I'm using Google Analytics to track visits to this website. This helps me understand (among other things) what content people are reading, and how much time they spend reading it. An unfortunate side-effect of this is that Google can see when you visit my website, and use that information however they want.
Why you using it, then? The sad truth is that nearly all of us are using Google's services. So, my using it doesn't change a whole lot. I do let you opt out tho. Instructions below.
Disable Google Analytics
On This Site
Google Analytics is loaded by default. You can opt-out by clicking here. This setting will be remembered for 2 years.
On The Whole Internet
In the grand scheme, disabling Google Analytics on my site don't do shit forreal. Google can still track you nearly every other site you visit. If that doesn't sit right with you, you can disable Google Analytics in your browser. Google makes this easy:
Many websites and apps use Google Analytics to understand how visitors engage with their sites or apps. If you don’t want Analytics to be used in your browser, you can install the Google Analytics browser add-on. Learn more about Google Analytics and privacy.
You can also use a third-party browser extension or app (on iOS). On the desktop in Chrome or Safari, I use ad block plus to block ads, and ghostery to block every tracking script.
Blocked Status Indicator
This website helps you determine if you are blocking the Google Analytics script. After your blocker is installed, visit this page and look at the footer. If you see a green circle and with the text "analytics are blocked", you're good to go. This green dot tells you my website tried to load the Google Analytics script, but failed. If the dot is yellow, analytics are disabled and the site didn't try to load them. If you want to detect if the script gets blocked, you will need to click "turn on" to enable analytics.
Cookies
lukezilioli.com- stores ananalyticsDisabledcookie for 2 years which is used solely to determine whether the google analytics script will be loaded. The first time you visit the website, analytics will be enabled.- Google Analytics cookies. Explained by Google here. These will not be sent to google if you disable analytics, as described above.