German government tells citizens not to use Google Chrome

[Shintai]

It doesn’t get any more “official” than this here. Yesterday, Saturday at around 20:07, Germany’s oldest and perhaps biggest prime time news Tagesschau announced the following under the headline “Warning against internet browser"*:

The Federal Office for Information Security warned internet users of the new browser Chrome. The application by the company Google should not be used for surfing the internet, as a spokesperson for the office told the Berliner Zeitung. It was said to be problematic that Chrome was distributed as an unfinished advance version. Furthermore it was said to be risky that user data is hoarded with a single vendor. With its search engine, email program and the new browser, Google now covers all important areas on the internet.


http://www.berlinonline.de/berliner-zeitung/archiv/.bin/dump.fcgi/2008/0906/wirtschaft/0024/index.html :cool:

[Solarfall]

eeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrr WHAT!!!

[[XC] gomeler]

:clap::clap:

[Miss Banana]

Paranoid hysteria.
It is crystal clear what google does with data obtained through chrome, as the browser is open source.

The argument that one company should not be behind your search engine, webmail and browser at the same time doesn't make a whole lot sense, microsoft has been all of this and more for ages.

[Shintai]

Paranoid hysteria.
It is crystal clear what google does with data obtained through chrome, as the browser is open source.

The argument that one company should not be behind your search engine, webmail and browser at the same time doesn't make a whole lot sense, microsoft has been all of this and more for ages.

I dont think microsoft lives by and sell your personal data for ads etc. Googles only revenue is to know everything about you.

[Stevethegreat]

There is a thin line between being concerned for privacy and paranoia and I think the German government passed the line this time. The German government in general the last years is giving out a Luddite image, being concerned is one thing but avoiding new technologies like poison is another.....

[villa1n]

Paranoid hysteria.
It is crystal clear what google does with data obtained through chrome, as the browser is open source.

The argument that one company should not be behind your search engine, webmail and browser at the same time doesn't make a whole lot sense, microsoft has been all of this and more for ages.

that aside, atm chrome thrashes your hd, if you have the anti phishing enabled, just watch your i/o's read and writes.

[Spawne32]

gomeler;3276740']:clap::clap:

agreed, especially after that EULA issue they had upon its release

[Miss Banana]

I dont think microsoft lives by and sell your personal data for ads etc. Googles only revenue is to know everything about you.

Googles main revenue was and is still online advertising.
This is not surprising, neither challenging to find out.

http://www.informationweek.com/news/internet/search/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=172302900

The most important part of Googles online advertising program is Adsense.http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/blog/040928-074321

Adsense simply analyses a website, and displays ads next to the website that fit the context of the website. Similar things were allready done with google, where ads after a search have something to do with what you search for.

This is in no way a privacy breach or violation, and can not in any way or form be described as "selling your personal data".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AdSense

Why are people so paranoid?

[Shintai]

Googles main revenue was and is still online advertising.
This is not surprising, neither challenging to find out.

http://www.informationweek.com/news/internet/search/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=172302900

The most important part of Googles online advertising program is Adsense.http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/blog/040928-074321

Adsense simply analyses a website, and displays ads next to the website that fit the context of the website. Similar things were allready done with google, where ads after a search have something to do with what you search for.

This is in no way a privacy breach or violation, and can not in any way or form be described as "selling your personal data".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AdSense

Why are people so paranoid?

I think you should analyze their business model. Selling ads sounds so innocent. Its the matter on how you do it.

Google logs data for 9-18 months.

[FrogBite]

Google now covers all important areas on the internet.

Down with monopolies!!!

[m^2]

Paranoid hysteria.
It is crystal clear what google does with data obtained through chrome, as the browser is open source.

1. It's verifiable what they obtain, not what they do with it.
2. Crystal clear...did you ever analyze 1.5 GB of text?


I agree:
:clap::clap:

[Helmore]

Am I ever glad that I don't know much German, this way I won't have to listen to this nonsense.

[Papu]

goood on Zee Jurmans ,
chrome is a pile of W___

[SparkyJJO]

Meh I see no reason to even bother with chrome, FF3 works just fine and has all the goodies I could ever want. Not like when I switched from IE to FF, where IE was obviously lacking.

[XS Janus]

Call me paranoid but it seems to Google has become the biggest US spy-house ever!
And it's right in front of our noses. Brilliant! :/

[Solus Corvus]

If chrome is open source couldn't we fork a version that doesn't send data to google?

[Nosfer@tu]

I dont mind anybody collecting information on how I use their program so they can make it better.

But I do mind when they start loggin what sites I use and so on.
If they want to know that so they can target me with even better adds, Well make me an offer.

ATM I dont see why I should give up that rigth ?

