Comments on: Google's Omnibox could be Pandora's box

If you are not careful with your privacy settings, Google has the right to log every keystroke you type into Chrome's address bar.

[dondarko]

they backtracked on this issue: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10031703-56.html

[dem0]

You can get around this and still use Google's search engine...

Go to Options > Default Search click Manage.

Click add.

Name: Google Safe Seach
Keyword: GoogleSafe
URL: http://google.com/search?q=%s

They can still log your searches if you are logged in to Google, but that has nothing to do with Chrome. You can turn that off from your Google account settings.

[cidman2001]

Talk about paranoid people! Are there really that many people out there in tin foil hats thinking Google and others are spying on them?

If I'm going to be force fed ads, I at least want them to be something I might find interesting.

Uh oh...gotta go! The satellites will be passing over soon....

[Vegaman_Dan]

It's ironic you should mention satellites... Google just got an exclusive lease on an imaging satellite to be launched in a few days, and yes, it has a Google logo on the side of it. :)

Makes you think, doesn't it?

[The_Decider]

The entire business model of Google is based around finding as much information on you as possible.

Wake up!

[GlennAllen]

Frankly, this sounds like just more "social engineering" being added to another Internet interface. Anyway, if you're worried about Google or anyone knowing what you may have typed into some search field, then I've got to wonder what you might have been searching for... well, no, actually, I don't care--either what you're typing or whether Google knows it. I've turned off Auto-suggest on the current Google search page because it just gets in the way of seeing MY previous search terms (and because I don't care to know what Google "suggestions" are available).

[mbenedict]

WARNING for FIREFOX users!!

According to this wordpress blog:

http://peekay.wordpress.com/2008/09/03/google-suggest-vs-privacy/

this privacy issue ALSO EXISTS IN FIREFOX (and on the main google site.)

[nemrel]

KeyScrambler is a great program I would suggest to anyone who is worried about their browser sending their keystrokes and searches to companies. It encrypts everything you type in your browser. As of right now the free version blocks key logging in Firefox, IE, and Flock. Grab it here: http://www.qfxsoftware.com/Download.htm . The premium and pro versions cost money, but offer encryption for more programs than the free offers. And as of today the premium and pro added Chrome to their list of protected products (this feature is in beta as of now). I have the free and it is neat to watch the program show the encrypted random typed characters in a little bar that floats over your browser frame. If you use this program and also have an account with a search engine (like a Gmail or Google Account) you MUST make sure you are logged out of your account when using that service's search engine, otherwise your web history and search terms are stored with your account. You can change your account preferences to not log your search data and browsing history (I know Google allows you to turn off that feature).

[wiley14]

Hold up. If you don't want Google to use your "personal" information - then don't use their products - including the search engine. About the worst Google is gonna do is send you targeted ads. Big deal. It pays their bills so you can get a decent search engine.

If you are so freaking paranoid about your privacy - keep in mind your ISP and the US government can just as easily do the same thing. Move to an island and don't use the Internet.

[Kwasiowusu]

Google is not the US Gverment. No one elected Google to rule this country. If Google wants to spy on American citizens, let them go stand for elections, win it, and then make laws giving them that power they are trying to grab for themselves illegaly right now.

[Imalittleteapot]

Well I like Chrome, but this really isn't the way for Google to be doing business. I'd rather have them not keep information linked to an IP address or any info at all really. However, the auto suggest feature on the Google main page probably works the same way. One way to think about the omnibox is to think of it as having the main page text box embedded right in your browser. Really if you're concerned with this not only should you uninstall Chrome. You should probably consider not using Google at all at this point and use an entirely different search engine. I don't know if Google's main page logs information the same way Chrome does, but it would certainly be capable if it wanted and it could change at any time.

Google is not doing well with people's privacy lately. The best way to let them know you care is to use a different service for your searches entirely.

just standard behavior from google. they could care less about your privacy as long as they can leverage it to keep their share price up.

[stockyjoe]

This was one of my concerns regarding this browser. If you read the fine print "which most people never do", Google is making it clear they will collect data from you. Chrome is pretty nice, but it IS a tactic to feed their web services upon you and grab demographic and other data FROM you.

All is not Gold with Google. If this were Microsoft doing such a thing you'd all be raising hell right now.

Plus how bland do Google apps need to be? I mean I like things clean and simple, but a lot Googles apps look like something a 15 year old made in Corel draw.

