Best way to block Google Analytics from tracking me?

Gregg Bell · 02-11-2016, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zdenko

Hi Gregg,

I noticed you used xubuntu. I don't know if you know, but Ubuntu's Unity desktop sends (even ostensibly "local") searches to Amazon, which shows just how much Canonical care about privacy.

I guess you're not using Unity, in which case this doesn't affect you.
But you can disable the thing anyway (why not, right?)

sudo apt-get remove unity-lens-shopping

Not really related to the original Google Tracking issue/Firefox privacy add-ons line, but I thought I'd throw this in since being stalked by Amazon isn't any better than being stalked by Google. And perhaps a Unity user will read this and find it informative. (More details here: http://www.howtogeek.com/126995/how-...us-unity-dash/)

I also disabled "Send reports to Canonical" in Kubuntu.

I'm quietly hoping that's all I have to worry about on the 'buntus, but something tells me a move to another distro would be wise. Problem is, I'm basically a noob on linux, so I'm hunting around for user-friendly options.

Anyway, that's by-the-by. Just thought I'd throw that 'buntu thing in for completeness.

Hey Zdenko,

I ran that command and this was the result:

Code:

gregory@OptiPlex-170L:~/Desktop$ sudo apt-get remove unity-lens-shopping
[sudo] password for gregory: 
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
Note, selecting 'unity-scope-home' instead of 'unity-lens-shopping'
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
  linux-headers-4.2.0-19 linux-headers-4.2.0-19-generic linux-headers-4.2.0-22
  linux-headers-4.2.0-22-generic linux-headers-4.2.0-23
  linux-headers-4.2.0-23-generic linux-image-4.2.0-22-generic
  linux-image-4.2.0-23-generic linux-image-extra-4.2.0-22-generic
  linux-image-extra-4.2.0-23-generic
Use 'apt-get autoremove' to remove them.
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.             
gregory@OptiPlex-170L:~/Desktop$

Then I ran this to check on the kernels:

aptitude search linux-image |grep '^i'

And got this:

Code:

gregory@OptiPlex-170L:~/Desktop$ aptitude search linux-image |grep '^i'
i A linux-image-4.2.0-22-generic    - Linux kernel image for version 4.2.0 on 32
i A linux-image-4.2.0-23-generic    - Linux kernel image for version 4.2.0 on 32
i A linux-image-4.2.0-25-generic    - Linux kernel image for version 4.2.0 on 32
i A linux-image-4.2.0-27-generic    - Linux kernel image for version 4.2.0 on 32
i A linux-image-extra-4.2.0-22-gene - Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.2
i A linux-image-extra-4.2.0-23-gene - Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.2
i A linux-image-extra-4.2.0-25-gene - Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.2
i A linux-image-extra-4.2.0-27-gene - Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.2
i A linux-image-generic             - Generic Linux kernel image

I think I'm getting kind of lost in this. The first one is talking about headers. Hmm. I'm wondering why it would
install things when I was removing something?

Anyway, I removed the old kernels and I think it got rid of most of that stuff that was installed while removing the unity-lens-shopping. Meh, everything seems to be working okay. I'm not going to worry about it.

P.S. Found Firefox Sync.

Here's the whole journey if any of you Linux mavens want to have a look:

Code:

