Google Chrome privacy

[Gary]

Each version of Chrome has a unique user ID, so its theoretically possible to track what you do via it and we know Google love to harvest data don't we? Google even know down to the second when it was installed via a timestamp. Also Chrome uses a  URL-Tracker which calls home depending on the configuration five seconds after launch of the Google homepage in the background. There are ways to install it to make sure this does not occur, like use this http://www.abelssoft.net/unchrome.php or better still SRWare Iron. Also Chrome depending on the configuration, each time you put something in the address bar, sends this information to Google to provide suggestions uniquely to you, I don't like that idea myself, it means a personal profie on you is built by Google and stored. If you are going to use Chrome use one of its siblings that's been compiled from it if you value your web privacy, that's just my thoughts, enough data leakage occurs these days just using Google search, without Google draining more from your PC via a browser, also remember that its speed, and that needs a stopwatch to measure it, is not everything especially when you are losing out in other ways, and to those that say I have nothing to hide, thats not the point, buy not reading the EULA we allow our privacy to be stripped down willingly, and to me that is just plain dangerous, the MS EULA is bad enough 

[Niall]

That's me NEVER using that. What's the point in opting out if their own browser tracks you? Having someone knowing everything I look at far too intrusive, even if they claim it's only to target adverts. Someone holding that information is bound to sell it or leak it, or even have it stolen at some point.

It wouldn't surprise me though, if that becomes the norm, for the government to insist on this information to be linked with the efforts to stop piracy online.

{edited for worrying, brain numbing typo}

[Simon]

This is exactly the reason I don't use Google tools, other than the search engine.  Even GMail reads all your emails!

[Rik]

I must admit that I don't use my GMail account these days for that reason. To think that, once, the forum email went through Google. 

[Simon]

 

[Sebby]

It is worrying, but I don't believe for one minute that Google are the only ones that collect this much data.

[Rik]

No, but they are probably better placed, and have more motive than most, to do it.

[Den]

I love rumours and all that go with it. Lets not have a go at MS lets have a go at Google.      So far I like Chrome and find it as good as IE8 and better than Firefox but I am sure that data would be collected by whichever one you use.   

[drummer]

I love rumours and all that go with it. Lets not have a go at MS lets have a go at Google.

This has nothing to do with rumour but is everything to do with the fact that Google software reads your emails and web searches so it can generate more advertising revenue.

So far I like Chrome and find it as good as IE8 and better than Firefox but I am sure that data would be collected by whichever one you use.   

I'm happy that you're happy with Chrome but even Microsoft is a paragon of virtue when compared to Google's cavalier attitude towards privacy.

Firefox is an open source project which offers plenty of free plugins and extensions that go out of their way to protect online privacy.

Google is a good search engine but as a corporate entity, it's forgotten that information wants to be free.  That means free of all commercial pressure including advertising revenue.

I haven't forgotten, which is why I will never, ever knowingly install any Google software.

[JB]

I know it has been said before but SRWare Iron is Chrome without the stuff you may not want:-

http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron_chrome_vs_iron.php

[Gary]

I know it has been said before but SRWare Iron is Chrome without the stuff you may not want:-

http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron_chrome_vs_iron.php

Exactly I am trying it now and it works well  and without the Google stranglehold

[Gary]

I love rumours and all that go with it. Lets not have a go at MS lets have a go at Google.      So far I like Chrome and find it as good as IE8 and better than Firefox but I am sure that data would be collected by whichever one you use.   

Not rumours but a list of what Chrome does, that simple. 

[Dangerjunkie]

Thanks for that Gary. 


I didn't know Chrome did most of those things. I think I'll put Iron on my "to try" list instead.

Cheers,
Paul.

[dudwell]

Are there any downsides to Iron? If I try it and don't get on with it, is it easy to uninstall?

[Simon]

Are there any downsides to Iron?

I've heard it's heavy on the system.    Sorry! 

[Den]

Ah. but this is not any old Iron 

[D-Dan]

Personally - I'm sticking with FF - it's fast - stable - and with FEBE and Cleo - consistent across installs (my remaining plugins are automatically installed). My only concer is my use of XMarks, but I still feel secure enough to use it.

Google's motto, "Don't be evil" doesn't seem to extend to data collection.

Steve

[DarkStar]

Are there any downsides to Iron? If I try it and don't get on with it, is it easy to uninstall?

I tried it and liked it a lot more than Chrome. As it doesn't need a reboot I installed it under Shadow Defender and played with it all day and then when I rebooted the computer it was gone. Haven't had the time to play with it again but certainly will, Chrome was only a little faster than Firefox on this machine but Iron is VERY fast. Open the FF browser in 3-5 secs, Iron opens and is ready to use in about half a second  Blistering. But get a few add ons and it may slow down a bit.