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Chrome Is Scanning Files on Your Computer, and People Are Freaking Out (vice.com)
Some cybersecurity experts and regular users were surprised to learn about a Chrome tool that scans Windows computers for malware. But there's no reason to freak out about it. From a report: Last year, Google announced some upgrades to Chrome, by far the world's most used browser -- and the one security pros often recommend. The company promised to make internet surfing on Windows computers even "cleaner" and "safer" adding what The Verge called "basic antivirus features." What Google did was improve something called Chrome Cleanup Tool for Windows users, using software from cybersecurity and antivirus company ESET.
[...] Last week, Kelly Shortridge, who works at cybersecurity startup SecurityScorecard, noticed that Chrome was scanning files in the Documents folder of her Windows computer. "In the current climate, it really shocked me that Google would so quietly roll out this feature without publicizing more detailed supporting documentation -- even just to preemptively ease speculation," Shortridge told me in an online chat. "Their intentions are clearly security-minded, but the lack of explicit consent and transparency seems to violate their own criteria of 'user-friendly software' that informs the policy for Chrome Cleanup [Tool]." Her tweet got a lot of attention and caused other people in the infosec community -- as well as average users such as me -- to scratch their heads.
[...] Last week, Kelly Shortridge, who works at cybersecurity startup SecurityScorecard, noticed that Chrome was scanning files in the Documents folder of her Windows computer. "In the current climate, it really shocked me that Google would so quietly roll out this feature without publicizing more detailed supporting documentation -- even just to preemptively ease speculation," Shortridge told me in an online chat. "Their intentions are clearly security-minded, but the lack of explicit consent and transparency seems to violate their own criteria of 'user-friendly software' that informs the policy for Chrome Cleanup [Tool]." Her tweet got a lot of attention and caused other people in the infosec community -- as well as average users such as me -- to scratch their heads.
Unicode is hard.
If you want not to be spied on, you need to seriously up your game. You assholes use Chrome and expect not to be spied on? How stupid are you all? I pitty you.
Don't use Google products, at all.
Don't assume any other product is safe.
Alright, fuck it. You people are not smart enough to maintain privacy.
The truth is, you people are not smart enough, and those who are don't care.
Fuck your privacy. If you don't understand TCP/IP , you're done.
Fuck you, for good measure.
They can hire me as a chef, but in between my cooking duties I'll rifle through everybody's office looking for dangerous things. No need to panic - I have only good intentions at heart. What, you didn't think a chef should also double as your security detail?
...isn't exactly hidden. [chrome] [link only works on Chrome 65]
Wait, what...?
That's a rather "elastic" definition of "isn't exactly hidden".
It certainly appears that it "isn't exactly" something well publicized enough beforehand if so many people are surprised.
Strat
Progressivism (aka US 'Liberalism'): Ideas so good they need a police/surveillance-state to enforce.
APK.
APK.
APK!
RUN!