This is why I hate google.

I hate all this ubiquitous cloud bullshit, we are all losing control of where are data goes and who winds up having access to it.... I NEVER want my personal life interfering with work, but google almost fucked that up..

Exactly.
This is why I don't like Google. They blur the lines between their services, and try to spread and share everything everywhere.
I want to be able to use services without them trying to make everything I do visible and everything public and stored in the cloud and tracked.

*Rolls eyes* Anyone can have perfect control over what they "share" with others. They aren't doing it without your permission anyway. I can give a better example of another social media that collects your data behind your back, but let's not delve too far off topic.

There are settings in Chrome. In Firefox even. Research them and use them. There are plenty of "tips and trick guides" to using Chome, Google, anything, etc. You can "Bing" it for all I care if you don't want to use google.com

Also incognito mode.

Excuse me.
I know what I'm doing.
And yes, I use Firefox, cookie management plugins, noscript, adblock, etc. I also do my best to control Google's settings so that they are less invasive.

But Google products are by nature invasive of privacy because of their ultimate goal being data mining. Google may be doing it "with your permission," meaning you agreed to it somewhere in your terms and you can turn it off, but Google's account controls are confusing, hard to use and for many casual users not that easy to find. Google auto-enables many features which reduce privacy and increase their visibility online. Google badgers users to collect cell phone information, real names, and to not use account usernames and pseudonyms on sites like Youtube, wanting to drive everyone to G+ and inflate their user statistics. I don't even use the G+ page that one of my email addresses is automatically linked to, but I do get strangers adding me to their circles and my page suggested to random people I've had email conversations with even though there's nothing in it.

And don't get me started on how frustrating using an android phone is. Thank god cyanogenmod and its privacy apps exist.

This example in the above journal is a perfect example of where Google is doing something that, while it may technically be "with the user's permission," is something they would not be aware of, is potentially a liability to their privacy, and is very unwanted by many because of Google's emphasis on the cloud, on syncing everything, and collecting data about everything users do.

TL;DR: It may be "with the user's permission," but things that Google does are often unsuspected by their users, potentially privacy damaging, invasive, and often ethically questionable/manipulative.

On the flip side I know many "casuals" that have no problem controlling what they share with others. They were able to use their resources because they took the time to comprehend it. Which isn't much to be honest. I really don't see how anymore "difficult" this could be than using other social sites. They all have steps to control.

About your G+ issue, you do realize that they don't see what you don't want to share with them, right? They are only able to see your public posts - of which there is even an option to not share with the public. It's that simple. If you have nothing on your G+ page anyway, what's there to even worry about? It's not like those people now have this godly ability to look into your emails and life. They're just following a blank page. That insecure? You can block them too.

Now that I've humoured your paragraph, I'm going to get back on the main point.

The example in the journal was purely a matter of inattentiveness. As you can see from the rest of the journal, if you've even bothered to read it - A LOT of people were very aware and utilizing this option just fine. They're very transparent. And again, as I've stated a bit further down below and above. If you're going to go into public - use your fuckin' incognito mode.

TL;DR: If one is that paranoid and unaware of their options, I think they should stay away from the internet for their own sanity and mental well-being.

And a lot of people where unaware of it, hence it was worthwhile to post the journal, terribly sorry I don't read the entirity of every eula in the dozens of software packages I install, its not laziness I simply do not have that kind of free time. It's not paranoia, this shit is getting more invasive and more obnoxious all the time.

I have nothing against you posting this journal. At the very least it'll get more people aware of things instead of just skipping through stuff - perhaps it'll encourage careful treading in the future.

The point about the EULA is moot because the information about this feature was made public knowledge outside of it - y'know, as many others have stated. I apologize for your lack of time, as I understand very well the importance of other things that may take up your time. Be it porn, work, etc. I would encourage you to just skip to the privacy parts of said sections in the future, you don't have to read everything if you know what to look for. Look into something called Spreeder if you want to zoom through it. It's good to know what you're signing up for instead of raging afterwards. Just my 2 cents.

