Bing saves all history--how?

p4684514

Hi all, can anyone explain how bing (probably other search engines do the same) can save one's history of searches across multiple days even though one's IP address keeps changing because one has a VPN like PIA? I found this freaky. I clear my website data everyday. But bing still remembered everything. Isn't this sort of thing supposed to be impossible with a good VPN? Was I naive to assume that?

Omnibus_IV

Clear out your cache and also your cookies. Now, if you log into Bing then you are being tracked by your visits and your surfing activities. If you do not need to log in to Bing, and I don't know if that is a requirement, then don't. The same happens with Google.

[Deleted User]

I would also recommend taking a look at our security best practices here for browsers and visiting our homepage to verify the IP is being masked as well.

Hope that helps!

p4684514

Thanks for the replies. One doesn't need to log into bing for it to track your history--they give anyone the option to see their past searches, even if you never logged into them. Basically what I'm getting is that websites can track you across time whether or not you have a VPN. (I know, this was probably obvious to anyone with real computer literacy, ie not me.) Assuming the VPN is working, they won't know your ISP, BUT they are "in" your computer. I find it baffling that they wouldn't be able to figure out who they are tracking despite being in your computer (or browser?), but I guess they can't?? Incidentally, clearing out the cache and the like doesn't always get rid of the tracking, as I'm sure you know.

Omnibus_IV

Yeah, it doesn't always clear everything. Then I would recommend when you use the VPN, change to Private Browsing mode. That should help as there is no record of what you do (theoretically that is).

mission156

I don't know what browser you use but to stop the history being saved just don't log in to an account when searching and clear the history of your browser when you are done.

JackO

You guys never heard of advertising ID before? Its not a mystery. Once you create an account on bing, or google, and about 90% of the sites in the world, and basically any site that uses google analytics, they get your advertising ID and sometimes set a super cookie that does not delete just by clearing history and cookies in your browser. Private browsing mode does not help.

Even if a super cookie is not set, when you log back into Bing it knows your history because its tracked you while you were logged into Bing and it used your advertising ID so it saves that tracking in the Bing system. Even if you did not log into Bing, it can still do this if you hit a site that detects your advertising ID.

Once you create an account on Bing or Google you have become theirs. Remember, if you used anything free from Bing or Google then you are the product and your advertising ID helps them monetize you (your web activity) to their advantage..