Chrome Browser - Personal Privacy

marsmimar · 15 Aug 2010

This thread is NOT for the purpose of arguing which browser is the best.

Google has a somewhat tainted history when it comes to protecting user privacy. Governmental pressures caused Google to release data about how people used its search engine. Some of their Street View vehicles have recorded wifi data including MAC addresses (media access control) and SSIDs (service set identifiers). And a class action suit was filed alleging Google Buzz released the personal information of Gmail users without consent.

Granted, every company that offers a browser has the ability to collect and give out user data. But if you are a Chrome browser user, do you feel more secure, less secure, or you really don't care, when it comes to your personal privacy? Why do you feel that way?

MWRed · 15 Aug 2010

I'm old enough to where, when I was growing up, it was known that my business is my business. Not anyone else's.
I don't like Google, mainly for all the reasons of privacy, and not knowing exactly what they know already. Sure, some of it may be a little overblown and not as bad as people say, but it's hard not to wonder and worry. I don't like the idea of someone else knowing everything I do online(or everything about my life otherwise even). Is it really any of their business? No.

With that said, there's really nothing stopping any company from doing the same. Microsoft, Mozilla, and everyone else could be doing the same thing. It's just so prominent with google that I gave up evem trusting anything they do. There's other browsers, search engines, and all the other stuff that everyone has a choice. If it doesn't bother them, that's cool.

In this day and age, there's no such thing as privacy. There's too much info everywhere now. Even if I or you had never even connected to the internet even once, info about us would be out there somewhere for someone to see/use.

Basically, I won't use google for anything. Not because I don't "like" them or anything, but I have no reason to trust them. Simple as that.

ahriman · 15 Aug 2010

MWRed said:

I'm old enough to where, when I was growing up, it was known that my business is my business. Not anyone else's.
I don't like Google, mainly for all the reasons of privacy,...
<snip>
It's just so prominent with google that I gave up evem trusting anything they do. There's other browsers, search engines, and all the other stuff that everyone has a choice. If it doesn't bother them, that's cool.
<snip>

Basically, I won't use google for anything. Not because I don't "like" them or anything, but I have no reason to trust them. Simple as that.

Totally agree!

A Guy · 15 Aug 2010

Google (Do no evil ), has gotten a bad rap because they follow everything you do with their products. With Chrome, the only thing I've seen is the unique identifier in their browser. For that you can UnChrome

A Guy

DirtRider · 15 Aug 2010

I just don't like Chrome full stop, it just does nothing for me at all. I have it for testing and that is it. Not that worried about the privacy issue at all