Opt-out plugin for Google Analytics on way from Google

Google tells us in a blog post that they are developing a browser plug-in that will enable users to change how Google Analytics is collecting data when they browse Google Analytics enabled sites. This is a big change for sites owners as Google Analytics provides key data not only on number of vistors, but also trends in how users use/visits their sites. This complex tool collects a lot of data; and I understand from a privacy perspective that some users are worried about how the data about them are used. But the data collected by Google isn't hidden even if Google develop a browser plug-in that stops the browser from telling the Google Analytics server. All the data is available in the browser request - so the only way to stay "hidden" is to hide. You can hide by using a proxy; or by no visiting a site. For blogs reading the RSS feed is one way; but keep in mind that services like feedburner (another Google service) keeps track of reader stats too. So I guess if privacy is an issue - hide ;-)

I use both feedburner for my RSS-feed, and Google Analytics for my sites. I don't use the data collected to track each user, I use the data to see trends in numbers of page views, visitors, time on site etc. I see that when I write about topics like twitter, google, apple (iphone, itunes etc), web 2.0 in general and hacks in specifics - I get more readers. When I post daily - readers return more often. If I am away for a week, it takes a long time before my regular visitors return. And the numbers of subscribers increase more than the number of web visitors - telling me that the web 2.0 crowd I see as my audience subscribe if they find my stuff interesting the first time they visit.

So what to do? Don't visit sites you don't want to be associated with.