Annnd that's why I said if one is paranoid. I don't think it's obnoxious or invasive, but I suppose maybe that's just me and a "few" of the others here. You're always welcome to use alternatives if you're that dissatisfied. You didn't pay for it, after all.

I appreciate the time you take devil´s advocate but... Nope.
Nope nope nope.
If your navigator, web application, etc are set by default with "share everything" that' s bad desing, bad practice. There is no excuse like "you can turn it off" or worse (in fact worst) "nothing to hide, nothing to fear". I myself found this sync stuff by accident, at work, simply because Google keep marking as read links I clicked at home. If that' s a feature that should be positive, it should not be introduces stealthy and never, NEVER by default to existing users, that' s just bad practice in any and every system.
And last of all, invoking the "you didn´t pay after all" is completely missing the problem again, with a total fallacy. Money is not the point of contingency, is data and the incorrect usage of it.
BTW, I use incognito mode and has inconvenients of its own, but is better that an inconvenient site (like this one) popping onto others view when it shouldn' t, just because Google suddenly decided to treat every device as part of a big workspace.

I'm humbled by your appreciation. So I thank you for that - that said, I'd like to address a couple of things:

I will accept that the point about payment or lack thereof was not needed in my argument. As that comment was meant to serve a different purpose and should've been clarified as such. Still, it does not suddenly make everything else that I've stated false.

Now if I may quote you -

"Nope. Nope nope nope." I'm afraid I have to disagree with what you've said as again, like with others, you've missed my point. They've made it transparent to new and existing users (as I and many others can tell you, should you care to read further). It is not their fault that you found it by mistake. Though I am glad you are aware of it now, this has already been public knowledge.

Your section on incognito mode is a bit incoherent, but I'll do my best to interpret and respond to it accordingly: I don't find it inconvenient, far from it actually - just a simple shortcut to open Command + Shift + N, or use Ctrl instead of Command for PC users. It gets the job done for this journal entry's problem.

They made an alteration to their software without informing the end user in an obvious way. No 'By the way, there's now an Incognito mode BECAUSE everything is synced across systems by default'. No 'WARNING: This keep track of your information for you'. No 'Just so you know'. They designed it this way *on purpose* so that their end users wouldn't opt to use Incognito mode first and foremost. They also know if they *did* inform people up front everyone simply would arrange Incognito mode out of the gate. If they provided a 'Use Incognito Mode by default' checkbox it would get checked 99% of every future install. ANd that doesn't help Google get that extra 35 cents a day from each end user's data statistics.

My roommate pointed out to me that Google forced creating a login on people for the last several years of versions, so I drop my previous argument about them not informing people. However, the login page for syncing does come across like a typical GMail login.

http://www.jouster.us//here/chromesplash.PNG

^
As  Klorsis has kindly provided - it should be clear as day, regardless of how it looks, so long as one can read. Any lapse in judgement would then be on your shoulders, not theirs.

PS > Future tip > Please consider reviewing your comments and facts before unleashing what appears to be an emotionally charged, somewhat incoherent, and inaccurate response as you did before your roommate corrected you.

lol

Actually, instead of just saying 'lol', let me explain. In my eyes, Google is guilty before being proven innocent for very good reasons. For the last several years, nearly a decade, they've been doing things that take advantage of the end-user of all of their products to the point that their entire franchise comes across as downright terrifying. They've just revealed patents for contact lenses with cameras in them activated by blinking, Google Glass was bad enough in that department. But rolling back, we can see a slew of conveniently ignored articles on tech news sites on 'exactly how much Google has on you' (http://royal.pingdom.com/2010/01/08.....-the-internet/), note that article is four years old, who knows how much Chrome OS or their involvement with Android has bolstered their resources. They've also made a recent announcement about how outgoing and now incoming emails will be analyzed (http://arstechnica.com/business/201.....-your-e-mails/), making emailing anyone within their systems just as 'risky' as using it yourself. Disconnect.me (https://disconnect.me/) was created by an ex-employee of Google's analytic department when he found out how accurate Google's user identification system were. And to top that off, the CEO of Google himself said that no anonymity is Google's future goal. (http://www.itproportal.com/2010/08/.....ys-google-ceo/) According to that article he also showed a way using Google StreetView for a person to be identified and located down to a nine meter radius.

