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Insider trader caught because he googled how to commit fraud
Look, we don't want to tell you how to commit crimes, but we do know that Googling how to commit said crime isn't a smart starting point. It's a lesson the Department of Justice wants you to learn, after arresting a person on suspicion of insider trading who looked up how to do so online.
Facebook brings search history to Activity Log, keeps queries private
Last week at TechCrunch Disrupt, Mark Zuckerberg let loose that Facebook would create a search engine "at some point," and today the firm snuck in a smidgen of emphasis on queries into the Activity Log. Over the coming weeks, your searches on the social network will appear alongside the links, comments and other actions that are normally aggregated in the feature. Worried that friends will learn of your quest to find My Little Pony pages? There's nothing to fear as the log is for your eyes only. However, if a particular search blemish needs to be scrubbed from the list, each entry can be individually nixed like posts on a Timeline.
Google Maps for Android update brings your full location search history to handhelds
While Google Maps may have found itself on the outside looking in on the just-released iOS 6, it's got a fresh update for Android devices that makes sure any locations you've searched are right at your fingertips. Rolling out now in Google Play, it includes results from your search and directions history (whether on your phone or on a PC that you were logged in to) whenever you start a new search, and in the search or directions tab under My Places. The other tweak noted in the changelog is the ability to zoom with just one finger -- double tap the map then hold down your finger and slide. There's no word specifically on what's in store for Apple's hardware but the final line of the blog post mentions improving the Google Maps experience across all devices -- draw your own conclusions from that.
Google adds search history to iOS
Google is making it easy for iOS users to access their recent searches on their devices. Starting this week, Google will push your search history to your iOS device if you have Web History enabled on your Google account. So the next time you search for TUAW on your desktop and then hop over to google.com on your iPhone, you'll be able to find that search under the new recent icon.
Google sharpens its memory, brings recent search history to Android and iOS
Face it, Google already knows you better than your friends or family, so why not cuddle up next to the giant and let it make your life a touch easier to manage? Today, the folks in Mountain View announced that recent search history is now accessible from Google's mobile homepage for Android and iOS, where users may now easily access the businesses and places they've searched for within the last day. We attempted to try the addition for ourselves, but it seems the new functionality hasn't yet hit every user. Naturally, you must opt-in to have your searches archived in the first place, and from there, you'll need to sign into your account from your mobile device to access the helpful tidbits. One thing is now certain: even if you've forgotten where you're going, Google is sure to remember.
Last chance to clear out Google Web History before the great data convergence
The end is nigh! For about 59 different Google ToS documents at least. After today, the new consolidated privacy policy will go into effect on March 1st, which will also consolidate much of your data across Google's properties. That means this is a your last chance to clear out El Goog's "you archives" before the great convergence of 2012. If you're not keen on Google sharing your information between its various products (though, you seemed to be okay with it being collected in the first place) today is the day to go and delete it all. Of particular concern for some is Web History, which collects your searches and sites visited and has, until now, been walled off from the rest of the Google empire. For complete instructions for how to clear out your Google Web History hit up the source link.Update: The EFF has clarified, and we feel it necessary to follow suit, that disabling your web history does not stop Google from collecting data about you. What it does mean is that after 18 months that information is partially anonymized and that certain features, like custom search results, will not be enabled. Just as importantly, we mistakenly said that Wednesday, February 22nd was your last chance to turn off the feature. The new ToS does not go into effect until March 1st.
