google chrome - should i worry that google is logging my surfing?

[paradigmGT]

just installed google chrome, as was taken back the software asking me to log in and keep all my book marks on their server...
... then it made me wonder "what if" these fine folks are keeping a history of my browsing as well? what if they are storing my passwords as well?

am i being paranoid? or is this a legit worry?

 

[Mushkins]

They are keeping a history of your browsing. They are using that information for demographics and marketing, and could potentially give the records of your google ID's browsing to law enforcement. As far as I know they are not keylogging your passwords, the only password they should be keeping track of is the encrypted version of your google account password, but thats not a chrome-specific concern.

Whether or not you care if Google keeps records of user "ParadigmGT" connecting from IP 123.456.789.001 in Tuscon, AZ searching for pictures of kittens and "what is this rash on my leg?" is entirely your call.

 

[smitbret]

..... but, but, but, but putting everything on the "Cloud" is SO convenient.

Nothing in life is free. Yes, you should be concerned.

 

[Nothinman]

You can install Chromium instead if you want to avoid the Google-specific bits of code they add.

I would say you're being paranoid and it's a legit concern. But there's only so much you can do. If you want to use google's services you have to accept some level of data mining and analysis on their end.

 

[lxskllr]

A closed source program made by an advertising company. What could go wrong? :^D

 

[PuppettMaster001]

Try Dragon Browser. I have never used it but it is supposed to be a modified version of Chrome without all of the tracking stuff.

 

[Chiefcrowe]

I'd be very concerned.. they probably collect all kinds of data that we don't know about.
So, that's why i don't use it.

 

[ImpulsE69]

As a person who's only slightly paranoid, but not interested in companies using every bit of info they have on me for monetary gain, I have never used a Google service beyond their basic search function and can function just fine in everyday life without it.

So if it is a concern, don't use their products.

 

[jkroeder]

Yes, there are settings in Chrome that talk back to Google if you either opt-in to them or if you don't opt-out. Such as Google Suggestions or Google Safe Browsing.


Settings -> Show Advanced Settings -> Uncheck everything under the Privacy Section

Then right click on the URL bar and select Edit Search Engines. Change default search engine to something other than Google


This kind of thing is optional and configurable though. If you don't want to sync your bookmarks and things of that nature, don't use that feature. If you don't want your typed addresses in the URL bar to be sent for suggestions, disable that feature. And so on. It's that simple.

But to say Google will log your info through Chrome regardless of settings, I'd say that's crossing into super paranoid territory and there's never been any proof of such doing. It's more likely they'd rely on Analytics on every site itself for that.

 

[lxskllr]

But to say Google will log your info through Chrome regardless of settings, I'd say that's crossing into super paranoid territory and there's never been any proof of such doing. It's more likely they'd rely on Analytics on every site itself for that.

Maybe, maybe not. Do you have proof? Unless you can look at the code, there's no proof either way, but I'm sure they're a trustworthy company. They pretty much all are, right?

 

[Phynaz]

Maybe, maybe not. Do you have proof? Unless you can look at the code, there's no proof either way, but I'm sure they're a trustworthy company. They pretty much all are, right?

Do you really think nobody has used a network analyzer to see what is getting sent to Google?

 

[TuxDave]

I found this:
http://lifehacker.com/5763452/what-data-does-chrome-send-to-google-about-me

But I used Google to find it... which means that Google is probably onto me and sending someone out to get me... dammit.

P.S. Anyone try the Iron browser on the bottom? It seems to be a Google stripped version of Chrome.

 

[Crow550]

Your ISP logs everything you do. Your phone too.

Search, Email, Websites in general is always logging too....

You're worth a lot to Advertisers.

Up to you if you're worried about Google and Chrome and such.... At least Google does a good job of giving back.

 

[Shephard]

chrome sucks and that's one reason I don't use it.

Used Firefox since it came out and it's still the best today. Every other browser has copied things from it but it is still the winner in my books.

 

[Crow550]

Firefox puts Google stuff in as that's where they get most of there funding from.

Nothing wrong with Chrome or Firefox.

I use both. However I am finding Firefox getting more issues lately. Like with controls in some Flash videos not being responsive and such. I use Chrome for my Google stuff.

I am slowly moving to Chrome more and more though it seems a little snappier.

I usually setup Friends and Family's PCs with Chrome as for them it's simple, fast and handy with Flash built in for updates and such. Chromes quiet updates and so forth. The syncing across platforms is handy. Never hear of issues.

Firefox is great for power users who want to use a lot of addons though. Chrome has some nice addons too.

To the OP. Should you worry? Not really.... Your surfing has been getting logged for awhile.

They can't prove if some things are by you or someone else using your PC anyways.

