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Google Analytics loves the new Firefox browser sync tool

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Google's blog just announced a new Firefox sync extension that "unifies your bookmarks, history, saved passwords, and persistent cookies across all the computers where you install it. It also remembers which tabs and windows you had open when you last closed any of your browsers and gives you a chance to reopen them."

"Persistent Cookies"... so Google has created a tool to make our lives easier while at the same time allowing any website with Google Analytics to track continued visitors. Now if a visitor was hitting a site at work and then made the purchase that evening when they got home, Google Analytics will track them. Not to mention that now your cookie is attached to a Google account ID so this gives Google additional ability to track users across multiple sites.

Well personally multi-PC syncing is a bigger pain to me than Google spies looking over my shoulder, so I went for the download.

Installation is simple and easy however I did encounter errors at the end of the process. Perhaps due to traffic overload or some other glitch.

Step 1: I installed the xpi as usual into Firefox.

Step 2: After Restarting firefox I am first presented with a warning regarding privacy risks if this is a shared PC. Then I get this screen.

I selected advanced options so I can now select to encrypt all of my info if desired. Notice the cookie option is listed at the top, "Click here if you would like google to manage your online identity."

Now I can pick a PIN for the browser sync tool.

We are syncing... we're syncing...

Arrrrrhhh! This is where the joyride stops.

I am very excited for this tool to work. I use Firefox on 3 PCs and this would be a great help. Currently I use Delicious and Bookmarks Sync SE" but it requires an FTP server and therefore is not for the masses. I wish Google's Firefox sync would also sync my extensions ( I have bloated to around 30) but there is always something else to wait for.


Comments

You can always use Foxmarks

On June 15th, 2006 Prince (not verified) says:

that was nice blog about google sync
i am very much concerned about the security of my data and the amount of information that we give to google
i dont want google to look at every site i click
in your blog u mentioned one firefox extension which uses ftp server for keeping bookmarks
there is one more extension called FoxMarks which is very easy secure and does no more than syncing your bookmarks
many still prefer del.icio.us but i find it too long a procedure to save my bookmarks
do post your thoughts about the privacy/security issue about it
one can simply hack your google account and get all the information of your every single click!!!

~S

Google eats my Hard drive like a snack!!!

On June 19th, 2006 isaac says:

Well it took about 2 days and Google Sync ate/consumed over 4gb of hard drive space! It took me forever to figure out why my hard drive was rapidly shrinking and I immediately removed the Google Sync tool. IT was creating txt files over half a gb in size. I will post the how story soon, but I just got back from vacation/holiday.

Google Sync

On July 11th, 2006 xf (not verified) says:

Google sync really took out your hard disk space when you use it ? how come it will happen !

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