There are your hard facts, buddy.

This is enough to make me terribly wary of anything they do. It's also why I simply do not use their web browser and will have no need for a Chromebook.

But when Klorsis brought it to my attention, I quickly owned the fact that I had misjudged the circumstance.

By the way, Klorsis already set me straight, so you provided no new information here. You just had a more rude approach about it. Maybe you could stand to learn some manners instead.

I appreciate the time you've taken to write and cite all that, instead of leaving it with just the former response, I really do. However, your points don't contribute to the original issue of this journal. Instead, it's yet another testy response/rant on how invasive Google is on your life.

You might want to reread your last two lines about Klorsis. Unless Klorsis was the aforementioned roommate of yours, I don't see a sign of acknowledgement from you otherwise. Or are you HammyToy in disguise? D: And again, my original point was for you to fact-check and review. Manners are merely subjective. Facts aren't. That is all.

Hope you have a lovely day~

PS Also, to futureproof this, I hope you understand that NOWHERE in this response am I saying that I disagree nor agree with the links you've posted. Sure, they're facts, as you like to put it - but irrelevant.

I was presenting those points because they're fact-driven examples of the very first sentence of the paragraph. That's how paragraph structure works.

Klorsis is my roommate, and he pointed it out to me first, so then I made my follow-up comment about it. After that he added it here on the journal.

I admit I was originally commenting on Google based on personal perspective from what I've discovered of their 'exploits' and judging Chrome per my knowledge of many of Google's other less-publicized shady activities. Their software was made guilty by association. If my neighbor's front yard has an aggressive dog in it, I don't assume his back yard doesn't. I err on the side of caution. Fool me once, shame on me. Especially since I don't need to go to his house to begin with. ;)

Manners may be 'subjective' but they're a reflection of your over-all behavior. So I'm lead to believe that you're not a very nice person by how you respond to messages. It's also still culturally desired protocol and expected for any legitimate debate. Otherwise a prompter will gladly shut off your microphone and not invite you to future debates. Being rude does nothing but make you an undesirable person to interact with.

The ultimate issue with Chrome is that they leave syncing enabled by default without any warnings that logging in on another chrome browser elsewhere will launch a syncing frenzy. I can program a 'Do You Wish To Sync Now?' window in every programming language I've ever laid my fingers on. I strongly doubt that they couldn't add that step.

The sync feature should be an OPT-IN option, not an OPT-OUT.
This way only those who want these features will have them.

Have you even seen the rest of the journal?

Why should it be what you say it should be? Making it your way would be inconvenient for a lot of people who are already utilizing it.

Seriously, read the rest of the journal comments. I don't see why they should change it, as they were very transparent since the beginning - and thus the problem here-in lies with people being too lazy to uncheck the button to opt-out, or people who are impatient and don't bother reading.

Then Chrome in going against the definition of user friendly.

At the end of the day though, you're right, we really should check for this type of thing anyway. But keep in mind, most people have never heard of anything like this so they aren't looking for it (i.e. anyone born before the 21st century.)

I doubt its malicious, just... These companies don't seem to realize we don't necessarily want to share everything all the time. Its probably supposed to be helpful.

it is supposed to be helpful. And it's your fault for logging chrome into your home account at work if you do. I pointedly avoid this because why would I tie my personal computer to a work computer in any way, shape, or form? That's just inviting disaster. It's the same reason I don't link my work Firefox to my Firefox Sync account.

They tell you right off the bat that if you 'log into' Google Chrome with your Google account, it'll sync with every computer you log into that to. This does not mean going to google.com and logging in. It means going into the browser menu on Chrome itself and selecting "log in".

This feature's been around for ages, has been published for ages. Just because you don't pay attention to the prompts when it pops up and says "logging into Google chrome will share..." doesn't make it nefarious activity by Google. It makes it you not paying attention.

