Google-Analytics: Pogoplugged

Member

member since: 07/06/2010
rank: 2647 of 12555
5 comments

July 8, 2010 11:12 AM

Seems like GA is just another way to find out how you use your site and the others that might have shared access to it. I wouldn't be surprised that anything I do on the internet is tracked. Not a mystery for me.

BR549

Member

member since: 05/23/2010
rank: 866 of 12555
2 forum threads started
1 comments

July 9, 2010 10:56 AM

It appears to be a TOS violation on their part, though. Or at least a trust violation.

And I'm only accessing my drives on my own network.

If I was doing it from the web and somebody else's account, then I could, perhaps, see some reason to gather some usage / reliability stats.

But I'm doing my own drive on my own network. You expect some privacy on your own local network.

And GA is designed for advertisers (and Google itself) to track you across the whole web.

CloudEngines seems to have a history of this kind of stuff. If you go back through the forum messages, you can see a number of questions about privacy etc. (and I've seen question messages that have disappeared from one day to the next) And even a couple messages from CE themselves saying things like "... well, our TOS does say that, but we wont do it... TRUST US!".

(sigh) I sure do wish the pogoplug could be configured so it would never access the net and be strictly a local device. And if you need web access, just let it use DNS rediction to the plug instead.

I tell you... if I had $300 or so to spare, I think I'd buy one of those Fit-PC's that are so small and fanles and I'd set that up to do my stuff using something like DynDNS.

Pen

Member

member since: 10/20/2010
rank: 863 of 12555
2 forum threads started
11 comments

October 25, 2010 12:19 AM updated: October 25, 2010 12:48 AM

I agree that GA goes against the spirit of "all we hold is your email and password". Pogoplug should have their own server logs to get traffic data from, rather than inherit the Google privacy (or lack thereof) baggage.

TekWarren

Member

member since: 10/05/2010
rank: 333 of 12555
7 forum threads started
49 comments

October 25, 2010 6:56 AM

Just for clarity's sake google analytics is for much more than advertising. You can implement GA into websites to track statistics such as page views, referral sites, what pages are accessed etc. It is probably being used for stats such as these but yes it is an annoyance and brings privacy into question. I get hang ups when trying to login to my.pogoplug.com sometimes where it says its waiting for google analytics...

Pen

Member

member since: 10/20/2010
rank: 863 of 12555
2 forum threads started
11 comments

November 7, 2010 1:33 PM

TekWarren, I agree GA is more than advertising - it just grates that the touchy-feely security messaging is contaminated by using GA. The Pogoplug blurb states :

"At Pogoplug, we use best practices from the industry to ensure the security of our users' data. None of your personal data is stored in our servers other than your email address. "

No personal data is held on CE servers, because Google does that job for them. With broadband connections it's unusual to get a renewed IP address, is it not?

and later

"... This protocol is the same encryption security that your online banking system uses to protect your account access. "

I just checked the wellsfargo and BoA sites, and neither use Google Analytics.

Don't get me wrong, I am happy with my PP. I suspect using GA is a techie-induced PR disaster waiting to happen, not some deliberate Big Brother conspiracy theory - or am I just naive?

Jed

Cloud Engines

member since: 04/24/2009
rank: 12 of 12555
1 forum threads started
163 comments

November 9, 2010 5:40 AM

Pen, no conspiracy :) We use Google Analytics only on the web app to see what features people are using and which ones aren't being used. This helps drive our product roadmap and let's us know where we can improve. This data is only used by us, and we never try to hide the fact that we collect this basic site information.

x-15a2

Member

member since: 07/19/2010
rank: 8 of 12555
6 forum threads started
169 comments

November 9, 2010 10:15 AM updated: November 9, 2010 10:16 AM

I've posted this elsewhere, here's how to block GA on your various workstations. Of course, this will only work on computers that you've applied the change to, but if you don't want GA tracking you, here's how to block:

1. Edit C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\Etc\Hosts

2. Add the following to the end of the file:

127.0.0.1 www.google-analytics.com
127.0.0.1 google-analytics.com
127.0.0.1 ssl.google-analytics.com

3. Save the file and reboot.

Note: The Hosts file is located in different locations in different operating systems. Click here for a great discussion of editing the HOSTS file on your system.

Death is Conquered While You Slumber- Seven is the Perfect Number

Pen

Member

member since: 10/20/2010
rank: 863 of 12555
2 forum threads started
11 comments

November 10, 2010 1:24 AM

Hi Jed - I actually believe you when you say there is no conspiracy, in the same way there wasn't one when Google grabbed all those Wifi SSID's during their drivebys in Europe, but it caused unnecessary grief to them. Stuff happens...

You should be able to get the same data from your own server logs?

Venting over, you can lock this thread FMPOV. I'm still enjoying the PP, - I have changed my hosts file as per above, even though it ony applies to PC's in my own jurisdiction and not my guest sharers of course.

Pen

Jed

Cloud Engines

member since: 04/24/2009
rank: 12 of 12555
1 forum threads started
163 comments

November 10, 2010 1:32 AM

Thanks for the note - I definitely understand your concerns and we are working to address it. We are planning on moving the site statistics collection to our own servers. It's going to take a little time, so please be patient with us. Please know that we take your concerns seriously.

Pogoplugged

Google-Analytics

BR549

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