Google Search 197
Privacy
Searches made by search engines, including Google, leave traces, raising concerns about privacy but sometimes
facilitating the administration of justice; murderers have been detected and convicted as a result of incriminating
searches they made such as "tips with killing with a baseball bat".[47].
A search can be traced in several ways. When using a search engine through a browser program on a computer,
search terms and other information will usually be stored on the computer by default, unless steps are taken to erase
them. An Internet Service Provider may store records which relate search terms to an IP address and a time. The
search engine provider (e.g., Google) may keep logs with the same information[48]. Whether such logs are kept, and
access to them by law enforcement agencies, is subject to legislation and working practices; the law may mandate,
prohibit, or say nothing about logging of various types of information.
The technically knowledgeable and forewarned user can avoid leaving traces.Encrypted Search
In May 2010 Google rolled out SSL-encrypted web search.[49] The encrypted search can be accessed at
encrypted.google.com[50]Instant Search
Google Instant, a feature that displays suggested results while the user types, was introduced in the United States on
September 8, 2010. In concert with the Google Instant launch, Google disabled the ability of users to choose to see
more than 10 search results per page. At the time of the announcement Google expected Instant to save users 2 to 5
seconds in every search, collectively about 11 million seconds per hour.[51] Search engine marketing pundits
speculate that Google Instant will have a great impact on local and paid search.[52]
Instant Search can be disabled via Google's "preferences" menu, but autocomplete-style search suggestions now
cannot be disabled; Google confirm that this is intentional.[53]
The publication 2600: The Hacker Quarterly has compiled a list of words that are restricted by Google Instant.[54]
These are terms the web giant's new instant search feature will not search.[55][56] Most terms are often vulgar and
derogatory in nature, but some apparently irrelevant searches including "Myleak" are removed.[56]Redesign
In late June 2011, Google introduced a new look to the Google home page in order to boost the use of the Google+
social tools.[57]
One of the major changes was replacing the classic navigation bar with a black one. Google's digital creative director
Chris Wiggins explains: "We're working on a project to bring you a new and improved Google experience, and over
the next few months, you'll continue to see more updates to our look and feel."[58] The new navigation bar has been
negatively received by a vocal minority.[59]