How was I to know it would stupidly sync stuff like that? I didnt even know it synced anything I thought my google account was just a way to leave comments and get email. So sick of this bullshit. I would rather never have anything linked with anything.

This. ^

They've detailed what was going on since the beginning. It's not their fault (nor does it make them "dangerous") that anyone on this page who suddenly found out about this feature didn't just bother to read.

If you're going to fuckin' browse porn - do it in incognito.

If you're going to work, use a work email. Even better, use incognito mode there so that when you exit the browser, NOTHING gets saved. That's what I do.

PSA: Incognito mode = Private Mode.

Good tips

At least Firefox requires you manually go through the syncing process.

I've already hear horror stories about this, is it not common knowledge? Also, why I only use Firefox.

First I heard of it

Firefox has a sync command that does the same thing, and just like Chrome, you have to opt in to use it. It prompts you for it on Chrome and not on Firefox, yes, but that doesn't mean you have to use the function any more, or that either of them are less potentially disastrous.

Hmm you know, the whole syncing over multiple devices thing is mainly what I most like Chrome for, its great when using your personal PC and phone, tablet, etc. But you raise an extremely poignant point. Ill keep that in mind next time. Thanks for the heads up.

Fine, but why have it enabled by default? Let people who find value in it turn it on themselves.

Think it only enables if you opt-in by signing into your google account on the first page it shows you. Also provides links for configuring which sync options you'd like to use, or alternatively provides a `skip for now` link.

It's not actually on by default. Only when you choose to sign in specifically for the chrome application (which is to say that going to google's website and logging in there won't sign you in on chrome's sync settings, should you choose not to set your computer up for sync)

Highly likely that you may have just missed available options while you were doing the rush through installation or something. They're pretty transparent about it honestly.

---

Definitely wouldn't sign chrome into an account at work though - the settings for sync are too unsecure from what I've seen. There's no way to lock them as whatever you've set up in the event that you're sharing a machine with somebody who has the mind to go snooping around and changing the settings to something other than what you configured them as. I guess they expect people to be using windows user accounts or something instead maybe.

Google Chrome is the only way I can get into Facebook and other websites cause me computer is too old for the latest internet explorer. I don't bookmark anything and I erase me history, so me thinkin I should be safe. I rarely sign in as well, unless I go to Youtube to watch some Donald Ducky, but then hop on over to Xtube for some hot furry porn :P Thanks for the warning!!

FireFox is a bit more friendly towards older computers.

That's what me coworker said, and they give ya an option to download videos from Youtube as well!! OH ALL THE HOT DONALD DUCKY CARTOONS I BE WANTIN!!

I've been known to marathon every once in a few blue moons...

Can't beat HOT DUCKY MARATHONS!!

Theres SOOOOooo many duck cartoons! I think people just like drawing ducks.

That's because they so very hot and sexy!!

I think so too! Maybe its the cute tails dunno :)

They do have some hot feathered bottoms, that's for sure!! And both Donald Duck and Darkwing Duck do so love to show off their hot tail feathers too!!

Haha I bet they quack if you pinch them

I so dream of making Darkwing and Donald quack!

Ever heard of Alfred J kwak? VERY adorable character, the show has never been properly translated im afraid :)

No *ducky giggles* I will have to see if he on Youtube, but his character did sound quite interesting on Wikipedia!

I have the complete series! Cant understand a word of it but its still nice to watch,

I actually use this feature a lot. It's really handy switching between my laptop/desktop/phone/tablet

yeah, that's creepy. Glad I don't use any cloud.

I feel empathetic heart palpitations for ya, deer. Just knowing how close to disaster you were and a chance use of a different browser at work is all that prevented such. Just a little anxiety caused, eh?

Well, I'm thankful all turned out well despite the scary realization it may have been a lot different.

Well now im going to have to try to track down whatever computers i used and make sure theres no residual history on them

How do you disable it?

I found it under settings advanced sync settings.. though it seems to have vanished from my options now.

