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Google Promises Chrome Changes After Privacy Complaints (cnet.com)

Posted by msmash on from the very-very-sorry dept.

Google, on the defensive from concerns raised about how Chrome tracks its users, has promised changes to its web browser. From a report: Two complaints in recent days involve how Google stores data about browsing activity in files called cookies and how it syncs personal data across different devices. Google representatives said Monday and Tuesday there's nothing to be worried about but that they'll be changing Chrome nevertheless. "We've heard -- and appreciate -- your feedback from the last few days, and we'll be making some product changes," tweeted Parisa Tabriz, a security team leader at Google. Google added in a blog post Tuesday evening that it will add new options and explanations for its interface and reverse one Chrome cookie-hoarding policy that undermined people's attempts to clear those cookies.

7 of 82 comments (clear)

  1. Never. Ever. Trust. Google. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    NEVER!

  2. They're not changing anything by the_skywise · · Score: 4, Informative

    Google added in a blog post Tuesday evening that it will add new options and explanations for its interface and reverse one Chrome cookie-hoarding policy that undermined people's attempts to clear those cookies.

    They'll just move the info stored in the cookies to internal non-cookie storage and they're still going to log you in when you login to other aspects. They're just going to change the interface to show you they're watching you.
    Be nice to have a MS office assistant character appear (like Clippy) and tap on your screen and say "Hey... I'm watching you!"

  3. They got caught.. by sqorbit · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It seems to be the current thought process in corporations is that they have very little concern for privacy unless they get caught. Suddenly after they get caught they are all about privacy for a brief period to get some good PR.

    --
    Sent from my TARDIS
  4. Chromium needs the the Mozilla treatment. by xack · · Score: 4, Interesting

    And separated out as an organization separate from Google/Alphabet. All the browsers relying on Blink/Chromium code need to do more to make sure they have contingency plans if Google pulls a Microsoft with Chrome.

  5. **FAR** TOO LATE by mujadaddy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    When the word about Dragonfly came out, I knew that had to put my principles before my convenience

    Google is now, and I believe irrevocably, not a company with whom I want to do business. They took their advantage and have firmly leveraged it against the public interest.

    Advertising networks, and Google's specifically, need to be dealt with by the FTC immediately. We have the right to be secure in our correspondence in the USA. "Let me move your correspondence for free, and I will read everything about it, compile it, and sell what I can" is not a contract many people would join if the terms were laid so plainly.

    --
    Populus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur...
    "Force shits upon Reason's back." - Poor Richard's Almanac
  6. We're sorry we got caught by nwaack · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Google: "We're sorry we got caught doing something evil (yet again). We'll be more careful not to get caught next time."

  7. Fix it right now by darkain · · Score: 4, Informative

    You can fix this right now. This auto-login actually broke email/sync for a company I consult for, and luckily actually found a way to turn it off right now.

    1) Visit: chrome://flags

    2) Set to Disabled:
    Identity consistency between browser and cookie jar
    When enabled, the browser manages signing in and out of Google accounts. – Mac, Windows, Linux, Chrome OS, Android
    #account-consistency