Google and Yahoo accounts. Are they as intrusive as Facebook?

[The Backlash Cometh]

What kind of undesired "connections" does one get themselves into when they subscribe for an email account from one of these services?

[katmondoo]

1. Yahoo is getting very, very intrusive lately

I delete all e-mails immediately when possible. Somebody in Yahoo is tracking them.

[htuttle]

2. Facebook is getting a lot of heat, because the information is visible to regular users

Web advertising services like the infamous doubleclick.net have been compiling extensive databases on all of us since the mid 1990's, but you don't get to see it like on Facebook.

[onehandle]

3. I don't think so. Facebook is being built into the Internet at an alarming rate.

More and more sites are requiring (or nearly so) you to be a Facebook member to participate or use their services. Facebook is cutting deals everywhere.

I know that Google is more ubiquitous, but they are not nearly as complex or revealing of your information as Facebook. The whole 'Buzz' thing in January was scary and definitely gave me second thoughts about Google, but it is relatively easy to switch off.

Not a fan of Google, but Facebook is a juggernaut of security risk.

Don't have much of an opinion on Yahoo.

[KharmaTrain]

4. Anything On The Internet Is Intrusive...

...cause it's interactive. Every time you hit "send", you're sending a lot more information than just the email or whatever. When you post on a social site or message board it's even moreso as these are public forums (no matter how "private" they claim to be)...once those electrons leave your modem, it's out there for anyone to trap and locate.

My longtime rule of thumb is to assume everything out here is open to all. It's like stepping outside and being in public...there's precious little privacy anymore.

[Egnever]

5. That depends on you

There is no requirement to give your true identity to either of them to create an email account. If you are concerned about your identity then give them a fake one.

Having said that I have had a google account for at least 6 years and have never been contacted by anyone I did not initiate the contact with.

Dont know about Yahoo as I just dont like their service never have.

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. All good info.

I was just a little unnerved about how Facebook could track your activities if you forget to log out. I was wondering if Yahoo and Google did the same thing. In which case, even having a fake email account would be of little help.

[Quantess]

7. What is a "fake email account" anyway?

If you use it, it's real for you, even if your name is not attached to it. I have maintained a couple of "fake" ones for years.

I have always subscribed to the idea that the less vital information you give out, the better, which has helped keep me off the radar. A google search of my name yields no results.

[Egnever]

8. I am the same

You can not find me on google and I have been using the net heavily since 95.

[rucky]

9. check out the ads that come up when you open your g-mail.

i know it's all passive, but it's being logged somewhere. you're still trusting the Google with your privacy.