[The User]

Agreed. Google's site simplicity was applied to every other product they made, which is not necessarily a good thing. When I search, I want to find what I need and fast. Google is perfect for it.

But when I work with something, I want it to be designed in a way appealing for daily use. All Google apps do not fit that category. Chrome, GMAIL and others just don't look good. All those apps look like something designed for EGA monitors connected to 286 machines.

Consistent ugliness of Google products is only part of an issue. Privacy and information collection is another. Once during one of my post-grad session the presenter said "We know a lot about you, before you even joined our school. We've purchased information from Google that had useful stats on you - how long you stayed on our page, were you came from, how many competitors you have visited before you applied here, whether you applied elsewhere or not". That was quite disturbing. For that reason, I'll say "Thanks, but thanks" to every Google app.

[Fusco_D]

I have been using a wonderful -- if little known -- search engine for years:
Clusty, the Clustering Search Engine.
It integrates very well into Firefox.
Version 2.0 is in the works.
see <http://clusty.com/>

[MrChickenLeggs]

As an IT guy and a Webmaster that spends 14 hours a day online I am always interested in checking things out that might make my work easier and more efficient.
So I installed Chrome today and the first time the browser loaded, I was shocked! It mines and retains information I consider totally personal. I find Chrome offensive and an affront to privacy. It is very insulting that Google despite making a Gazillions beyond its wildest imaginations would have the balls of putting out such an intrusive product, all in the name of mining our information for more almighty dollar.
I am highly offended, that Google would have the balls to think it can get away with this. I am going warn every person I know to stay away from such brazen insult. IF YOU VALUE YOUR PRIVACY DO NOT USE CHROME. And please warn others to stay away from it.
Shame on you Google!

[Galphanore]

Exactly what information is in "mining and retaining"? Your search history and passwords from your other browser? the one that you can tell it not to when you're installing it? Or do you mean the history of web sites you visit, just like every other browser. Please, enlighten us as to what it is doing that's so intrusive.

[BadSquishy]

Other than the keystrokes this article directly addresses (auto-suggest), what information was Chrome "mining and retaining"?

[alan_06]

Thanks to CNET. I didn't noticed this privacy issue. But, I was sceptical from the start that Google's Chrome intention is not for competing with other browsers. It must've been devleoped with a specific purpose to benefit Google. Now I've started to noticed the first reason.
After playing with Chrome for some time, my initial thought is that it's not a serious replacement for IE or FF. It doesn't even render RSS feeds correclty like IE does.

I humble suggestion to Google is not to misuse it's search engine dominant to market it's fun hobby projects. If it was devleoped seriously for Mobile phone, they should state it and not compete against IE/FF.

[Galphanore]

It was developed for a specific purpose. Google wants everyone accessing the internet to be able to do so faster and with fewer problems because, guess what, if you load pages faster you can go to more pages and see more google ads. Shocking, I know. They're releasing it with some very good ideas involved that are open source and could improve all web browsers, that's there "secret evil plan". To make all web browsers load faster and be more stable. Truly vile, it ranks up there with giving away wireless broadband.

[Kwasiowusu]

Google is truly evil.
But then most of us knew that already.
Avoid spyware and Big Brother intrusion: JUST SAY NO TO CHROME!

[smallman88]

they should at least leave a note saying that if you check this box your info maybe to store by google or something like that... *do no evil* my butt... very fishy...

[The User]

Google has huge privacy issues.

I'll use Chrome for testing websites only. However, I'll not use it for casual browsing. Nor I will install any Google product on my machine. Nor I'll use Google apps and GMAIL. I'll let Google collect info on me when I use it as my primary search tool. I'll let Yahoo to have my emails and Microsoft to own my messaging. But I will not let a single company collect information on every aspect of my life, especially not Google.

[JimMcDish]

Im telling you dude. One day, Google is going to rule the world! You just wait and see.

Jiff
www.anonymize.us.tc

[ddesy]

Since Chrome allows you to turn off the features that invade your privacy, I say, for the most part, the browser isn't a problem. It actually runs quite well. Even Yahoo Mail runs faster with it!

Of course, I'm looking forward to Firefox 3.1 for it's new Javascript engine.

[JunkSiu]

Well, it is open source and if its engine is really solid, at some point some one may fork a project and get rid of those unwanted 'features'.

[zaylman]

that just makes me wan't to randomly type something in that would incriminating but completely false just to through their data off... or I could just use the incognito feature.