Bing search history strangeness

[sysops]

I've just come across something I don't understand (!), hope someone has the answer.

Go to bing.com, and carry out a search (anything will do). Look in the left hand menu towards the bottom, and you'll see a section called Search History.

The first entry in that section will be the search you've just carried out. All well so far, makes perfect sense. But under this, you will see a list of other sites you have accessed. These are not sites you have searched for using bing, they're just sites you've accessed using your browser.

How can a website (bing.com) read your browser's history?

 

[crossdaz]

Internet Explorer sends your browsing habits to Microsoft - not a lot of people know that

There is a post by matt cutts about this somewhere if you look hard enough.

 

[sysops]

Internet Explorer sends your browsing habits to Microsoft - not a lot of people know that

I'm not using IE, and this works in multiple browsers.

 

[crossdaz]

I'm not using IE, and this works in multiple browsers.

Maybe they've extended it it to windows then?

 

[crossdaz]

Here's the explorer issue in case anyone's interested (look for 'suggested sites')

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/privacy.aspx

It's mentioned here
http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/google-chrome-communication/

half way down the comments - not in the actual post

 

[sysops]

Maybe they've extended it it to windows then?

I'm not using windows.

 

[crossdaz]

I'm not using windows.

Well I don't know then. I'm curious why a non-Windows user would be searching on Bing though?

 

[nitro23456]

I'm not using IE.

I'm not using windows.

lol

what next.... im using a typewriter?

 

[crossdaz]

lol

what next.... im using a typewriter?

Must be Safari then? Lord knows what deals the Jobster does with the devil - I guess you pays your money...

 

[sysops]

Wow, it's the dark ages all over again.

I'm using Linux (ubuntu).

 

[crossdaz]

Wow, it's the dark ages all over again.

I'm using Linux (ubuntu).

Well whatever browser you are using is sending stuff to MS - I'm gonna guess it isn't Chrome?

 

[Employment Law Clinic]

Go to bing.com, and carry out a search (anything will do). Look in the left hand menu towards the bottom, and you'll see a section called Search History.


How can a website (bing.com) read your browser's history?

I believe it's called browser sniffing or browser history sniffing - some CSS technique that allows a site to check your browser's history I think. Not sure how it works though.



Karl Limpert

 

[E Storey]

I can go one better.

Google grabs my hotmail e-mail address and logs my searches on that machine. If i then go to another machine and look up my web history it shows me what anyone else on that computer has looked at since! (Paul Weller photos apparently!)