pushy assholes

[rone]

So when and why did Google start passing or setting cookies for your query's top hit, before you actually click on the link?

Comments

[wisn.livejournal.com]

Is that all it does? It sounds like something they could log themselves without having to cookie you.

[andrewhime.livejournal.com]

It was announced a couple of months ago that Google would pre-fetch the top hit if you use Firefox.

[andrewhime.livejournal.com]

And then you deleted me?

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

I honestly don't know how to respond to this. Yes, i unfriended you, no, it's not related to your comment, no, i haven't deleted you as you clearly still exist, look pal, someone had to take the blame for Google's decision and you drew the short straw, are you trying to start drama on my journal or what. Pick none, one, many, or all, as appropriate.

[andrewhime.livejournal.com]

I guess I was just mildly baffled. Anyway.

[crankysysadmin.livejournal.com]

This got talked about back in March (http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2005/03/enhanced-searching-with-firefox.html). Google preloads the first site of your search in the background, cookies and all, on the assumption that you will click the first result.

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

Perfect. about:config, search for 'fetch', set it to 'false'. Thanks.

[nixzusehen.livejournal.com]

I've noticed that they seem to track past queries and use them to up the scores on particular pages that contain those terms, even if you don't enter them explicitly.

[sagespot.livejournal.com]

I noticed that also.

[cheesetruck.livejournal.com]

aha so that's why.

Well, I did install the google ... thing. google fixer thing. For Firfox. I forget what it's called, it's an extension, and it fixes some things rather well.

Like the ads.

But yes that cache thing is ANNOYING AS FUCK