gregory@OptiPlex-170L:~/Desktop$ unity-lens-shopping

unity-lens-shopping: command not found
gregory@OptiPlex-170L:~/Desktop$ 
gregory@OptiPlex-170L:~/Desktop$ unity-lens-shopping
unity-lens-shopping: command not found
gregory@OptiPlex-170L:~/Desktop$ sudo apt-get remove unity-lens-shopping
[sudo] password for gregory: 
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
Note, selecting 'unity-scope-home' instead of 'unity-lens-shopping'
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
  linux-headers-4.2.0-19 linux-headers-4.2.0-19-generic linux-headers-4.2.0-22
  linux-headers-4.2.0-22-generic linux-headers-4.2.0-23
  linux-headers-4.2.0-23-generic linux-image-4.2.0-22-generic
  linux-image-4.2.0-23-generic linux-image-extra-4.2.0-22-generic
  linux-image-extra-4.2.0-23-generic
Use 'apt-get autoremove' to remove them.
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
gregory@OptiPlex-170L:~/Desktop$ aptitude search linux-image |grep '^i'
i A linux-image-4.2.0-22-generic    - Linux kernel image for version 4.2.0 on 32
i A linux-image-4.2.0-23-generic    - Linux kernel image for version 4.2.0 on 32
i A linux-image-4.2.0-25-generic    - Linux kernel image for version 4.2.0 on 32
i A linux-image-4.2.0-27-generic    - Linux kernel image for version 4.2.0 on 32
i A linux-image-extra-4.2.0-22-gene - Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.2
i A linux-image-extra-4.2.0-23-gene - Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.2
i A linux-image-extra-4.2.0-25-gene - Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.2
i A linux-image-extra-4.2.0-27-gene - Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.2
i A linux-image-generic             - Generic Linux kernel image                
gregory@OptiPlex-170L:~/Desktop$ ^C
gregory@OptiPlex-170L:~/Desktop$ ^C
gregory@OptiPlex-170L:~/Desktop$ sudo aptitude remove linux-image-4.2.0-22-generic linux-image-4.2.0-23-generic linux-image-4.2.0-25-generic linux-image-extra-4.2.0-22-generic linux-image-extra-4.2.0-23-generic linux-image-extra-4.2.0-25-generic
The following packages will be REMOVED:  
  linux-headers-4.2.0-19{u} linux-headers-4.2.0-19-generic{u} linux-headers-4.2.0-22{u} linux-headers-4.2.0-22-generic{u} linux-headers-4.2.0-23{u} 
  linux-headers-4.2.0-23-generic{u} linux-image-4.2.0-22-generic linux-image-4.2.0-23-generic linux-image-4.2.0-25-generic linux-image-extra-4.2.0-22-generic 
  linux-image-extra-4.2.0-23-generic linux-image-extra-4.2.0-25-generic 
0 packages upgraded, 0 newly installed, 12 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 0 B of archives. After unpacking 703 MB will be freed.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n/?] y
(Reading database ... 333165 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing linux-headers-4.2.0-19-generic (4.2.0-19.23) ...
Removing linux-headers-4.2.0-19 (4.2.0-19.23) ...
Removing linux-headers-4.2.0-22-generic (4.2.0-22.27) ...
Removing linux-headers-4.2.0-22 (4.2.0-22.27) ...
Removing linux-headers-4.2.0-23-generic (4.2.0-23.28) ...
Removing linux-headers-4.2.0-23 (4.2.0-23.28) ...
Removing linux-image-extra-4.2.0-22-generic (4.2.0-22.27) ...
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/apt-auto-removal 4.2.0-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-22-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools 4.2.0-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-22-generic
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.2.0-22-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/pm-utils 4.2.0-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-22-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/unattended-upgrades 4.2.0-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-22-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/update-notifier 4.2.0-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-22-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-grub 4.2.0-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-22-generic
Generating grub configuration file ...
Warning: Setting GRUB_TIMEOUT to a non-zero value when GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT is set is no longer supported.
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-27-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.2.0-27-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-25-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.2.0-25-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-23-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.2.0-23-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-22-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.2.0-22-generic
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.elf
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
done
Removing linux-image-4.2.0-22-generic (4.2.0-22.27) ...
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 4.2.0-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-22-generic
update-initramfs: Deleting /boot/initrd.img-4.2.0-22-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 4.2.0-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-22-generic
Generating grub configuration file ...
Warning: Setting GRUB_TIMEOUT to a non-zero value when GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT is set is no longer supported.
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-27-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.2.0-27-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-25-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.2.0-25-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-23-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.2.0-23-generic
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.elf
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
done
Removing linux-image-extra-4.2.0-23-generic (4.2.0-23.28) ...
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/apt-auto-removal 4.2.0-23-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-23-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools 4.2.0-23-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-23-generic
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.2.0-23-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/pm-utils 4.2.0-23-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-23-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/unattended-upgrades 4.2.0-23-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-23-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/update-notifier 4.2.0-23-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-23-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-grub 4.2.0-23-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-23-generic
Generating grub configuration file ...
Warning: Setting GRUB_TIMEOUT to a non-zero value when GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT is set is no longer supported.
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-27-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.2.0-27-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-25-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.2.0-25-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-23-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.2.0-23-generic
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.elf
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
done
Removing linux-image-4.2.0-23-generic (4.2.0-23.28) ...
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 4.2.0-23-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-23-generic
update-initramfs: Deleting /boot/initrd.img-4.2.0-23-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 4.2.0-23-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-23-generic
Generating grub configuration file ...
Warning: Setting GRUB_TIMEOUT to a non-zero value when GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT is set is no longer supported.
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-27-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.2.0-27-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-25-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.2.0-25-generic
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.elf
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
done
Removing linux-image-extra-4.2.0-25-generic (4.2.0-25.30) ...
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/apt-auto-removal 4.2.0-25-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-25-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools 4.2.0-25-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-25-generic
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.2.0-25-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/pm-utils 4.2.0-25-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-25-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/unattended-upgrades 4.2.0-25-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-25-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/update-notifier 4.2.0-25-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-25-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-grub 4.2.0-25-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-25-generic
Generating grub configuration file ...
Warning: Setting GRUB_TIMEOUT to a non-zero value when GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT is set is no longer supported.
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-27-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.2.0-27-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-25-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.2.0-25-generic
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.elf
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
done
Removing linux-image-4.2.0-25-generic (4.2.0-25.30) ...
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 4.2.0-25-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-25-generic
update-initramfs: Deleting /boot/initrd.img-4.2.0-25-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 4.2.0-25-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-25-generic
Generating grub configuration file ...
Warning: Setting GRUB_TIMEOUT to a non-zero value when GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT is set is no longer supported.
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.2.0-27-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.2.0-27-generic
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.elf
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
done
The link /vmlinuz.old is a damaged link
Removing symbolic link vmlinuz.old 
 you may need to re-run your boot loader[grub]
The link /initrd.img.old is a damaged link
Removing symbolic link initrd.img.old 
 you may need to re-run your boot loader[grub]
                                         
gregory@OptiPlex-170L:~/Desktop$

Gregg Bell · 02-11-2016, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zdenko

Read about Ghostery's business model:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghostery#Business_model

Not true of Disconnect.