Is it that list of "choose what to sync"?

yeah it forces you to sync at least one thing.. so I selected themes that seems harmless enough

ok, thanks for letting us all know!

I like the option, but it's not for everyone.

It only syncs if you utilize the same email, on the second computer/device. this is why people have personal and business Gmail accounts...

which Google DOES tell you this

I dont recall google telling me this,, All I remember is google strongarming me into getting a google+ account I did not want.

Yea, really. A few key players want all the users. And, they're ruthless in making you use their services.

If I knew how, I would close all my accounts right now.. I don't really need google+ for anything besides leaving comments on youtube, And I dont use gmail for anything other than being alerted that someone replied to a comment, and who needs that.

At least, it's still possible to create separate accounts in an attempt to limit what the dang bots learn. False leads that keep the things from tying a thousand ends together and making your whole life just appear on whim in front of who-knows-whose eyes.

Kind of what I did on my FaceBook account. I knew from day one that the thing was trouble. Rule one: No furry links. Sure, it meant ignoring a few 'friend' requests. But, that rule stands.

I never had facebook, never understood the appeal of it ^_^

I only got it to keep in contact with old school friends that insisted on using the cursed thing.

when you started to use Google Chrome, it tells you that they sync everything via email account when you signed into it...

You re thinking in new users.

no they did this before, they just added MORE things they would do

Whew, disaster averted! I echo your feelings about all this sync'd cloud stuff. Perhaps its convenient to some, but I wish permission was always explicitly asked before anything like this is performed.

In a similar vein, I get really peeved off when I go to some random questionable website and 'bam', see a picture there with my face on it because it has "Facebook integration". Somehow I signed in and now I'm suddenly one-click away from broadcasting on "The Wall" about some unspeakable fetish.

Was also pretty disconcerting when that Youtube/Google+/Real Name crap started showing up and I was getting recommendations to add people I knew from college/high school to my private accounts. Do not want!!

Makes me doubly glad that I have almost no presence on mainstream social media, even if it does make me pretty much the only person at my office who is 'off the grid' ^_^;

a button popped up on me on Furries xtreme "Share this with google+" one misclick and I could have broadcast that to my work colleagues..

actually off the grid might be a good idea.. I mean all I use google for is commenting on youtube, I could happily do without that.

Oh, thanks to that weirdness, I currently own three YouTube accounts. Never asked for two of them, neither.

Sure hope FA never ties a bond to FaceBook/Google/or other such Ex-girlfriend(lover) type websites. To think, in the age of information being so freaking valuable, why must such sites blab everything??? Besides, next thing you know, the things will be interfacing with traffic cameras and identify your vehicle make and plate number to blab about everywhere you go and your daily schedule and where you live and...basically, they've gone too far as it is and still have room to go way beyond that point.

Hmmm... that brought me a little closer to closing the google account, which is basically the only social networking I have.. I'm just trying real hard to think of whether or not theres anything I actually NEED attached to it. ITsk ind of unclear whether or not it would destroy my youtube channel.

I'm unclear what YouTube actually requires to be accessed. I know that I need to sign in when I access my favorites to keep tabs on those accounts I do follow. Plus, it most certainly is needed for leaving feedback. But, I think you can still view videos manually without a log-in. What I didn't like was when Google took over, they first got pushy about insisting that my account be under MY NAME instead of my handle. Then, they just got tired of asking and created an account under my name. Oddly enough, it was like a divorce. My name got my avatar icon and my handle got all my favorites and viewers and videos. Then, there's this third one that has nothing to it but a clone of my nickname, written in a slightly different way. It doesn't tie in at all. And, I know exactly where it came from. Didn't ask for it. It just pushed itself onto me.

At least, since I opt to view YouTube from a PS3, it has this app that could care less about log ins from Google to use.

Hmm maybe I should just backup my youtube videos and create a website of my own to host them.. Enough of this pushy bullshit. I went through the same thing, youtube periodically harassing me to use my real name and then just forcing it on me eventually, its offensive.

