Is Google Chrome a Spyware, tracking everything I do?

Hi,

I recently saw several articles online that somehow prove that Google are using Google Chrome to track the user's behavior and collecting all the data and seeing every tiny bit that the user is doing on the browser. I know websites like eBay do it with Cookies (which we can remove easily) and also through Skype and use it against their users.

Could that be true? even in the current version? (because most articles are from 2008-9). If so, that is terrible, there's no privacy, also, don't forget that Google rules the internet, they will use it against users in the future.

chrome google spyware

asked Jan 23 '11 at 22:22

yeahmeknows
356●15●19●27

9 Answers:

oldest newest most voted

Try Srware Iron - a private version of Chrome. Or run Chrome Privacy Protector - free prog to remove unique Iser Id which Chrome uses to track you

answered Jan 24 '11 at 06:19

redclift
16●1

i've always used iron and it's way better than chrome, it's faster and less bloated

(Jan 25 '11 at 02:17) zman

Thank you for your comments.

The thing is that I am a web developer and need to test my creations on all major browsers but I don't really feel safe even if Chrome is just on my computer without even open it LOL.

@Mattophobia: right now, they can't do anything with your information, but the bigger they grow the more powerful they'll be, eventually they will rule the internet and have information on everyone and with that, they will be able to control the users and what they do. Worst case scenario, if they don't want you around, they will just "block" you out of certain websites, like they do on those websites with the browser's phishing filter which by default take it's information from google. I had a online shopping cart that got hacked and google just put a "block" through the phishing filter on it and all browsers received it. I'm not saying what they did is wrong, it's very good, but I believe in the future they will use this technology against users, if they don't like someone for what he sees, BOOM - HE'S BLOCKED. There's a reason why they released a free web browser and invested millions in promoting it.

That's what I believe anyway, it might and might not happen but overall, they are a several billion dollar company and for them everything that's going on will become a "Game".

answered Jan 24 '11 at 13:27

yeahmeknows
356●15●19●27

True, but if you don't do anything to be blocked then there shouldn't be anything to be worried about.

(Jan 24 '11 at 14:19) Mattophobia ♦♦

I learned that when the internet is used only for fun, you won't have a reason. But when the internet becomes your only source of income, they will find a way to make you a "criminal".

(Jan 24 '11 at 16:09) yeahmeknows

I cant believe what I'm reading here! It blows my mind that ANYONE could not mind their browser tracking their every click. It's a different totally world when you're talking about a site you go to uses cookies/tif's to enhance performance @ that site. But a browser that tracks and collects your every keystroke and movement? There's a very good reason people pay good money for spyware/malware removal software, and that's privacy. There are certain things that are no ones business, and before long (if it's not already happening) a whole host of people and organizations including, but not limited to insurance companies, employers and even physicians will be able to judge you, in part, based on your internet habits. If in my private time I enjoy playing poker and browsing porn, if I buy tobacco or get my prescriptions filled online, that's my business, not yours or Allstate's or Google's, period.

It's hard to believe red-blooded Americans have become so complacent as to not care that they are continuously under a microscope. All of our likes, dislikes, habits, health problems, sexual orientations . . . EVERYTHING (yes, over a particular time frame all the pieces of your puzzle will become evident), every aspect of our lives is available to anyone, any time for a fee. How is this right?

When you get turned down for that job because the employer has found out through a background check that includes a report compiled from your internet activity, that you have a high blood pressure or like to gamble or are a Mormon, maybe then you'll uninstall Chrome, install a firewall and delete your cookies every time you close your browser.

answered Jul 12 '12 at 15:35

grassrox
16●2

WORD! I was just thinking this in my head. Everything you do is scrutinized and tracked. So what Google tracks your so called "every move". I actually like that it does, because I don't have to remember, the last address I put in on Google Maps, because it automatically remembers if I'm logged into my Google account. Makes no sense to me why people get all fussy when they notice that Google's tracking them. Every company tracks everyone. Your phone tracks you via GPS, your Cable tracks you via your IP, etc.

