a request · 2005-11-25 21:47

Has anyone got a greasemonkey hack to remove Google Analytics script requests from web pages? Would this work (I can’t remember if Greasemonkey gets its hands on the page before scripts are loaded)?

Not that I’m paranoid, but we’ve reached the point where I’m scared at the amount of information Google has on me.

In other news, yes, not much writing recently. Will hopefully change soon.

comments

Hi Chris – unless I’m mistaken, it’s YOUR computer that’s making the call to Google Analytics, so you should be able to block this at a local network level. Follow the directions on wikipedia for blocking doubleclick ads in /etc/hosts except replace the doubleclick URLs with the analytics URLs. Just a thought, not 100% sure this will work.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosts_file

— David Jacobs    25.11.05    #

Google analytics is triggered by JavaScript. Turn off JavaScript and turn off Google Analytics.

Working in and around the U.S. government the past six years showed me how many turn off JavaScript. Their reason? Almost exactly your reasons. The usually turn on JavaScript only for trusted sites, but getting a site to be trusted is a lot of work.

— vanderwal    26.11.05    #

Nowadays saying “turn off javascript” is akin to saying “shut down your web browser and buy the paper in the morning with your coffee just like everyone else”

— David Jacobs    27.11.05    #

Wait…. is this Google-secession thing a meme now, for real? I’ve considered leaving the G as well

— Michal Migurski    27.11.05    #

Use Adblock extension to block anything from Google-analytics.com. Greasemonkey is a bit heavy for this.

Also I suggest blocking doubleclick and other banner-systems.

— Jazz    27.11.05    #

Thanks all – adblock it is. I’m just creeped out by how Google have no issues with taking data from one product and using it in another – for example, if you’re logged into gmail, you’re logged in for personalised search too. If they collect where I’m going (with, crazily, all the site owners’ permission), you can be sure that they’ll roll the data back into search, or at least your profile. Gets scarier when you access the Internet through them, too, either by proxy or when they start installing free wifi in cities. Of course it’s free – they’re making money using your personalised data.

I’m going to start spreading my data around, maybe start using Yahoo for searching at least.

— Chris    28.11.05    #

If Google Analytics only talks to www.google-analytics.com then shouldn’t it be impossible for them to access a google.com cookie? So they can’t link data from Google Analytics with your search data?

Maybe Google have put Google Analytics in a separate domain because they’re doing the right thing here?

— Dave    2.12.05    #

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