MS IE11 and Google

Factual Questions
1

I am pissed off.

I opened my computer this morning to discover that Microsoft Internet Explorer had downloaded for itself version IE 11. Fine enough.

I then went to Google (as you do), only to discover that it too seems to have reconfigured and has identified who I am with a little “+Noel” symbol that, if I click, takes me to a login page to get to Google+ by logging in to my gmail account, which it has obviously identified me as owning.

I do not want this.

I just want to log in anonymously as I always used to. I do not want my entire family’s search history somehow attributed to me in Google’s dark vaults.

Previously, the “+Noel” (or “+whoever”) symbol only came on when someone chose to log into their private Google page, and with a bit of effort you could find out how to get out of it. In the absence of doing so, all you saw was a “+You” symbol and a “Sign In” symbol on a toolbar. (It still does on my iPad.)

Anyone know how to return to that relatively blissful Edenic state? Call me an idiot, but I can’t find out how.

Maybe it always identified me on this computer as “+Noel” without telling me and it is at least just being honest. Don’t care.

Is there anything to be done, or is Google getting all evil on me?

2

Click your avatar (or blue man icon) on the far right and click Sign out.

3

Can you restore your system to a day ago? That may not change browser settings, but it should remove any updates.

What you are experiencing illustrates a good reason not to have automatic updates turned on.

4

I think this is unrelated to the IE 11 upgrade - that couldn’t somehow sign you in to Google without some action on your part. Most likely, at some point you did sign in to Google, and Google remembers that. I don’t remember how long ago Google started remembering your sign in, but it has been a few years I think.

The easy solution is to click the icon to the right of your name (it will be your profile picture if you have one, or a generic silhouette otherwise) and select Sign Out.

5

If you just log out Google will continue to track you it just won’t show you as being logged in. You can tell because ads will continue to be tailored to your interests etc

You need to get off any page contrilled by Google then go into ie’s tools/safety page and clear all cookies and cache. Then Google will lose track of you.

Briefly. Until you capitulate and log in or provide any information it can use to figure out who you are again.

Resistance is useless.

6

This is very bad advice that will open you up to malware infections, and is absolutely nothing to do with the OP’s problem (which others have correctly explained).

7

Thanks all. I will gird my loins and sally forth to battle dragons.