Reply to: Gmail's AdSense reads your mails

[SueEllen]

I wonder what do our resident conspiracy theorists think about that?

When a computer can make complete sense of an email I type then I would be worried.

If you have ever used those customer service things on websites answered by a computer, you will find they don't answer what you have asked them.

[eek]

I only know that from a friend obviously. Not that I have any.

Because the advertising networks don't accept them and the companies which would host the adverts don't want them on their sites.

Dating ads are a middle ground and most dating sites can provide suitably family friendly adverts to be acceptable to most sites. Friends tell me these type of adverts rarely work compared to advertising on proper adult sites so some companies have given up on the idea.

Sounds sensible in theory but you get ads for boring stuff you stopped looking for weeks ago. I am still constantly getting Google ads for get boiler repairers and online fax services, rather have summit more interesting. How come we don't get ads for porn after looking at porn sites?

PS Not that I ever have done obviously.

Its called remarketing and works because its incredibly cheap to buy adverts on some websites (say a penny a time). Don't forget to a marketeer you've already shown an interest so its worth they while because

1) they know you were interested in buying that good and for many items the time between window shopping (first look) and final purchase is 2-4 weeks.
2) even if you have bought the item, the adverts put their shop back in your mind for the next time you want something they sell.

Many marketeers believe that all advertising no matter how annoying works so I can't see this type of feedback loop marketing ever disappearing. If you don't believe just watch a go compare advert.

[AlfredJPruffock]

You tend to get ads for "adult dating" sites rather than more porn.

Certainly makes more interetesting reaing that say - boiler ads.

[AtW]

I wonder what do our resident conspiracy theorists think about that?

[xoggoth]

How come we don't get ads for porn after looking at porn sites?

I only know that from a friend obviously. Not that I have any.

[doodab]

That's dumb. People have to put effort into accessing your email whereas a postcard is easily visible to only the few people it interacts with.

On the subject, does it make any difference gmail use SSL by default now?

The transport of mail between sender and recipient often isn't secure, if you want to be sure you are safe from prying eyes you need to encrypt the actual message.

[eek]

That's dumb. People have to put effort into accessing your email whereas a postcard is easily visible to only the few people it interacts with.

On the subject, does it make any difference gmail use SSL by default now?

Only between gmail servers and your browser. It means that any people and/or servers between the two don't have easy access to your email but it doesn't stop google having full access to it.

[d000hg]

Unless you are going to encrypt it, never put anything in an E-Mail you wouldn't write in the back of a post card.

That's dumb. People have to put effort into accessing your email whereas a postcard is easily visible to only the few people it interacts with.

On the subject, does it make any difference gmail use SSL by default now?

[doodab]

Good point - I was thinking that the other day - of course the obvious answer is because I havent been looking.either - never ever .

Anyway out there - who has looked - even just for a wee while - care to comment ?

You tend to get ads for "adult dating" sites rather than more porn.

[AlfredJPruffock]

Sounds sensible in theory but you get ads for boring stuff you stopped looking for weeks ago. I am still constantly getting Google ads for get boiler repairers and online fax services, rather have summit more interesting. How come we don't get ads for porn after looking at porn sites?

PS Not that I ever have done obviously.

Good point - I was thinking that the other day - of course the obvious answer is because I havent been looking.either - never ever .

Anyway out there - who has looked - even just for a wee while - care to comment ?

[doodab]

Sounds sensible in theory but you get ads for boring stuff you stopped looking for weeks ago. I am still constantly getting Google ads for get boiler repairers and online fax services, rather have summit more interesting. How come we don't get ads for porn after looking at porn sites?

PS Not that I ever have done obviously.

I often get adverts for things I have just bought.

[xoggoth]

Wouldn't you rather have ads that are useful, if you have to have them at all?

Sounds sensible in theory but you get ads for boring stuff you stopped looking for weeks ago. I am still constantly getting Google ads for get boiler repairers and online fax services, rather have summit more interesting. How come we don't get ads for porn after looking at porn sites?

PS Not that I ever have done obviously.

[eek]

can you do that on chrome? I've struggled to block ads and scripts since changing from FF.

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/d...ibdccddilifddb

If you use rss feeds I would also highly recommend feedly

[DaveB]

Unless you are going to encrypt it, never put anything in an E-Mail you wouldn't write in the back of a post card.

Email is not secure, it is not confidential and it never has been.

[SimonMac]

I assumed they had been reading my emails for ages going by the adverts they suggest for me