Probably a very good idea. After all, YT is getting rather strict about certain issues and will pull videos on whim for various reasons. It's certainly been a thorn in my side for hosting videos THAT I MADE...that just happened to have someone's overhead music playing that trips off their copyright sensors. Like I have some expensive and fancy software that can splice away music audio from conversations.

I use it primarily to listen to music anyway,

One such video that I produced was of a stage act with some sound track from another land. Now, YouTube let me keep the video in tact. But, it seems that it can't be viewed in Germany. And, another warns me that it's the property of Universal. Yet, there's no foul or actions needed for it being there. Just a particular set of ads. Odd how Copyright works.

Is this with Google + or just Google Chrome? Also how does one turn this off? I can't find the setting.

I found it under settings advanced sync settings, I dont know where chrome ends and google+ begins... this stuff is too confusing for me.

Doesn't seem to be part of Google + yet. I'll keep an eye out and thanks for the warnings. I use Firefox and don't plan on going to Chrome. I don't think any company knows what people want and don't want.

Ah yeah, noticed this myself.
My trick is to not sign into google directly.

I only log into youtube, and thats with a yahoo account.

It works for me, none of my chrome info has synced anywhere yet

Plus I always delete history

I noticed this when i was clearing a laptop for a friend

You JUST discovered this? This has been around for -years-!

How the hell would I have known? I dont DO any of this cloud or social media bullshit, I browse FA and check email, thats pretty much it. The only reason I even have Google+ is because it was forced on me.

i actually love this feature - i constantly get links sent to me on on my phone and if i click on them on my phone i don't even have to open them - i just save them there in my history then can retrieve them later on my laptop or vice versa.

It's pretty easy to turn on and off and i kinda thought it was a like... pretty up-front and primary feature of chrome and google accounts in general....

either way, even if you don't use the internet for much, this is a GOOD REASON to either read the fine print yourself or find a nice detailed summary somewhere online for any and all accounts you sign up for.

Thats great! But to have it on by default, I dont get why it has to be on by default.

because you clicked a box that said it was okay for them to do that haha

And its perfectly fine for me to warn others who may have missed that aswell.

Fine, old news to people who are into computers, I'm not. Felt maybe it would be good to send a warning out to other people like me who aren't necessarily up on all the latest tech stuff.

As with most of the comments have stated, I find this feature pretty useful and thought it was common knowledge. :o That said, when I'm at school, I'll go ahead and just use the private browsing mode that comes with Chrome/Firefox whatever I may be using, and that'll take care of any traces of me that's left behind - not that I'd use the school computers for that kind of stuff anyway, but it's certainly convenient for public computers.

I'd suggest you also add in your journal the advice to use private browsing when in a public/work environment. It'll save you tons of trouble - so long as you exit the browser when you're done.

Here's a funny story...

I actually once had this scenario happen to me, but fortunately i had the unbelievable luck of clumsy co-workers.

I used to work at a design company which has internal chat and email synced with google; so we used our google accounts on the job to use jabber and other stuff for inside communication.

Anyway, I only worked there part time and my computer was shared with another dude. The guy complained he had "weird pop-ups" and they thought he had somehow let ad-ware or a virus into the computer.

The computer was formatted and everything was "fine" for the first day, and then the "weird pop-ups" came back. Well... Those "weird pop-ups" were my remote activity synced by google.

I was VERY lucky this guy just had no idea what was up...

My goodness thats scary

incognito is accessed by cntrl shift n from the main browser

oh neat thanks!

There was something nice and reassuring about computing in the old days. Your private data could be held in your hand on your personal floppy disk. No HDD storage. No Cloud holding deal that resides on...Earth. (I like to say a server at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.) And, now...we've reached the point where you're about to have no option BUT remote storage. Next thing we know, we'll all be required to log our brains in to some network. 'We are the bored. Resistance is futile."

Yes... I do not like where its going, I value my privacy I dont want the internet to control my life like that.

