How private is my Virgin Medial Email account?

[joglynne]

This morning I received an email from Google using my NTL account. Apparently they are revamping their policy ...

Dear Google user,

We’re getting rid of over 60 different privacy policies across Google and replacing them with one that’s a lot shorter and easier to read. Our new policy covers multiple products and features, reflecting our desire to create one beautifully simple and intuitive experience across Google.

As I read the details I was a tad unsettled by one section in particular

Tailored for you

If you’re signed in to Google, we can do things like suggest search queries – or tailor your search results – based on the interests that you’ve expressed in Google+, Gmail and YouTube. We’ll better understand which version of Pink or Jaguar you’re searching for and get you those results faster.

...but thought I was just being paranoid yet again.

As my NTL email account is hosted on Google I took the aluminum hat off and got on with my life, However this evening I have just seen this in The Register

Infuriated customers want to know how the Google got their addresses
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/01...a_subscribers/
If anyone want a copy of all the changes you can view them here.

[Hugh]

Your Virginmedia/NTL eMail account is a gmail account, with a VM skin on it.

[joglynne]

... but I don't like the idea of my G+ account being linked in any way to my NTL persona. If they can link the two using the common Google umbrella surely I have cause for concern?

I have multiple accounts using different names all being picked up by my Google account and now they appear to be saying that they can trawl through anything that I have done under any identity that they hold any details on. I had assumed that VM/Google account (the only one with a name that can actually identify me in the real world) would have some sort of limit on it regarding Google's usage of my details.

Oh well I guess VM got some form of payment from the mighty Google machine that gained so many new accounts to feed its appetite.

OK I am now an officially paranoid idiot so I shall stop buying so much cooking foil and get a life.

[heero_yuy]

I had the same mail yesterday but only to my virgin.net e-mail account. Some what ironic tht it's about privacy policy. I was tempted to put on the foil hat but then moved on. If I send anything sensitive I will always encrypt it.

It's not the first time that a site\organisation acquired a mail list and used it for their own purposes and it won't be the last.

[Hugh]

Google have not "acquired" anyone's mail list - Google provide the customer email system for VM, and as such, are informing their users/customers of changes to the email system.

[BenMcr]

To be honest it's still being investigated by VM as to why this has happened.

Although Virgin Media Mail is hosted by Google, it's VM's privacy policy that applies to the service http://shop.virginmedia.com/the-lega...cy-policy.html

[Tim Deegan]

Originally Posted by Hugh

Google have not "acquired" anyone's mail list - Google provide the customer email system for VM, and as such, are informing their users/customers of changes to the email system.

My account is with VM, and not Google, regardless of Google hosting it. So Google should not have access to my e-mail address from VM. If I wanted spam from google, then I would have a gmail account.

I actually received one of these e-mails for each ntlworld address I have.

[Nopanic]

I got the email to every single address I own .. it's Google though .. if you ever used the address online, they have it ..

---------- Post added at 20:13 ---------- Previous post was at 20:11 ----------

Originally Posted by Tim Deegan

My account is with VM, and not Google, regardless of Google hosting it. So Google should not have access to my e-mail address from VM. If I wanted spam from google, then I would have a gmail account.

I actually received one of these e-mails for each ntlworld address I have.

VM have selected Google to run your mailbox, so they host it .. thus have your address .. they don't however have your account details.

---------- Post added at 20:14 ---------- Previous post was at 20:13 ----------

Originally Posted by BenMcr

To be honest it's still being investigated by VM as to why this has happened.

Although Virgin Media Mail is hosted by Google, it's VM's privacy policy that applies to the service http://shop.virginmedia.com/the-lega...cy-policy.html

Have you tried telling Google they are wrong lol .. they just ignore you .. excellent service to the customer though ..

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by joglynne

This morning I received an email from Google using my NTL account. Apparently they are revamping their policy ...
As I read the details I was a tad unsettled by one section in particular ...but thought I was just being paranoid yet again.

As my NTL email account is hosted on Google I took the aluminum hat off and got on with my life, However this evening I have just seen this in The Register

Infuriated customers want to know how the Google got their addresses
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/01...a_subscribers/
If anyone want a copy of all the changes you can view them here.

This will help with some of there targeted adverts

http://www.google.com/ads/preference.../en_uk/plugin/

And this tells you if you are in or out https://www.google.com/settings/ads/...THHwpm0Q&hl=en

[joglynne]

Originally Posted by Sirius

This will help with some of there targeted adverts

http://www.google.com/ads/preference.../en_uk/plugin/

And this tells you if you are in or out https://www.google.com/settings/ads/...THHwpm0Q&hl=en

Thanks for the links Sirus.

Apparently I

.. currently do not have an ‘id’ cookie.

so I assume I must have done something already but I shall save your links to double check after my next cookie clear out.

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by joglynne

Thanks for the links Sirus.

Apparently I so I assume I must have done something already but I shall save your links to double check after my next cookie clear out.

There is also this one

http://www.aboutads.info/choices/

[joglynne]

Originally Posted by Sirius

There is also this one

http://www.aboutads.info/choices/

Oh goodness me. I have tons of the little blighters, Do I just flea spray the lot?

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by joglynne

Oh goodness me. I have tons of the little blighters, Do I just flea spray the lot?

I would

[joglynne]

Cheers Sirus. I owe you a rep.

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by joglynne

Cheers Sirus. I owe you a rep.

That peck on the cheek will do