Google on a Mac - and the bigger picture. Is my data safe?

They are usually just using your IP address, which is actually your internet service provider's address.

I use Google search and maps; however, I do NOT have an account, so not use any of their "services" and do not sign in. I do not trust them enough to establish an account with them. Here is some info from them:

https://www.google.com/intl/en/policies/

I do not care for their ToS or their (so called) privacy policy.

Google tracks, keeps, and sells a lot of data about anyone using their services. All web servers you visit have the capability to track what you do on their server/site. They can track, keep, and sell this data. Your ISP has the capability to track what you are doing. The government has the capability to subpoena your info from Google and other tracking sites. Each web page you visit could have a tracking "bug" embedded on the pages or advertisements. Someone is tracking, keeping, or selling your browsing history.

There is no privacy on the Internet. Someone is tracking, keeping, or selling your information at some level.

If you are behind a router and using private address space then as already stated, the tracking is limited to the ip address assigned to you by your ISP.

If you are banking or making purchases on line then ensure that the logins and transactions are being done using SSL, securely using https in the address bar. Your data will then be secure.

You could turn off "cookies" to prevent sites from placing a tracking "cookie" on your computer. Cookies are used, for example, to retain lists of items purchased so that when you navigate into and away from a shopping cart it is not cleared of the items you placed in it.

In all reality, there is very little left of "privacy" these days.

Big Brother is everywhere. If you use a cell phone, credit cards,

and of course internet, there is a digital footprint of you left

everywhere and is available to any one with enough motivation

and skills to get it.

Even if you take all precautions possible to be safe, if any one

you deal with is casual in his/her security, any information you sent

them is at risk and a possible link to get additional info on you.

All of this is the cost of living in the convenience of the digital age.

The most you can do is defend yourself as best as possible and

hope for the best.

BTW, if you are a U.S. resident, the "Patriot Act" allows for all

manor of government snooping of all electronic activity going

on. And with all that money and resources available, who knows

what sort of toys they have.

Rather than resetting Safari every time, I use an app called Cookie, from the App Store. It lets you allow some cookies, like for the banking sites, and deletes all other ones, including tracking cookies.

I now get far less targeted advertising than I used to.

They can't scan your hard drive from a browser, despite what all the malware virus scanner popups say.