[n-sanity]

Brilliant indeed. Sadly, i'm forced to welcome it with open arms seeing as how FF crashes 3-5 times a day...

[kryptobs2000]

Paranoid hysteria.
It is crystal clear what google does with data obtained through chrome, as the browser is open source.


I haven't looked at the browser but I imagine it just sends some information to a google server somewhere. That gives us no idea what they do with the information once they have it.

[ahmad]

If I was the ruler of Canada, I would do the same.

[RaZz!]

well, the thread title is a bit misleading: it doesn't tell us to not use it, they just give an advice.

and i have to agree with them doing so.

[REBEL900]

Total government paranoia, unecessary..

[Rammsteiner]

All this privacy crap nowadays. Ive nothing to hide really.

Although I can see where they're coming from for one reason. If they :banana::banana::banana::banana: up one thing 'bad people' can obtain everything they want, your interests, your email (and thus passwords etc) and so on. That might be dangerous, but for the rest... Like I care they know what Im interested in...

Brave New World, that's the best thing ever happened to humanity. Shame it's only a book instead:(

[Miss Banana]

I haven't looked at the browser but I imagine it just sends some information to a google server somewhere. That gives us no idea what they do with the information once they have it.

Even then, it is open source so anyone can make it not send info to servers.

[zanzabar]

u guys dont really understand how it works

1) there is no URL bar, only a search bar
2) using google search for your URL us dns through google
3) affter u go to the site (through google) they own the brosing setion so it goes through there server and realays things like time spent clicks, adn keys endered
4) google uses the info for thier ads to target the audiance of the sire
5) google marks your user ID#/IP as waht to target with adds on google products
6) google key logged u so they have your passwords/ID/accounts
7) google sells all of your user ID information to who ever wants to pay, they sell to ad agencies, govs, credit burros
8) all of your personal info and unique ID/passwords/account names, and anything url related is out there and u didnt know it

u can buypass that when u search buy using direct links (in a URL bar) and not redirection servers but there is nothing to stop some1 with an open EULA that says to the effect that they take all data legally applicable. and if i was a gov agency i would see this as a definite national security risk

[rge]

It is not just the German government that is concerned about google's growing dominance, apparently so is the US Dept of Justice, especially with google announcing its "proposed deal with yahoo" that would control 80-85% of online search ads.

http://wallstreetpit.com/the-justice-department-may-challenge-googles-advertising-dominance/

"According to WSJ, the U.S. Department of Justice has quietly hired one of the nation’s best-known litigators and former antitrust chief Sanford “Sandy” M. Litvack — “for a possible court challenge” to Google’s (GOOG) growing advertising power....Mr. Litvack’s hiring sends a strong signal to the parties involved that the U.S. Dept. Of Justice [DOJ] is perhaps, preparing to take court actions against them. If there is a suit, it’s unclear whether the DOJ would target the Google-Yahoo deal alone or expand to include other Google online-advertising activities....It will be interesting to see how this development will evolve from here. One thing is for sure ; it is relatively rare for the DOJ to hire a special counsel from outside the department."

[[XC] riptide]

Ya... its all private until some crap judge in a court case orders that all information be handed over to other parties... as we have seen recently...

[Frisch]

I'm not touching it.

That first Eula, made my mind.

That was simply a disgusting read.

[CyberDruid]

I like a paranoid conspiracy theory as much as the next guy.

It's not about whether you have something to hide.

It's about basic human dignity, ethics, decency and the God Given right to at least a scrap of privacy...even in this Brave New World of ours.

The problem is when something works and works really well you cannot keep people from using it.

It'd be like (go with me here) if somehow smoking cigars made you smarter, sexier and live longer...despite the fact that it's like having a burning turd hanging off your lip everyone and their Granny would be puffing stogies...

AS long as Google is the best easist to use engine it's going to dominate...and they are going to continue to milk their cash cow for all it's worth.

It would take Guvmint action to stop that process.

[SparkyJJO]

Brilliant indeed. Sadly, i'm forced to welcome it with open arms seeing as how FF crashes 3-5 times a day...

zero crashes since I installed FF3. Except for the one that was my fault lol. I don't see how some people have it crash all the time, unless they have all sorts of plugins that aren't fully compatible or something.

[Bo_Fox]

Why do I need Chrome anyways, if Opera is by FARRRRRRRRRRRRRRr the BEST?!?

Opera is the powerhouse browser and the fastest one too. It has the coolest features and is getting much better with each version. It's already on game consoles, PDA's, etc.. I dont get why FF has gotten all the popularity despite its bugginess (memory leak), lack of support for zoom until now with FF3 (FINALLY), etc.. FF sucked even worse than IE in my opinion!

[Spawne32]

I'm not touching it.

