Apparently AOL researchers decided it would be a good idea to release a month or so of searches done by its users. Although AOL is calling it a screw-up, it’s already out there. Of course the Somethingawful.com goons got their hands on it [warning: strong language - don't click that link if you don't want to see what kind of crap people search for]. And this file is already in the wild: there’s a torrent of the original file and also a SQL file floating around.

So I must ask: what sort of drugs was AOL taking? And what sort of lax security measures must be in place to allow such a leak to take place? And really, is apologising going to make it better, fellas? I doubt it.

Edit: crap, look at this one, filtered to remove irrelevant searches in between. Now that’s one depressing set of search terms:

270217: 672368 curb morning sickness 2006-03-05
270221: 672368 get fit while pregnant 2006-03-09
270228: 672368 you’re pregnant he doesn’t want the baby 2006-03-11
270249: 672368 foods to eat when pregnant 2006-03-12
270256: 672368 baby names and meanings 2006-03-14
270268: 672368 physician search 2006-03-23
270277: 672368 maternity clothes 2006-03-28
270287: 672368 pregnancy workout videos 2006-03-29
270319: 672368 abortion clinics [city and region removed] 2006-04-17
270323: 672368 greater carolinas womens center 2006-04-17
270325: 672368 can christians be forgiven for abortion 2006-04-17
270330: 672368 effects of abortion on fibroids 2006-04-18
270341: 672368 abortion clinic [city removed] 2006-04-18
270346: 672368 symptoms of miscarriage 2006-04-18
270355: 672368 abortion clinic [city and region removed] 2006-04-18
270363: 672368 engagement gifts 2006-04-20
270364: 672368 engagement rings 2006-04-20

Wow. That’s just sad and awful and all sorts of other words to describe sad and awful. My life suddenly looks a whole bunch of chipper.

But to take the mood up a notch, here’s something funny:

• 8401127 why do some people crave ice 2006-05-06
• 8401127 why crave ice 2006-05-06
• 8401127 i chew on balloons 2006-05-06
• 8401127 adult chewing on balloons 2006-05-06
• 8401127 why do i chew on balloons 2006-05-06
• 8401127 i crave the taste of ballons 2006-05-06
• 8401127 what are ballons made of 2006-05-06
• 8401127 why do i crave the taste of latex 2006-05-06

Oh my. People. Time to shut OFF the internet. But before I go, one last snippet: some enterprising soul has imported the entire log into an SQL database and is letting anyone on the entire internets search the thing. Go nuts before the takedown notices start.

Tags: geekery, links, privacy