Did you know that Google can link the searches you made right back to you? If this comes as news to you, you’ll be happy to hear that Google is going to start anonymizing the data they collect from users. While they will still be able to pinpoint you for your searches, they plan to start making these searches more anonymous after a timespan of 18-24 months.

Well, it’s better than nothing.

Google is to discard some of the information it stores about user search requests in an effort to address concerns by privacy watchdogs and defend itself against government demands for data.

The search giant will scrub personal information from cookies and remove some of the bits in IP addresses after that information has been stored for a set period of time, probably 18 to 24 months, a Google official wrote in a company blog. It expects to roll out the new policy by the end of the year.[more]

Tags: Privacy