Heh...all I have to think of is this novel that I've been working on for years. I could just see how remote storage might jeopardize it. Hackers might get in and change/delete things. Some internal character might just wipe the whole thing for not meeting with some standard. (I'm sure many FA users can already understand that...and this is a publically shared site.) Perhaps, some error just swallows it whole. I want my data locally stored. While I do see the value in remote storage as a backup, I don't want remote to be the only option forced upon me.

Oh, and I'm sure that if the 'powers that be' get the final say, anything porny will become illegal. And, having all that Cloud data at their beck and call that links directly to ______ @ _______ will make pressing pressure so easy...

Speaking of novels, consider censorship.. When all the books exist on some kind of cloud somewhere under the control of Amazon or something else, imagine how easy it would be to just censor them wholesale, a single click is all it would take to remove an "offensive" passage, and no one would even notice, compare that to the difficulty of meddling with real physical books.

Exactly. I've changed whole facts in my novel by selectively using the 'Find & Replace' tool.

I'm also convinced that it's a dark secret behind the creation of G-Mail. So much data, stored in one place. Imagine how easy that makes data statistic gathering for someone to learn trends, create sales pushes or even bust suspected crimes. (To whatever 'they' want to classify a crime consisting of.)

Ahhh...the alterations of facts in physical production mediums. I'm reminded of something I heard, quite a long time ago. Supposedly in the Bible, despite the centuries of potential alterations that kings and religious heads might have influenced upon it, there is suppose to still be a surviving reference to Gods...as in plural...written somewhere amongst it's pages.

There are several

"You shall have no other gods before me" Exodus 20:3

"Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known" Jeremiah 7:9

"You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you"
Deuteronomy 6:14


At least a dozen more references here, I also recall biblical references to Ashtaroth, though I don't remember the book.

Fun stuff!

That puts it into perspective. Now it makes sense what the anti-Bible groups were saying.

Hehe just remnants of previous revisions :)

That is does. I've been using that on my advantage so I don't lose my bookmarks and extensions, whenever I re-install my OS or use another computer

It's a part of using these services, if you're not paying Google for things like email, web browser, etc, then you are the product. You may lament the loss of control over data collected about you but this is the price you pay for the services you use. There are other web browsers you can use.There's also a program called Ghostery that will help you with controlling privacy but it does add effort to viewing every web page.

Im fine with getting advertised at, I dont want my Boss to know what kind of porn Im into.

You could always setup an alternate Google account just for use at work and when you're using other computers.

Yeah, now that I know about this hehe :)

You have to actually opt into it on Chrome, beyond just signing into the browser itself with your Google account. I use it since the history syncing is great. Firefox had it too and I used it there, but it never worked too well.
There's a HUGE screen when you sign in about it and it has a bunch of checkboxes to pick what you sync. It's also a really old feature. Couple years now.

I've never gotten the open tabs to sync though, funnily enough, even though I have it on.

Just turn off the syncing in the settings.

I dont remember ever being asked to set that up, It was just turned on by default on mine.

Maybe you just didn't notice when you signed in? It basically asks you when you install Chrome for the first time.

I guess its possible, it was so long ago I dont even remember...

Though I never would have clicked "yes" if I knew what it was, I cant imagine any reason I would want to sync my browser :)

Well to be fair if you used Chrome at work you would have noticed this a lot sooner than today and would not have been at risk of porning your co-workers :)

Would count as one of the worst days possible :D

only made worse if you were IN the porn you flash them :D

That might just get me a different kind of work!

lol

This feature has been on Chrome since it's very first release back in 2008
It's by pure lack of luck that you may have not noticed the feature at all
it pretty much pesters you all the time to turn it on either to sync all or just the things you wish

Good thing you noticed before disaster though

Whats up with everything wanting me to sync stuff all the time anyway.... MP3s video libraries, Smartphones, emails, everything is always insisting I sync.. Christ I can organize my stuff on my own!

I wholeheartedly agree.

Thank God that was done, saved your bacon and all that jazz.

I would never have caught that.

thanks, I'm glad I'm not the only one caught unawares by this.

We were warned awhile back at work about that feature since the systems are monitored.