 

[colonelciller]

Yes OP, you should absolutely be concerned.

Doesn't google know enough about you already?
I challenge anyone to watch that first video and then defend the position that we all shouldn't be concerned about the state of the net, including chrome on your desktop.

http://youtu.be/sKOk4Y4inVY
http://youtu.be/gORNmfpD0ak?t=15s

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

As Mushkins said, yes, but is that something that absolutely needs to be kept secret?

 

[Crow550]

Kinda funny those links are from YouTube (Google).

Well if or when Google Fiber rolls out there $70/Mo. 1gb down/up or free 5mb down/1mb up service. Well see how many really worry....

Android/Chrome OS, Google Now, Gmail, Google Docs, Google Voice.....Chrome Browser.... Any web browser, web sites in general, search engines....Microsoft & Apple products. Your ISP, Phone, TV service, etc, etc. Up to you if you believe it's all designed to take all your data and screw you over or to offer products and services to help make life easier.

The price of free or cheap is selling what you do to make Money to pay for many goods & services. Many people use to only have to pay for many different products and services are now offered free or cheap.

 

[colonelciller]

Kinda funny those links are from YouTube (Google).

Well if or when Google Fiber rolls out there $70/Mo. 1gb down/up or free 5mb down/1mb up service. Well see how many really worry....

Android/Chrome OS, Google Now, Gmail, Google Docs, Google Voice.....Chrome Browser.... Any web browser, web sites in general, search engines....Microsoft & Apple products. Your ISP, Phone, TV service, etc, etc. Up to you if you believe it's all designed to take all your data and screw you over or to offer products and services to help make life easier.

The price of free or cheap is selling what you do to make Money to pay for many goods & services. Many people use to only have to pay for many different products and services are now offered free or cheap.

:sneaky:
you seem to imply that we either choose to believe that spying all the time on everything is either a conspiracy or it is not and therefore there is nothing to worry about.

have you ever considered that neither are true... no conspiracy, yet in the attempt to spy on everything you do in order to sell your information, the databases that are compiled create the possibility for an absolutely nightmarish future.

imagine those databases in the hands of Hitler, or pick an evil bastard with too much power. I suppose if we all wear rose colored glasses and cross our fingers that the people in charge will always be nice guys from here unto eternity th en there is absolutely nothing to fear. do you believe the people in charge will always be nice guys.

How many countries on Earth today would be places where the collected information in the facebook, google, etc.. databases would be enough to have innocent (by western standards) people murdered by their "not so nice" leaders? how many have beenharmed by those databases already?

you're correct though... people just don't care. then again, it isn't really in the interest of corporation controlled news outlets to seriously discuss this topic either... and then there are the apologists who tell us that having every last bit of everyone's personal lives databased by govts and corporations is A-okay because we get shiny things in return.

 

[lxskllr]

:sneaky:
you seem to imply that we either choose to believe that spying all the time on everything is either a conspiracy or it is not and therefore there is nothing to worry about...

Good post. Regardless of how things are this day, tomorrow is another day, and once your data is out there, you don't get it back. "Whoops" isn't good enough with so much at stake.

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

Good post. Regardless of how things are this day, tomorrow is another day, and once your data is out there, you don't get it back. "Whoops" isn't good enough with so much at stake.

You spill out plenty of data already, not just online. Using a secure browser doesn't protect you from good old fashioned stalking.

 

[lxskllr]

You spill out plenty of data already, not just online. Using a secure browser doesn't protect you from good old fashioned stalking.

No, it doesn't, but nothing in life is 100% secure. Your files that are impossible to decrypt today, will be trivial next year, and new ways to lose track of your data have yet to be invented/implemented. Because you can't perfectly lock down everything, isn't a good reason to say fsck it all, I'll lock down nothing. You take care of what you can, and always be conscious of new threats.

 

[gevorg]

SRWare Iron took the Chromium project and removed potential privacy issues from the source code, which may or may not make a difference really.

 

[jkroeder]

SRWare Iron took the Chromium project and removed potential privacy issues from the source code, which may or may not make a difference really.

It doesn't.
http://www.insanitybit.com/2012/06/23/srware-iron-browser-a-real-private-alternative-to-chrome-21/

Srware Iron is nothing but a Chromium fork designed to scare the paranoid for ad revenue.

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

No, it doesn't, but nothing in life is 100% secure. Your files that are impossible to decrypt today, will be trivial next year, and new ways to lose track of your data have yet to be invented/implemented. Because you can't perfectly lock down everything, isn't a good reason to say fsck it all, I'll lock down nothing. You take care of what you can, and always be conscious of new threats.

That's like saying that it's reasonable to deadbolt your doors on your home even though you're leaving the French windows wide open when you go on holiday.