This week, we take a peek into the mailbag. A reader wrote in asking about how to get content removed from a search engine.
A.G. writes: “Information, at the request of an individual, has been removed from a website I am associated with. However, when the information is searched for on Google — it shows up. How can it be removed completely from the Internet? It is of some urgency — family-type info.”
My initial response: Anytime anything is posted online, search engines such as Google have copies, as do many other sites. In this case, you would have to contact Google to get that info off its search engine. But I’m not sure how easy that is or how long something like that would take. Cached info sticks around long after deletion. Also, there is the Wayback Machine that archives websites. The info is probably there as well. In addition, I mentioned that the reader should try the steps found on Google’s Webmaster Tools Help page at http://support.google.com/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1663688.
On Google’s site, they offer several ways to have content removed from someone else’s site. In addition, their site provides a link to steps for getting cached pages removed at http://support.google.com/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1663691.
As always, I urge everyone to be extra careful in choosing what you post online about yourselves. As for others, be equally mindful when you plan to post things about someone else online. This is especially important if the information is of personal nature, i.e., address, children’s names, phone numbers, photos, etc. If possible, it is always best to ask permission from the other party before you post this type of information.
Remember, the Internet is similar to a public record, open for everyone to see. Things posted on “personal” pages on social network sites, online forums, photosharing sites and any others, no matter what privacy settings you set, become public when it’s posted.
Net buzzz
- Microsoft has released a new version of Skype for Linux. According to the company, Skype 4.0 for Linux offers users easier conversations with the Conversation View, quicker and better quality calls, Call View and better video quality calls. The new version also offers fewer chances of crashes and freezes. In addition, support for two new languages, Czech and Norwegian, has been added.
Minimum system requirements include a 1GHz processor, 256MB RAM, 100 MB free hard drive space, microphone, speakers or headset, an Internet connection and a video card driver with Xv support. Additional software requirements include Qt 4.6.0, D-Bus 1.0.0 and libasound2 1.0.18.
Learn more at http://www.skype.com/intl/en/get-skype/on-your-computer/linux/ and http://blogs.skype.com/linux/2012/06/skype_40_for_linux.html.
- Microsoft Reader, a free application that enables one to read eBooks on a PC running Windows, will be discontinued Aug. 30. Users of the software still will be able to use the program to read .lit eBooks; however, availability of new .lit-formatted content ended as of Nov. 8, 2011.
Learn more at http://www.microsoft.com/reader/.
On sale
The price of the Jeopardy game channel was been dropped to 99-cents for a limited time on both the Roku and iPad. The game can be played on Roku 2 players and iPads running iOS 3.2 or higher. See the Roku offer at http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150914629344737&set=a.447715084736.218903.57450309736&type=3&theater. See the iPad offer at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/jeopardy!-hd/id382691801?mt=8.
E-mail me at sheila@amnews.com; fax me at (859) 236-9566; or write me snail mail at The Advocate-Messenger, P.O. Box 149, Danville, KY 40423-0149.
