Worried about Search Engine Privacy? TrackMeNot

With the accidental release of the search queries of 658,000 anonymous AOL users onto the web, people have begun to ask questions about their own privacy. While the search records were considered anonymous because they were identified only by number, several sources, including the NYTimes, were able to track down some of the actual people behind the search data.

A person does not have to be very paranoid to wonder if searches could come back to haunt them. The US government has requested search data in the past. How long before search histories are subpoenaed for a divorce proceeding?

It's actually the harmless searches that are more revealing. If I search on fear of flying therapy, it should be my choice on who I share that with, not AOLs (or Google’s, or Yahoo’s, etc.) There shouldn’t be a database of my fears out there somewhere.

That's where TrackMeNot comes in. It's a Firefox extension that pulls random word combinations from a list of words and submits them as searches, essentially, diluting whatever cookies and log files may be stored on your searches.

While I think this technology is interesting (and actually kind of funny), there is a downside. I'm concerned how a search randomization extension could ruin keyword research.

Keyword research is an extremely effective tool to uncovering what people are actually typing into engines when they are searching for products in your industry. If I have to start wondering if keyword combinations and traffic estimations are truly accurate, then the advice I give my clients could be compromised.

I think it's an interesting idea to solve the problem — dilute the log files so much that they are worthless. But couldn’t this problem be solved in a much more effective way? Oh, like, the engines realizing there is a privacy concern and not keeping log files for longer than a few days?

I would hope they draw that conclusion before someone starts a class action lawsuit to make it happen.