Food for thought.

Sheesh. Are there no white hats anywhere?

Gregg Bell · 02-11-2016, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zdenko

Don't hold it off. It's set it and forget it stuff. Try my settings. All they do is remove those nasty LSOs at every opportunity and without even bothering you. Nothing to it. I've had this set up for ages, works all the time, never had a problem. The only time you'll hear from the BP add-on is when it updates during a FF startup every month or so. Then just close the tab.

No. It's not an add-on. It somes with FF. You just need to set up a Firefox account.
It can choose what it syncs. Options are: bookmarks, history, addons, etc. (I don't keep history as I don't like storing any info on where I've been.) When you log into the account from another FF on another 'puter, it will install all your add-ons, etc.

See here for a recent instruction video on how to set up the account:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rq-QjHrnv3E

This way, you don't have to worry about which add-ons to install all over again every time. You just need to set up the few settings. But that's quite simple. Just set Better Privacy to how I showed you, and in FF's settings, put the privacy tab as in the attachment.

Thanks for the encouragement, Zdenko. I got the Better Privacy and used your settings. Tomorrow I'll probably get the FF sync. I think my computer's getting in pretty good shape. Appreciate the help!

Higgsboson · 02-11-2016, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gregg Bell

I don't see a NoScript icon on my whitelist window (which is kind of a bad thing because I would like to know how to make things permanent). Could you point it out to me in my screenshot? Thanks.

Your noscript icon should automatically appear on the toolbar of your browser.

Gregg Bell · 02-11-2016, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Higgsboson

Your noscript icon should automatically appear on the toolbar of your browser.

Ok, I'm starting to get it. LOL Thanks. I see what you're saying about hovering over the icon and allowing a site. Then it seems only sometimes does it give the option of making the page provisions permanent. But I don't think that's a big deal because if I allow the site and don't remove it or revoke it, it will be permanent anyway.

Higgsboson · 02-11-2016, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gregg Bell

Then it seems only sometimes does it give the option of making the page provisions permanent.

Yes, it seemed that way to me too. It is possible this occurs because you haven't 'allowed' a domain name yet. Even so, at any time you can go to 'Options - whitelist' and manually add a domain under 'Address of website'.
If it's a weird domain (for example netdna-ssl on LQ) then you'll just have to remember it next time you come across it.
But that's probably what 'Import/Export' is for. If you see a weird domain name on a trusted site which offers functionality on the page (e.g logging in, adding italics to comments) then you can 'import' (save domain name) to a text file you've created on your desktop. So if at some time 'Make page permissions permanent' doesn't appear when you hover over the Noscript icon, you can press 'export' (write domain name) on the whitelist tab to export the domain name you have previously saved on your text file.

Of course, this requires us to keep a text file of weird domain names! But if the 'Make permanent...' option doesn't appear when you want it to, at least you have the correct domain name on a text file which you can export to the whitelist.

Quote:

But I don't think that's a big deal because if I allow the site and don't remove it or revoke it, it will be permanent anyway.

Well, remember you'll be allowing it 'temporarily'. I think Noscript does have a 'learn' function, and so it learns to remember certain domain names and offer the 'Make permanent...' option if you visit the sight frequently enough.

Gregg Bell · 02-12-2016, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Higgsboson

Yes, it seemed that way to me too. It is possible this occurs because you haven't 'allowed' a domain name yet. Even so, at any time you can go to 'Options - whitelist' and manually add a domain under 'Address of website'.
If it's a weird domain (for example netdna-ssl on LQ) then you'll just have to remember it next time you come across it.
But that's probably what 'Import/Export' is for. If you see a weird domain name on a trusted site which offers functionality on the page (e.g logging in, adding italics to comments) then you can 'import' (save domain name) to a text file you've created on your desktop. So if at some time 'Make page permissions permanent' doesn't appear when you hover over the Noscript icon, you can press 'export' (write domain name) on the whitelist tab to export the domain name you have previously saved on your text file.

Of course, this requires us to keep a text file of weird domain names! But if the 'Make permanent...' option doesn't appear when you want it to, at least you have the correct domain name on a text file which you can export to the whitelist.

Well, remember you'll be allowing it 'temporarily'. I think Noscript does have a 'learn' function, and so it learns to remember certain domain names and offer the 'Make permanent...' option if you visit the sight frequently enough.

Thanks Higgsboson. It's getting a tad complicated but I'm getting used to it. One thing I experimented with and that is "allowing" something (not just temporarily). Then I got out of Firefox and came back in and the thing I allowed was still on the whitelist.

I don't know if I would have the patience to do the import/export thing with txt file. LOL We'll see.