Google has launched a new version of its search facility with an add-on allowing users to opt out of having their Web usage tracked. This has sparked some concern for internet marketers who rely on web analytics for their industry.
Google reported in their official blog that the encrypted version of its web browser; Google SSL, will effectively inhibit third parties from intercepting a user’s web usage information. For web masters, this will mean less information about how a user came to visit a particular website. If a user is using Google SSL, it is unlikely their keyword data will be stored in web analytics.
As a result this could have serious implications for search engine optimisation as information about how users reach a site, and which key terms they used, is unavailable.
Google SLL does not offer complete anonymous browsing however, Google will still collect search data in order to improve its search service.
