New Google Earth requires you to allow automatic updates

Google Earth ^ | 03/06/09 | Self

[Richard Kimball]

Possibly I'm being paranoid, but I know Google likes to store info on users. I am extremely uncomfortable giving Google authority to run a background program on my computer, and to automatically install updates. Anybody know anything about this?

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Google, like AOL....is a virus.

[txnativegop]

My wife downloaded it on our computer and this answers the questions I have had about it.

[mowowie]

I don’t blame you.
I try to disable EVERY auto update, even windows.

F-Them.

And i was thinking of updating Google Earth.
I’ll just stick to my current version thank you.

[Richard Kimball]

Hey guys. You're the most tech savvy guys I know. The agreement (forgot to take a screen capture of it before deleting) sounded like it was telling me the updater would stay resident on my computer and run in the background. It also didn't give me an option to use Google Earth 5.0 beta without the autoupdater.

Am I overreacting? I just don't like the idea of giving Google carte blanche to run on my computer and install whatever updates it feels like installing.

[mowowie]

Oh yea, in a map quest or anything like that i’ll never give my full address, I’ll give it a few numbers up.
Your just asking for junk mail.

[Richard Kimball]

Well, this one was either accept the updater or the program closed. I suppose it could be something that would just automatically update the beta Google Earth, but it said it would update ALL Google programs.

[allmost]

Bad program IMO.

[Richard Kimball]

Yeah, I kicked it off the computer and went back to 4.3 It started up without asking permission to install an updater. I’m not going there. When 5.0 becomes required, I guess I’ll just go without Google Earth.

[mowowie]

Maybe they want to make the beta better for you over time or....
Something else.
Screw ‘em.
Wait for the full version, Maybe it’ll be different.

I get Flash and Java update pop-up’s sometimes, i gotta figure out how to shut that crap off too.

[allmost]

Sounds like a good thing. I am fully towards that.

[Aliska]

I wouldn't have cancelled it, too. I did dl the older version of Google but never installed it. It's bad enough I have to let MS into my computer and NAV.

This is OT, but I did a stupid thing, try to be so careful. They had a little ad on youtube with a fun little test, then said they'd give you your pin # to get the results. It asked for cell #, just have a regular phone, so I entered that number which was really stupid.

I don't think anybody can do a reverse lookup because I've had it unlisted for years, but it looked like some singles site. I've got the phone off now, but am afraid someone is going to start pestering me, hope I don't have to change my number. Even if I had caller id, if calls came from a bunch of different numbers, I wouldn't know who they were especially since various ones I do business with on the web have multiple phone #'s. The area code could be an alert though, maybe.

[Straight Vermonter]

I’d be happy to get the place names on Google Earth to stay in English. I have reset the damn thing about 20 times.

[BonRad]

Architects worht the name etc working in areas with Streetviews with any kind of sophisticated zoning really should have GE, and many use Sketch-up anyways - which plugs in.

New version you can plot ANY local path and get mileage to within 1/10 mile.

Hate google but hate Microsoft too. Its just the way it is.

[GOP Poet]

I do not think you are paranoid at all. I would feel the same way.

[neb52]

Nothing new. Have you looked at your processes to look for the updater, you may find that you already have it.

[jeffc]

I only use Google maps. It still has great satellite view and that streeet stuff.

I just checked and I have nothing from Google running on my PC.

[puppypusher]

Why not just set your firewall to block the Google Updater from loading unless it asks you to.That way you have the control over it.

[Richard Kimball]

I keep the activity monitor running all the time and nothing from Google is on there.

[Richard Kimball]

Google Earth 5 isn’t important enough to me to worry about it that much. It looks like the updater is welded to the program.