That first Eula, made my mind.

That was simply a disgusting read.

ya :rofl: "By using this program you agree that Google now owns all of your possessions, children, family members, cash money, as well as your soul and all other worldly belongings"

[JumpingJack]

Paranoid hysteria.
It is crystal clear what google does with data obtained through chrome, as the browser is open source.

The argument that one company should not be behind your search engine, webmail and browser at the same time doesn't make a whole lot sense, microsoft has been all of this and more for ages.

No ... it's called Monopolopophobia, or fear of monopolies... it will be a matter of weeks and we should be hearing something about the EU raiding google offices :)

[Miss Banana]

Lol Jack ;>
Did you just make that word up?

Some more info about chrome and privacy.

http://www.google.com/chrome/intl/en/privacy.html

Using Google Chrome to connect to Google services will not cause Google to receive any special or additional personally identifying information about you.

Google adheres to the US Safe Harbor privacy principles.

[JumpingJack]

Lol Jack ;>
Did you just make that word up?

Some more info about chrome and privacy.

http://www.google.com/chrome/intl/en/privacy.html

:) Yeah.... it sorta rolls off the tongue ....

[ahmad]

Lol Jack ;>
Did you just make that word up?

Some more info about chrome and privacy.

http://www.google.com/chrome/intl/en/privacy.html

Do you understand the statement made in that EULA. You are not reading carefully:

1. Personally Identifying information: What personally identifying information does google have about you? Well if you go around registering for google services using accurate info where it is not needed, then thats what they have. Otherwise, IP, browser ID - no more no less. Both are not considered personally identifying anyways. This part never changes, and if it did it would be considered malware. Everyone knows this.

2. So the only kind of private information is personally identifying information? Did you know that your bookmarks, url history, submitted data, usernames/passwords, time spent browsing xyz, number of clicks, cookies collected, and search history from google or any other search engine is not personally identifiable information

Google adheres to the US Safe Harbor privacy principles.

Which is basically your personally identifying information is never given out to anyone who doesn't have the right to it... or is there something I am missing about the safe harbor law.

You are falling for tricky lawyer words by thinking exactly how they want you to think: chrome is just as innocent as any other browser :rolleyes::rolleyes:

[Miss Banana]

You are falling for tricky lawyer words by thinking exactly how they want you to think: chrome is just as innocent as any other browser :rolleyes::rolleyes:

I did read carefully and I know what they mean.
Google knows that person X that can be one or more individuals behind computer X goes to this and that website and shows this and that kind of browsing behavior.

Big deal, so does my ISP.
I still don't get what people find so terrifying about this.

[Shintai]

I did read carefully and I know what they mean.
Google knows that person X that can be one or more individuals behind computer X goes to this and that website and shows this and that kind of browsing behavior.

Big deal, so does my ISP.
I still don't get what people find so terrifying about this.

Your ISP doesnt even know 0.001% of what google knows about you (Yes I work at an ISP too). Also google harvest and track you for 9-18months. And unlike an ISP that logs minimal amounts for a very short time ONLY to use if people think you are a criminal. Google however logs it to use it everyday, sell, track, profit.

Had this been any other company..well maybe besides Apple. People would scream death and murder. But google...OH!!! How can they be bad?? They are only my bigbrother but thats totally fine. I dont do bad things.

Well for you I hope you like your personal life to be exposed.

[Bo_Fox]

I second that! After reading about this here on Germany's decision, I'm probably never going to use Chrome... not as long as Google is tracking us like that.

[iddqd]

Why do I need Chrome anyways, if Opera is by FARRRRRRRRRRRRRRr the BEST?!?

Opera is the powerhouse browser and the fastest one too. It has the coolest features and is getting much better with each version. It's already on game consoles, PDA's, etc.. I dont get why FF has gotten all the popularity despite its bugginess (memory leak), lack of support for zoom until now with FF3 (FINALLY), etc.. FF sucked even worse than IE in my opinion!

Opera isn't a browser, it's a suite.

Also, Chrome uses the same engine, so it's equally fast.

[Helmore]

Opera isn't a browser, it's a suite.

Also, Chrome uses the same engine, so it's equally fast.

Chrome uses the WebKit engine to render web pages, for Java they made their own engine and the rest is basically taken from FireFox. So you would be right if Opera uses the WebKit engine.....

[saaya]

hmmmm i can smell microsoft is behind that news report... :rolleyes:

[systemviper]

hmmmm i can smell microsoft is behind that news report... :rolleyes:

Sounds spot on...

But it does concern me that they do collect s much info. google your user name, your real name. it's interesting to see what pops up.

But now they get your browsing history, and lots other info and all info gets funneled thru their servers, guess i won't use it....

[strange|ife]

need babble fish