Google Chrome is scanning your personal files

Discussion in 'Serious Discussion' started by John Sutherland, Apr 8, 2018.

  1. John Sutherland

    John Sutherland MDL Addicted

    Oct 15, 2014
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    From an article published earlier this week: https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/...-on-your-windows-computer-chrome-cleanup-tool

    Kelly Shortridge, who works for the cybersecurity firm SecurityScorecard, found that the Google Chrome browser was performing background scans on files located in her Documents folder. From Shortridge herself:

    "In the current climate, it really shocked me that Google would so quietly roll out this feature without publicizing more detailed supporting documentation—even just to preemptively ease speculation,” Shortridge told me in an online chat. “Their intentions are clearly security-minded, but the lack of explicit consent and transparency seems to violate their own criteria of ‘user-friendly software’ that informs the policy for Chrome Cleanup [Tool].”
     
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  2. Joe C

    Joe C MDL Guru

    Jan 12, 2012
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    I'm sure what Google is doing is right within their eyes but I could never use chrome now or before just because I can't put that much trust into a big corporation that makes it's earnings by farming personal data
     
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  3. LiteOS

    LiteOS Windowizer

    Mar 7, 2014
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    #3 LiteOS, Apr 8, 2018
    Last edited: Apr 8, 2018
    Im running any browser at normal user without access to data drives too

    [​IMG]
     
  4. Tiger-1

    Tiger-1 MDL Guru

    Oct 18, 2014
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    hmm but how can they see anything related to my documents if my documents folder is on another drive than the usual c: \ and is renamed to another name other than documents ...;) still this goes for all the standard windows folders :D
     
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  5. Joe C

    Joe C MDL Guru

    Jan 12, 2012
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    Google has over 6 Billion Dollars and growing.... With that you can do anything you want, including looking on your other drives for malicious software
     
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  6. Tiger-1

    Tiger-1 MDL Guru

    Oct 18, 2014
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    simple bro don't use Chrome more :p:rolleyes:
     
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  7. TKnuckles

    TKnuckles MDL Junior Member

    Dec 10, 2017
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    I use Firefox and Iridium.
     
  8. Katzenfreund

    Katzenfreund MDL Expert

    Jul 15, 2016
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    Opera uses the same engine as Chrome and is now owned by the Chinese. I'm sure it also does all the spying it can, but I'd rather be spied upon by the Chinese than by anybody closer home. In fact, I don't mind if the Chinese want to waste their time on me.
     
  9. nodnar

    nodnar MDL Expert

    Oct 15, 2011
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    hm. the old `i have nothing to hide`argument.. sorry, but i don`t buy that..i shunned chrome for a reason.a good reason. it is by google.
     
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  10. WindowsGeek

    WindowsGeek MDL Expert

    Jun 30, 2015
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    In my opinion I think they all farm your info no matter what browser your using :eek:
     
  11. nodnar

    nodnar MDL Expert

    Oct 15, 2011
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  12. gorski

    gorski MDL Guru

    Oct 21, 2009
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    DuckDuckGo & Tor browsers... :D
     
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  13. dhjohns

    dhjohns MDL Guru

    Sep 5, 2013
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    The only thing I keep on my C drive is my OS with installed programs. I keep all other important stuff on other drives, and backed up in the cloud. This way I do not need to image my C drive. My install is simple, and automatic.
     
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  14. Yen

    Yen Admin
    Staff Member

    May 6, 2007
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    Why should a browser be able to scan for potential malware at all?
    This smells like google wants to have an excuse to get metadata from random users...

    A browser must not scan anything....it's there to browse the net.


    Btw: Most AV programs / companies collect those data either way when scanning.
    The difference is that it's not google...
     
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  15. dhjohns

    dhjohns MDL Guru

    Sep 5, 2013
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    This whole thread is "click bait" since the article specifically says that Google is much less invasive than AV programs, and it is scanning for malicious files. The very idea that AV programs can be more invasive, but that is somehow okay because it is not Google is contrary to any perception of reasonable logic.
     
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  16. Joe C

    Joe C MDL Guru

    Jan 12, 2012
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    AV programs are supposed to access all your files to make sure there is nothing malicious hiding someplace. I agree with Yen that a browser has no business looking in anybody's hard drive. I am surprised at you dhjohns that some one who is so pro- Windows 10, would be concerned about an AV scanning your files
     
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  17. Tiger-1

    Tiger-1 MDL Guru

    Oct 18, 2014
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    yep I agree 100%
     
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  18. Tiger-1

    Tiger-1 MDL Guru

    Oct 18, 2014
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    yep you said everything :D:p
     
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