“Google is responding to criticism this week over its recent change to Chrome login behavior,” Tom Warren reports for The Verge. “Security experts criticized Google for automatically forcing Chrome users to log into the browser if they signed into Gmail on the web”
“You typically choose to sign into Chrome itself if you want to sync bookmarks, passwords, and browsing history between devices. While Google claims sync isn’t automatically enabled, the change has been interpreted as a method to trick users into inadvertently sharing more data. Google is now offering more control over the changes,” Warren reports. “In a blog post entitled ‘Product updates based on your feedback,’ Chrome product manager Zach Koch explains that Google is responding to the criticisms with some changes in Chrome 70. Google is adding a new control to disable the automatic Chrome sign in. Despite the control, it appears the automatic Chrome sign in (when you sign into Gmail on the web) will still be the default behavior.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Google doesn’t care. By making it the default, the major of Chrome-using suckers will be handing Google their personal data anyway. This big, oh-so-magnanimous “response” is just feel-good bullshit. If Google really were interested in properly responding to the criticism, they’d have this log in requirement off by default – opt-in rather than opt-out – but, of course, Google makes money because its suckers are its product, so that’ll never happen.
This ‘don’t be evil’ mantra: It’s bullshit. — Steve Jobs, 2010
SEE ALSO:
Why I’m done with Google’s Chrome browser – September 24, 2018
Researchers find Google harvests more data from Android – and Apple iOS – users than most people think – August 21, 2018
Google hit with lawsuit accusing them of tracking phone users regardless of privacy settings – August 20, 2018
Google tracks users movements even when explicitly told not to – Associated Press – August 13, 2018
New Android malware records ambient audio, fires off premium-rate texts, and harvests files, photos, contacts, and more – March 2, 2018
How Google is secretly recording Android settlers, monitoring millions of conversations every day and storing the creepy audio files – August 22, 2017
Android apps secretly tracking users by listening to inaudible sound hidden in ads – May 8, 2017
Edward Snowden: No matter what, do not use Google’s new Allo messenger app – September 23, 2016
Apple’s iOS 11 will deliver even more privacy to users – June 8, 2017
Google to pay $5.5 million for sneaking around Apple’s privacy settings to collect user data – August 31, 2016
Apple takes a swing at privacy-tampling, personal data-guzzling rivals like Google – September 29, 2015
Apple reinvents the privacy policy – September 29, 2015
Apple: Hey Siri and Live Photos data stays only on your device to ensure privacy – September 12, 2015
Apple issues iPhone manifesto; blasts Android’s lack of updates, lack of privacy, rampant malware – August 10, 2015
Edward Snowden supports Apple’s stance on customer privacy – June 17, 2015
Mossberg: Apple’s latest product is privacy – June 12, 2015
Apple looks to be building an alternative to the Google-branded, hand-over-your-privacy ‘Internet Experience’ – June 11, 2015
Understanding Apple and privacy – June 8, 2015
Edward Snowden: Apple is a privacy pioneer – June 5, 2015
Edward Snowden’s privacy tips: ‘Get rid of Dropbox,” avoid Facebook and Google – October 13, 2014
Apple CEO Tim Cook ups privacy to new level, takes direct swipe at Google – September 18, 2014
Apple slams Google in Safari 7.1 release notes: ‘Adds DuckDuckGo, a search engine that doesn’t track users’ – September 18, 2014
A message from Tim Cook about Apple’s commitment to your privacy – September 18, 2014
Apple will no longer unlock most iPhones, iPads for police, even with search warrants – September 18, 2014
Google to pay $17 million to settle U.S. states’ Safari user tracking probe – November 20, 2013
Judge dismisses case against Google over Safari user tracking – October 11, 2013
UK Apple Safari users sue Google for secretly tracking Web browsing – January 28, 2013
Google pays $22.5 million to settle charges of bypassing Apple Safari privacy settings – August 9, 2012
US FTC votes to fine Google $22.5 million for bypassing Safari privacy settings; Settlement allows Google to admit no liability – July 31, 2012
Google’s D.C. lobbyists have outspent Apple nearly 10 to 1 so far this year – July 23, 2012
Google to pay $22.5 million to settle charges over bypassing privacy settings of millions of Apple users – July 10, 2012
Apple’s anti-user tracking policy has mobile advertisers scrambling – May 9, 2012
Google said to be negotiating amount of U.S. FTC fine over Apple Safari breach – May 4, 2012
Cookies and privacy, Google and Safari – February 25, 2012
Obama’s privacy plan puts pinch on Google – February 24, 2012
Obama administration outlines online privacy guidelines – February 23, 2012
Google sued by Apple Safari-user for bypassing browser privacy – February 21, 2012
Google responds to Microsoft over privacy issues, calls IE’s cookie policy ‘widely non-operational’ – February 21, 2012
Google’s tracking of Safari users could prompt FTC investigation – February 18, 2012
WSJ: Google tracked iPhone, iPad users, bypassing Apple’s Safari browser privacy settings; Microsoft denounces – February 17, 2012
And what is default search on iOS…?
Goohle
SOMETHING has to be the default, and it only makes sense that it is Google.
That said, eff google. I’ve taken what I can off of my devices. Same with FaceCrook.
But most consumers are looking for web searches that are most relevant – many if not most don’t even know about privacy and/or cyber security – they want the best search results, and sadly, it’s google. I use duck, but it’s simply not as encompassing.
I agree, but here’s the kicker….
Google pays Apple billions to be the default search. In other words…Apple sold you out!
I had kept Chrome as a back-up, for those websites that don’t play nice with Safari. But after reading this, I deleted the app off all my devices. Gotta draw the line somewhere.
I’m doing my best to de-googlize my life, but it’s not easy. I’ve asked my university’s IT department to install a NAS drive in our office for file sharing and backup. They want me to use Google Drive instead, since it’s free — and they give the university free unlimited storage.
It’s hard to convince them that free always comes at a price, sooner or later.
I respect your protest, I really do, but doesn’t Apple have a login requirement on all iOS devices? How can you can you turn it off?
Perhaps you can use a different cloud based storage for sharing your files if the University’s IT department refuses your request.
Chromium is Chrome without the Google phone home stuff. For those who want, here is a link to the page at FreeSMUG. Yes there are still Mac User Groups out there.
http://www.freesmug.org/chromium
Being on by default is no surprise since Chrome is a Google product and user convenience is one aim. That said, does Safari, Opera, etc. also default to logging in to Google services after you do it once?