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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.
0.0.0.0 *.scorecard.*[net,org,com,biz,*]
Even if it's not actually dangerous, it certainly doesn't do good things for the speed of older hardware or heavily-loaded hardware.
The reduced longevity of a constantly reading spinning platter hard drive comes to mind also.
Dear Google. Dont destroy my hardware. K. TX.
"His name was James Damore."
In the settings page, chrome://settings/cleanup
The option is "Report details to Google" and it defaults to being Checked. When I uncheck it, then eventually shut down the Chrome process (on Windows), then restart Chrome and verify its status, it remains as Checked.
So, essentially, this option cannot be disabled except MAYBE momentarily. Is it a feature or a bug?
Do that many people really use Chrome as their browser of choice?
Yes.