Google Analytics now harvesting data from 70% of all websites

Google is now harvesting code from up to 70% of all websites through its Google Analytics tracking code, according to new research. Tracking code is a piece of code that appears on a website and places a file (known as a “cookie”) on a users’ computer, usually in the form of a social media widget […]

Andrew Sadauskas 13 June, 2012

Google is now harvesting code from up to 70% of all websites through its Google Analytics tracking code, according to new research.

Tracking code is a piece of code that appears on a website and places a file (known as a “cookie”) on a users’ computer, usually in the form of a social media widget (such as a “like” or “share” button) or an ad. A users’ online history is later harvested through online advertisers and social media sites collecting these files, in order to display online ads.

Data from the Evidon Global Tracker Report, as published by ITWorld, reveals that the five most common tracking codes on the internet belong to Facebook and Google.

The report also reveals that while 80% of websites contain five pieces of tracking code or less, that average rises to over 20 for entertainment websites.