Gmail - Are they really watching?
 

So, I 've been thinking of consolidating, reorganizing my life. Well, not thinking, doing. That included updating tech stuff. I am interested in getting a gmail account and my bro sent me an invite. However, I read the fine print, (yeah, I always read the fine print) and it says they have lite advertising based on your content. Does that mean they read my emails and tailor ads accordingly? I don't consider myself parnoid, but that's a bit creepy. Is it true or can anyone clarify?

The emails are parsed for certain words and ads are generated automatically. For example, a buddy of mine works for a pharmaceutical company. Whenever I get emails from him, the ads are about prescription drugs. There is no human being reading your mail and then writing ads for you.

Right. It's all automatic.

If you think about the sheer volume of mail they process, it's a reasonable conclusion that your personal data is practically anonymous.

Of course, it's vulnerable to subpoena, but that's a different issue.

Ah, ok. I think I get it. Thanks for the clarification. So then, in your opinions, would anyone recommend gmail?

completely. it's great for junkmail(i get none). the layout is much better than hotmail or the other free email sites around. and they even include their GTALK messenger RIGHT INTO the gmail window. isnt that awesome? theres much more great things but why not give it a shot? it wont cost anything. :thumbsup:

Absolutely. I use it for all my mail. I abandoned a desktop client about a month ago and so far I haven't regretted it.

I love Gmail. I use it not only for email, but to backup a lot of my important documents. And with the search feature, it makes it easy to find what I need when I need it.

Thanks, you guys, I'm sold. *begins task of swtiching e-mail systems*

I use it for all my personal email. It's awesome.

I second the convenience of Chat built in.

Gmail is by far the best email available right now. Once you switch, you'll never look back, and you'll probably wonder why you didn't switch a long time ago.

I'll put in another gmail vote.

With or without gmail you may want to go the extra step and obtain your own domain. That can simplify or complicate things, depending on needs.

Yeah, I use it for the same thing. It's great for saving homework (since most computer labs don't want you saving things on their computers) & it holds a lot of imformation.
& i love the label system instead of folders to save messages with.

Gmail rocks so much, I don't really care if they are reading my mail. ;-)

Seriously, though - it is an automated system, though it is possible that someone could 'break in' and read your mail - so I'd always be aware of that possibility no matter what email client you use.

Also, if you use Gmail, do you use the keyboard shortcuts? They *rock*!

http://mail.google.com/support/bin/a...594&topic=1546

Why move your hands back and forth between the mouse and keyboard?? Using the shortcuts is much more efficient.

If you're truly worried about confidentiality yet hate complex PK encryption tools... try Freenigma. Fairly cool webmail-compatible solution.

http://www.freenigma.com/

i think chat is one of their strategies to keep you logged in longer
then they can analyze your searches, etc. better