Privacy Warning....read before installing Google Desktop V3
Discussion
This is simply a warning to the PH community seeing as we all use PC's so I ask you not to move this thread elsewhere as this is quite an important warning.
Google Desktop Version 3 was released a few days ago and through the fanfare, Google kept one of it's features very quiet indeed.
Google Desktop 3 actually transfers your details of the files it's indexed to Google's servers for 30 days. These details could easily include credit card information, tax returns, personal letters, emails or anything the indexer comes across.
As such, this is a major breach of privacy however as most people don't read the terms and conditions of software downloads and privacy statements, this passes by without being noticed.
I stopped using Google Desktop a while back because I didn't trust the way it sent personal data to Google and I recommend those interested or have very little IT knowledge, do not install it.
Additionally, those already running Desktop V2, check your privacy settings and avoid installed Desktop V3.
For more information, please check out the following related BBC Technology article.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4700002.stm
Google Desktop Version 3 was released a few days ago and through the fanfare, Google kept one of it's features very quiet indeed.
Google Desktop 3 actually transfers your details of the files it's indexed to Google's servers for 30 days. These details could easily include credit card information, tax returns, personal letters, emails or anything the indexer comes across.
As such, this is a major breach of privacy however as most people don't read the terms and conditions of software downloads and privacy statements, this passes by without being noticed.
I stopped using Google Desktop a while back because I didn't trust the way it sent personal data to Google and I recommend those interested or have very little IT knowledge, do not install it.
Additionally, those already running Desktop V2, check your privacy settings and avoid installed Desktop V3.
For more information, please check out the following related BBC Technology article.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4700002.stm
JagwireXKR said:
Nice work Nick. Does that include basic Google toolbar??
Hi Tom. Unfortunately all Google tools send out data to Google in some way or another. You can turn off so called "Advanced Features" in earlier versions but the latest seem to have done away with this. We had a recent communication within our company to remove all copies of Google Desktop or risk being removed from the network. Additionally, we can only install an IT department approved version of the toolbar.
Tools that are "safe" to my knowledge include:
- Google Earth
- Picassa
- Hello
I can't really answer for the rest of them....
Back to the toolbar. I use the tool, but very cautiously with all the Page Rank and other Navigation features turned off. The same goes for Productivity features. If you are unsure of how to do this, click on the Google logo on your Google bar, chose options and untick everything on the first options page. Then click ok and you're done.
For some "light" reading, check out this link as it explains how Google Toolbars advanced features work and what data it can possibly send back.
www.httprevealer.com/usage_google.htm
>> Edited by beanbag on Friday 10th February 13:33
for those interested in the google phenomenon in general www.google-watch.org is worth a visit.
"Google's toolbar phones home with every page you land on, and tattles to Google what you're looking at, while offering up your globally-unique Google cookie ID that expires in 2038.
As if that wasn't enough, the toolbar updates automatically, without asking. Once installed, this happens no matter how restrictive your Explorer security settings might be, and regardless of whether you have ZoneAlarm or some other firewall installed. Basically, this means that Google potentially can install anything at all on your hard drive, at any time that you connect to them. If you have broadband, it happens so fast that you won't even notice."
"Google's toolbar phones home with every page you land on, and tattles to Google what you're looking at, while offering up your globally-unique Google cookie ID that expires in 2038.
As if that wasn't enough, the toolbar updates automatically, without asking. Once installed, this happens no matter how restrictive your Explorer security settings might be, and regardless of whether you have ZoneAlarm or some other firewall installed. Basically, this means that Google potentially can install anything at all on your hard drive, at any time that you connect to them. If you have broadband, it happens so fast that you won't even notice."
Im not a big fan of any add-ons like google desktop. This includes I.E. add-ons...etc They compremise already flaky security.
Personally I would never index a drive unless Ive written the software (which is exactly what Ive done). Now I know other people dont care to do this so I would say just use the normal search and wait (All indexing does is mirror the filesystem into a database that is quicker to query, remmeber that there is also a small performance price to pay becuase the drive's contents has to be synced).
I would also recommend BestCrypt for your personal documents! Its easy to setup, secure and you wownt even notice it when using it (It creates a virtual parition from an encrypted file).
www.jetico.com/download.htm
My two peneth
Personally I would never index a drive unless Ive written the software (which is exactly what Ive done). Now I know other people dont care to do this so I would say just use the normal search and wait (All indexing does is mirror the filesystem into a database that is quicker to query, remmeber that there is also a small performance price to pay becuase the drive's contents has to be synced).
I would also recommend BestCrypt for your personal documents! Its easy to setup, secure and you wownt even notice it when using it (It creates a virtual parition from an encrypted file).
www.jetico.com/download.htm
My two peneth
happy snapper said:
Is this with just Microsoft products or all web tools like Firefox and Netscape?
I havent installed it becuase I dont trust google to index the contents of my drive but as far as I know its a stand alone application. In other words it doesnt matter what browser you have (correct me if Im wrong).
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