Is Google's new browser spying on you?

Germany's Office for Information Security, or BSI, suspects it is. According to Mashable and Google Blogoscoped, a German TV news programme carried this weekend a BSI warning alerting its fellow countrymen to use the recently launched Chrome browser only sparingly -- "at least for anything other than experimental tasks", Mashable writes.

A translated version of the BSI warning, running on Blogoscoped site, reads:

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.

BSI is apparently spooked that, with Chrome, Google can hoover up yet more details about a web user's online activities. This shouldn't come as a surprise. Just as Gmail was launching four years ago, privacy advocates worried that Gmail was snooping on users' inbox to deliver targeted adverts. More recently, Electronic Frontier Foundation, published its concerns about Chrome's "Omnibox" feature. Anything that is typed into the box is sent back to Google's data vaults, which will store about 2 per cent of all details, including search terms and IP addresses. 

Comments

[Even Sandsmark]

I do hope that the Germany's Office for Information Security issues the same warning every time Microsoft does anything. maby not. They only have Operating system, Browser, Mail ++ and all of it is crapware. No i guess not they keep quiet about that part.

the source code for the google browser is out there, go and take a look if you dont trus them. I dont use it, because i do not want to change browser.

[Siul Rivera]

Monopoly is the name of the game, and popular trends is what feeds this giant.

A great part of Marketing is all about gathering information, spying is just a hi-tech word for it.

[Jaguar Owner]

Google is exploiting it's users and making money selling your internet activities to marketers, you do not profit from them, they profit from you. Wake up and demand your money from them!

[Bill Peter]

Chrome won't be spying on me, as, after several problems with gmail, I won't be using it.

[Richard Prior]

Google has shown that is is capable of developing an excellent range of practical applications that work more efficiently and effectively than anything that Microsoft produces.

As an erstwhile technology Guru, I would not fail to recommend a Google product over and above any smalltime rival. Decisions are not limited to functionality - but have a lot to do with the ability of the supply co. to support its product long term.

In my book Google has proven itself to be "king of the castle" in its chosen field of endeavours.

All you children - your comments have some merit - but do not take in the big picture.

[steve]

@ Richard - WOW! What a pompus blowhard you are and to top it off you are completely wrong on all counts. In what technologies has google taken on Microsoft directly and won? OS? Nope, Email server? Nope. Workgroup applications? Nope. Database technology? Nope. Project management tools? Nope. Mobile phones? Nope. They bought star office which is a very poor excuse for a groupware application where the only place it beats MS is on price and they have to give it away to get people to use it. they built a browser that at best is a half assed attempt to drive their marketing business. I hope nobody actually buys your book because it woudl clearly be a waste of money.

[Mark Riley]

@Evan - last time I checked Apple had an OS, Mail.app, Safari, iTunes. They also issue security notices disguised as 'updates' or 'enhancements' so get off the 'Bash Microsoft' bandwagon. Apple are just as bad if not more so because they are seen as benevolent.

Back to the post - if you don't want anyone to find out, don't put it on the net. It's not Google who will make use of it in a way that would harm you, it's another person. Google - like other search engines and online facilities - is a tool and it's down to a person to use it.

[Mark]

@Evan - last time I checked Apple had an OS, Mail.app, Safari, iTunes. They also issue security notices disguised as 'updates' or 'enhancements' so get off the 'Bash Microsoft' bandwagon. Apple are just as bad if not more so because they are seen as benevolent.

Back to the post - if you don't want anyone to find out, don't put it on the net. It's not Google who will make use of it in a way that would harm you, it's another person. Google - like other search engines and online facilities - is a tool and it's down to a person to use it.

[Evil Is as Evil Does]

Google makes its money collecting and selling information about personal habits to the highest bidder (ads). Check out their databarge idea. Cool, until you realize that it enables them to operate above the law.

Frankly, Google's business model is far scarier and more dangerous than anything Microsoft had done that wasn't aimed directly at competing against Google.

He who controls the data controls the information. Information is power. Power corrupts.

We are selling our privacy, and hence our freedom, very cheaply.

[Daveyboy]

typical liberals,
they love the socialist, er, obama and co. however, they don't want to pay his taxes. libs can talk the talk, they never walk the walk.

[Valdemar]

DAVEYBOY: And what does _that_ comment have to do with the price of tea in China? Or are you just too eager to grind an axe on that political soap box?

[jtb-in-texas]

Valdemar, remember Google had no trouble helping the PRC hunt down political dissidents while refusing the USA government's request to look for al Qaeda (a difference of more than just semantics, since even ObL's driver got a trial and opponents of Beijing don't have rights at all).

Daveyboy may have used a bit more hyperbole than was warranted; but he got the main points right...

[victor]

i rally don't care if google uses information on how i use my internet i really belive that only helps them help me providing me with more of the information im looking for and if you just not happy with all the information and tools googles offer DON"T USE IT!!!!!!!!

i think they R D BEST .