Flaw in Google's New Desktop Tool [Update: Fixed!]

silassewell writes "A Rice University computer scientist and two of his students have discovered a potentially serious security flaw [Sell your soul to the NYTimes to Read] in the desktop search tool for personal computers that was recently distributed by Google." Update: 12/21 03:15 GMT by T : An anonymous reader writes "It's being reported that the security problem in Google's Desktop Search has been plugged."

Comments

what the heck

[mako1138]

"When you put them together, out jumps a security flaw." What is this, magic?

Re:what the heck

[shotfeel]

Its like MS Windows and a PC.

Windows, just sitting there on the CD isn't a secutity problem.

The PC, sitting there without an operating system isn't a secutity problem.

Put the two together -Microsoft magic!

Haiku of the Google Ad

[Swamii]

Your website goes here
Google deploys their search tool
All is exploited

Re:don't worry

[atlasheavy]

The MSN Desktop Search tool is already available, and a hell of a lot better than google's desktop search. You can download it from http://beta.toolbar.msn.com/.

Your definition of minimalism is probably different than a lot of other people's. Keep that in mind. I can't function unless I have at least a compiler, if not a full-blown IDE on the computer I'm using. Same thing goes for Photoshop and me.

You may not have either, and may disregard the need for me or anyone else to have these. Just remember, everyone's different. Because you don't find something useful doesn't mean someone else won't.

Re:don't worry

[doublem]

Kudos to you for admitting your need for p0rn.

Far too many people let shame take away their abilty to admit they like the stuff.

Re:It's already been fixed

[WIAKywbfatw]

So this story is a case of "All your BS are belong to us"?

Congratulations!

[Tibor the Hun]

Not only did you get a -1 redundant, but you also got it on a 1st Post!
This elusive prize is given by sharp moderators who rate your posts on the basis of what future posts might contain!

Do break your paragraphs next time.

Re:Fix for the flaw

[Otter]

...since GDS updates automatically without user intervention.

Next Google "scandal": GDS updates automatically without user intervention!!!

Intruder Alert. Kill the humanoid.

[HarveyBirdman]

Maybe they need to start making a list of software WITHOUT security flaws. It would save space.

Then again, I'm sure someone will find an exploit in Calculator or Freecell given time.

Re:Intruder Alert. Kill the humanoid.

[mzwaterski]

I followed your steps, but it didn't work...I got 12

false alarm

[kevinx]

you had me worried for a sec. I thought there might have been a secret button that pops up that says, "find your husband's porn".

Stop the press!

[caluml]

Stop the press! Bug in beta app! "Oh no!" Waves hands in the air, and runs around in circles. "Who will save us now? Who will save us?!!"

Re:No Reg Required...

[Anonymous Coward]

Isn't it aweful when you try to sell your soul, and then Satan gets back to you a little later, talking about a pre-existing lein? The look on His face, the patronizing way He talks down to you... I can't stand it. It's so embarrassing.

Re:don't worry

[Fallen_Knight]

Shame!?

If i start telling people about my multi terabyte porn collection they start asking me to send it to them!!

wait... umm I don't have any porn.. nothing to see here...

Re:Too Late

[eMartin]

Which, by the way, reminds me of the time a friend asked me to fix his computer, and while running a virus scan, the progress window soon started running through his porn directories flashing some pretty embarassing filenames.

And that went on for a good 10 minutes or so.

All i could say was "Well, we do need to do the virus scan."