Posted on 10/21/2004 3:03:17 PM PDT by rockrr
If you use shared or public computers, you have a new privacy risk to consider: Google Desktop Search.
Announced last week and currently available in a beta version, Google Desktop Search allows you to scour your hard drive for lost or forgotten documents. But it just may be too good at what it does, according to privacy and security experts, who say it poses risks for users who don't understand its power.
Once installed, Google Desktop Search scours a computer for Microsoft Office files, AOL IM chat sessions, cached Web pages, and Outlook and Outlook Express e-mail files, and creates a searchable index. What's alarming to many is that Google Desktop Search can resurrect Web pages that were not meant to be viewed again, including online banking and brokerage transactions, as well as Web-based e-mail received and sent on the computer by previous users.
(Excerpt) Read more at pcworld.com ...
On the other hand you might want to find deleted stuff.
You should be OK if you are the only user on the computer -- shared computers do pose a risk. To minimize the chances of sensitive information being kept, disable the ability to store secure web pages in the Google archive -- you won't be able to search on them, but no one else will, either.
Hmmm . . . Sounds like it might be helpful in tweaking your favorite washer program, or in assessing which washer program is best. Other than that, I don't want it!
Yes, it does. It is not completely secure. Your last 4 searches include:
1. pouty breasts co-workers
2. breasts, friends, pictures of
3. breasts, people with, pictures
4. big breasts any animal
Search locally, post globally. You get what you pay for.
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