(Jul 12 '12 at 15:46) DJ Scooby Doo

DJ Scooby Doo, ALL browsers remember form data and recently viewed web history, the difference is that data is stored on your computer to enhance your internet experience. What II was discussing is a completely different monster. There's a huge difference between that data being stored on YOUR computer and a browser that compiles and sends all this private information to a cooperation which, in turn, sells this information to anyone under the sun that will pay for it.

I don't guess you'll mind when the police don't need a warrant to enter your home and pillage your stuff, or pull you over and harass you because they don't like your bumper sticker.

It's the principle that bothers me. Nothing is sacred anymore. We mindlessly accept whatever government and corporations do or take away from us. We would all be English citizens had our forefathers been so complacent. The few liberties we still have are fading fast. 30 years ago the American people wouldn't have stood for this type of invasiveness, especially from a non-government entity.

(Jul 12 '12 at 16:11) grassrox

Well I still stand by what I said, Google has basically all my info, I have Android devices, I use Gmail, I use Google Maps, Google Wallet, etc, etc. As I said before, all companies have your info, so to me it really doesn't matter to me.

(Jul 12 '12 at 16:15) DJ Scooby Doo

Are you freaking serious! 3/4 of the world's population uses Google. Do you seriously think that anyone is tracking you individually and spying on your every move? Nobody 'sees' this information. It is either fed back to your computer to affect how you interact with Google in the future or aggregated in huge anonymous lumps to determine trends. What Google knows about you, even from daily use of all its services, is less than nothing compared to your local supermarket (if you have a loyalty card), your town council, or the people who live three doors down on your street. Get a fricking grip (or strand yourself on a desert island)!

answered Jul 13 '12 at 11:34

dunfiddlin
1.2k●4●18

0	Yes that's true, for doing "certain things" I recommend using Firefox :), theres a hacked ver of chrome or executable, I don't remember well, that doesn't track you. answered Jan 24 '11 at 04:30 Patxi 12.6k●206●272●386

0	I'll be honest I don't reality care if Chrome are tracking me or not. Its a little creepy, but what will they do with my worthless information? answered Jan 24 '11 at 09:18 Mattophobia ♦♦ 7.0k●73●122●206

They do use it to track you for ADVERTS. I was looking for a IBM server on Ebay and saw a ad on Youtube that showed up what i have been searching for on Ebay. Same goes for other company's, Network Solution's i was looking for some domains there, i get ads from them on Youtube. Nothing big, bugs me a little.

answered Jan 24 '11 at 14:14

Vancar6
1.4k●150●160●173

well first off your problem is that you expect privacy on the web... once you get over the fact that you really dont have any such privacy. whether or not chrome is tracking you, there are 1000s of other pages that also are tracking you, there is no such thing as privacy on the internet.

answered Jan 24 '11 at 19:37

trueb
15.4k●53●104●260

Privacy doesn't bug me that much.. if at all. The thing that bugs me is that with everyday that passes the internet becomes another person's main financial income. With the push of a button, an empire large enough can stop a person's only income source which he worked hard on for months, years, decades even, but what do they care? The thing is that I have experienced unpleasant things with eBay and afraid that Google might turn on the users that make a living from it. Just Google for "ebay horror stories" you'll see what I'm talking about.

(Jan 24 '11 at 23:42) yeahmeknows

Businesses for the most part derive statistical information anonymously. They all do it. I think a lot of them would get less grief for it if they would do what Steam does and just admit to it and say what they do with it. They all have written privacy statements. Few read them and for some reason they still seem to think it's enough.

Check out the #online# settings manager for Flash Player and you can see some of your browsing history stored there.

answered Jul 12 '12 at 20:20

ClosetFuturist
1.7k●6●14●27

Your answer

toggle preview

community wiki

Follow this question

By Email:

Once you sign in you will be able to subscribe for any updates here

By RSS:

Answers

Answers and Comments

Markdown Basics

*italic* or __italic__
**bold** or __bold__
link:[text](http://url.com/ "title")
image?![alt text](/path/img.jpg "title")
numbered list: 1. Foo 2. Bar
to add a line break simply add two spaces to where you would like the new line to be.
basic HTML tags are also supported

learn more about Markdown