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Monday, January 4, 2010

Google's personalized search now works even when you're not signed in

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For a while now, Google has been using the search histories of its logged-in users to deliver better results through its Personalized Search feature. This convenient - or creepy, depending on your perspective - service is now available even to logged-out users. If you're not logged in, though, where does Google save your search history? In an anonymous cookie, it turns out, with a Twinkie-esque shelf life of 180 days.

Personalized search is handy for bringing the sites you actually tend to visit to the top of your search results. That way, Google will know, for example, that you're searching for Six Feet Under, the TV series, and not Six Feet Under, the band. To see how Google customized your results, look for a "view customizations" link at the top right of your search results. If you're more concerned about privacy than convenience, you can opt out of Personalized Search. Otherwise, it's turned on by default.

Google's personalized search now works even when you're not signed in originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 06 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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