
Google Chrome
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- Google Chrome is a web browser developed and distributed by Google. -
-Spyware Level: EXTREMELY HIGH
-Google Chrome is not fully open source
-- Large parts of Google Chrome are open source, however not all of them are, and this prevents people from - checking the entire software for potential spyware features that are not disclosed. -
-Google Chrome tracks the user's search history
-- Google Chrome contains several spyware features that reply on the user's search history being uploaded to Google - servers. This is confirmed by the language in the privacy policy[1], clarifying the - spyware features that rely on this. -
-- The first spyware feature is Google Chrome's integration with the "Google Account" spyware platform. " If you - are signed in to a Google site or signed in to Chrome and Google is your default search engine, searches you - perform using the address bar in Chrome are stored in your Google account. " -
-- Google Chrome also contains a spyware feature called "Search prediction service". It is explained that: "When - you search using the address bar in Chrome, the characters you type (even if you haven’t hit "enter" yet) are - sent to your default search engine. If Google is your default search engine, predictions are based on your own - search history, topics related to what you’re typing and what other people are searching for." -
-- There is also the spyware feature "Navigation Assistance" which states that: "When you can’t connect to a web - page, you can get suggestions for alternative pages similar to the one you're trying to reach. In order to - offer you suggestions, Chrome sends Google the URL of the page you're trying to reach. " -
-Google Chrome profiles your computer usage
-- In the privacy policy[1], Google details the extreme spyware feature it labels - "Usage Statistics and Crash Reports". What it does, is it sends very detailed information about your hardware - and computer usage, which confirms that it definitely contains the following spyware features:
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- A tracker that records mouse input over time -
- A tracker that profiles memory usage -
- But, it can also be extrapolated from the vague language that Chrome could and probably does monitor what other - programs you have open. Either way, it is an extreme amount of information being collected, since it can be used - to recreate what the user is doing on their desktop at all times. Chrome clarifies that this information is - being sent whenever a website is being "slow" or whenever Google Chrome crashes. -
-Google Chrome is integrated with Google Payments
-- Google Payments is a spyware service that records your banking information and sends it to Google.[2] This service is integrated into the Google Chrome browser, which makes it another - opt-in spyware feature in the software. -
-Google Chrome contains a keylogger
-- This was confirmed in multiple places[3][4]. Basically, - whenever you type into the search bar, that information is sent to Google. You can apparently turn it off by - opting out of the "suggestion service". -
-Google Chrome records your voice
-- Google Chrome is confirmed to be constantly listening to any open microphones on your computer. This can be - found in this statement[5] in a privacy publication. "Voice & audio - information may be collected. For example, if your child uses audio activation commands (e.g., "OK, Google" or - touching the microphone icon), a recording of the following speech/audio, plus a few seconds before, - will be stored to their account…" This feature is opt-in if you are using the "Google Accounts" spyware - platform and specifically tell Google to build a profile of your child. It's unverified whether or not Google - uploads information it listens too to its servers outside of this feature. -
-Google Chrome saves user passwords on Google Servers
-- Any password stored in Google Chrome's "password management" feature is uploaded to Google if you sign into the - "Google Accounts" spyware platform. -
-Google Chrome profiles users in other various ways
-- According to the privacy policy[1], Google Chrome profiles what kinds of web forms - you fill out, as well as what kind of language the content you consume is primarily in. Google Chrome also - creates a unique identifier for each install you do. This unique identifier is sent to Google whenever you start - the browser, so that Google can create a consistent user identity for you, undermining anonymity. Google also - stores all of your settings on it's official servers when using the "Google Accounts" feature. -
-Google Chrome is self-updating software
-- Google Chrome has an updater which is constantly running in the background and syncing with Google servers to - check for updates. The updater will download and run unverified binaries from Google when it updates Google - Chrome. It is impossible for an automatic updater service such as this to verify that the updates are not - spyware and/or do not contain additional spyware features. -
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