net)
Microsoft is pulling yet another trick to get people to use its Bing search engine. If you use Bing right now without signing into a Microsoft account and search for Google, you’ll get a page that looks an awful lot like... Google.
Microsoft is pulling yet another trick to get people to use its Bing search engine. If you use Bing right now without signing into a Microsoft account and search for Google, you’ll get a page that looks an awful lot like... Google.
How hucksters are manipulating Google to promote shady Chrome extensions
(arstechnica.com)
The people overseeing the security of Google’s Chrome browser explicitly forbid third-party extension developers from trying to manipulate how the browser extensions they submit are presented in the Chrome Web Store.
The people overseeing the security of Google’s Chrome browser explicitly forbid third-party extension developers from trying to manipulate how the browser extensions they submit are presented in the Chrome Web Store.
A day in the life of a prolific voice phishing crew
(krebsonsecurity.com)
Besieged by scammers seeking to phish user accounts over the telephone, Apple and Google frequently caution that they will never reach out unbidden to users this way. However, new details about the internal operations of a prolific voice phishing gang show the group routinely abuses legitimate services at Apple and Google to force a variety of outbound communications to their users, including emails, automated phone calls and system-level messages sent to all signed-in devices.
Besieged by scammers seeking to phish user accounts over the telephone, Apple and Google frequently caution that they will never reach out unbidden to users this way. However, new details about the internal operations of a prolific voice phishing gang show the group routinely abuses legitimate services at Apple and Google to force a variety of outbound communications to their users, including emails, automated phone calls and system-level messages sent to all signed-in devices.
Go Is a Well-Designed Language
(mattjhall.co.uk)
Go was designed at Google, where Russ Cox, Rob Pike, Ken Thompson and many others were working. Google was using Java and C++ at the time which the designers of Go felt were performant but hard to use. The compilers were slow, tooling was finicky and the languages had been designed at least a decade before. Cloud computing - large numbers of multicore servers working together - was becoming widespread.
Go was designed at Google, where Russ Cox, Rob Pike, Ken Thompson and many others were working. Google was using Java and C++ at the time which the designers of Go felt were performant but hard to use. The compilers were slow, tooling was finicky and the languages had been designed at least a decade before. Cloud computing - large numbers of multicore servers working together - was becoming widespread.
Microsoft disguises Bing as Google to fool inattentive searchers
(pcworld.com)
Microsoft would really, really, really like you to use Bing, its self-branded search engine that competes against Google’s monopoly. Not only is it hardwired into much of Windows and other Microsoft products like the Edge browser, it also employs a lot of sneaky visual tricks to steer you away from Google itself. But the company’s latest trick is more, well, tricky — in fact, it’s just straight-up Google camouflage.
Microsoft would really, really, really like you to use Bing, its self-branded search engine that competes against Google’s monopoly. Not only is it hardwired into much of Windows and other Microsoft products like the Edge browser, it also employs a lot of sneaky visual tricks to steer you away from Google itself. But the company’s latest trick is more, well, tricky — in fact, it’s just straight-up Google camouflage.
Google is building its own 'world modeling' AI team for games and robot training
(theverge.com)
Google DeepMind is assembling a new team of artificial intelligence researchers to develop “world models” that can simulate physical environments.
Google DeepMind is assembling a new team of artificial intelligence researchers to develop “world models” that can simulate physical environments.
Ask HN: How Do Google Willow's Results Affect Quantum Computing Timelines?
(ycombinator.com)
As a model question, I think it is most interesting to consider when RSA-2048 will be factored using a quantum computer.
As a model question, I think it is most interesting to consider when RSA-2048 will be factored using a quantum computer.
Microsoft Bing is trying to spoof Google UI when people search Google.com
(windowslatest.com)
Microsoft seems to have rolled out a pretty interesting yet controversial change that spoofs Google.com UI when you try to find Google when using Bing.com.
Microsoft seems to have rolled out a pretty interesting yet controversial change that spoofs Google.com UI when you try to find Google when using Bing.com.
Bing is trying to trick people into thinking they're using Google
(9to5google.com)
A sneaky new behavior that Microsoft has implemented in Bing attempts to hide the fact that people are using Bing whenever they try to get to Google.
A sneaky new behavior that Microsoft has implemented in Bing attempts to hide the fact that people are using Bing whenever they try to get to Google.
UK ICO response to Google's policy change on device fingerprinting
(ico.org.uk)
Yesterday, Google announced to organisations that use its advertising products, that from 16 February 2025, it will no longer prohibit them from employing fingerprinting techniques. Our response is clear: businesses do not have free rein to use fingerprinting as they please. Like all advertising technology, it must be lawfully and transparently deployed – and if it is not, the ICO will act.
Yesterday, Google announced to organisations that use its advertising products, that from 16 February 2025, it will no longer prohibit them from employing fingerprinting techniques. Our response is clear: businesses do not have free rein to use fingerprinting as they please. Like all advertising technology, it must be lawfully and transparently deployed – and if it is not, the ICO will act.
Ask HN: Google login has circular dependency
(ycombinator.com)
I just changed to a new iPhone. After setup, the gmail app requires me to confirm using two factor authentication using one of the following methods: <p>1. Tap Yes on a notification on my iPhone, which I don't receive because I am not logged in into any google accounts <p>2.
I just changed to a new iPhone. After setup, the gmail app requires me to confirm using two factor authentication using one of the following methods: <p>1. Tap Yes on a notification on my iPhone, which I don't receive because I am not logged in into any google accounts <p>2.