General Discussion

lol i think they have it in there simply because google/yahoo helped to sponsor the program you're installing or something. I never install them too for the reasons you said

of course those software oare most often have some sort of sponsorship with yahoo or google. like how firefox's default search engine is google. those toolbars always have some adware with them as it tells those search engines your browsing habits.

Same here....I don't install those toolbars too. Never much find a need to use them and they are an eyesore to me.

Der... how do you think google makes money? Anyways less cursing. If you don't want their software simply don't install it. Noone is pointing a gun at your head to do otherwise.

Main reason i wont install them is because i think they are tracking my searches like other adware/malware/trojan programs. Not just your searches but every page you visit but the difference between "normal" spyware and Google toolbar is that for spyware you are an interesting target but for Google you're just tiny insignificant number. And if you are afraid of Google tracking you, I have a little surprise for you, just look into a source code of this page and you can find this line: <script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript"> It should be on line 26 and you may guess what that means ^_^

I use the built in google search function with Opera..you think thats a tracking method too? YES it is, because they store every search query.

All web server has a tracking methods build in systems . The web base cookies tracker (google-analytics) just extend it further. Most site explained this in their privacy policy and cookie policy pages. Animepaper privacy policy (topics:The Information We Collect & The Way We Use Information) should cover what Animepaper collect from user click streams.

If you took your privacy seriously. you can disabled web cookies in your web browser privacy > settings (available in most modern browser).

I'm not absolutely sure, but it seems to me that Google can use information from Analytics, they just can't share it. I think. it's hidden somewhere in "GOOGLE ANALYTICS TERMS OF SERVICE" and "Google Privacy Policy".

Google Toolbar was useful in IE6SP1, due to its popup blocker, and search bar, but in IE7 it is pointless. It gets very old very fast having to remember to uncheck Google Search (I'm on Vista, why would I want Google Search?) and the Google Toolbar (IE7 already does basically everything the Google Toolbar does).

Google toolbar can block phishing (spoof) and hacked site .. it even block "artificial generate advanced search query" mostly used by spyware/malware in infected systems to joyride your browser.

I used google toolbar, I like their translation tool & 'Pagerank' (PR) indicator. I think that most web administrator and SEO aware user has google toolbar for PR check..

You have an option to disabled google tracking before the installation. Then you can try Firefox "Tempered Data" plugins to verify any packet send to google.

yahoo toolbar has tabbing thats about it.

I used google toolbar, I like their translation tool & 'Pagerank' (PR) indicator. Google can't translate from/to my language and for Japanese it's better to use more translator and then compare their results. ^_^

I think that most web administrator and SEO aware user has google toolbar for PR check.. And for most of them it's just a meaningless number which have nothing to do with search engine optimization.

You have an option to disabled google tracking before the installation. Then you can try Firefox "Tempered Data" plugins to verify any packet send to google. If you already have Firefox you can just replace Google tool-bar with other plugins, because there is plugin for everything wat google toolbar can do.

best to avoid any kind of bundled software tool bars

I rarely use the browser's tool bars... so why embed another one?

it's true, those toolbars has bad objectives, but the toolbars are very used and some people is conformed with that

Even I installed it or mistakenly installed it, I will never use them, because they're installed on IE, and I even almost never use IE because it's full of "holes". ^^

[X]-iLe