Did they say specifically if you use chrome at work? I'm thinking since I only use Firefox there I might be in the clear.

Yeah we were told to use Chrome to access a few sites, but I think when people started to see their private stuff suddenly syncing, they put out the word. I never installed Chrome on my home PC, I just use firefox. I just keep a back up copy of my book marks if something happens, as the idea of knowingly giving anyone access to my web habits be it my bookmarks or browser history on a cloud server who knows where with who knows who having acess, leaves a bad taste in my muzzle.

Yep, kinda happened to me but luckily my work computers weren't monitored and I was able to adjust the settings.

It's really stupid though

Yeah, basically the only reason I'm not using Firefox for everything already is that they don't make it easy to use multiple profiles. =/

Yet.

Reason why I always use private browsing on public computers. I have a ton of junk open here at home (although I use incognito here as well, so I don't remember what's on what), and I want it nowhere NEAR my school or say, the library haha.

Lucky you found that out before something bad happened. D:

well I use both Chrome and Firefox on my desktop :) because WHY NOT BOTH?

I got pretty creeped out when my phone knew what time I was going to work. I'd used the navigation function to find the address to my new job a few times, but I never designated it as that. I know context clues would make the jump easy, but it's the fact that it saved that information that frightened me.

Already happened to my friend at school. he used his parent's Laptop to help them, by getting a file off GoogleDrive on Chrome. It synced all his porn-bookmarks.

Die-Hard Devout Catholic Christian Chinese Parents................................. not pleased.

This has been a feature for .. 5 years? They haven't changed it at all.

Been using Comodo instead. Functions everything like Chrome, minus the bullshit tracking.

I laugh at your pain.

This is why I don't bookmark porn period o3o

Its not just bookmarks, as I understand it, open tabs at home would just pop up anywhere you are logged into google.

I used to love Google Chrome, I temporary replaced Firefox that I used since I was introduced to Computer when I was a teen and using Google Chrome was awesome. But as updates progressed, it became more and more of how you say...somewhat of a privacy concern. There's no way to disable Browsing history, which is big thing for me since not only it saves up space on my computer, but also saves me from popping up a website that i visited that is NSFW. Not only that, Google Chrome is not as fun as Firefox, since Firefox is open source and can add almost anything to it. When I found out about Chrome Sync, I just got rid of it. I hate products that involves with Cloud bullcrap, especially that the damn window keeps telling me to sign into my Google account. I rather keep my bookmarks on a Local PC, than put it out on a big cloud. I mean, clouds are fluffy and fun to sleep on...but not for holding my personal data.

You can't trust anything these days.Because of that I use IE and delete my history every day.

Uh, IE is the worst of 'em
It always has been the most unsafe, privvy browser, and is also linked to critical parts of your system.

Chrome for me was buggy as hell,Firefox runined my old pc,I just can't trust any browser

I haven't used Google in quite some time.

That really sucks. Glad things turned out for the best. That would definitely have freaked me out.
As for Firefox. I won't touch it at the moment. The new CEO for Mozilla donated money to the whole prop 8 movement in California a few years back. Not going to support that kind of individual or company that would make him their CEO.

He also invented Javascript, and we ALL use that :/

Ah. Another reason to hate him.

is Javascript bad?, I don't hate the guy, I don't even know him, the only thing I know is he supported something terrible

I personally don't care for Java no. Supporting customers that have crappy applications that have to have some specific old version of it is a pain. Because a couple times a year per person they click on the update now crap and I have to waste my time rolling it back.
I personally will hate him. You support denying me the same rights as everyone else you get my hate. Pretty simple "you meaning the ex Mozilla CEO"

Yeah but to hate him I'd also have to hate my mom or id be a hypocrite,

Ah. Understandable.

I see it like this.

He donated $1000 to prop8. he is/was Ceo of Mozilla when this conversation began. That put him in a position of power. with great power comes great responsibility as the cliché goes. (Thanks spiderman) Had he stayed some coder somewhere in the structure no one would have cared. But as CEO one could easily think that because of his giving money to prop 8 that supporting his company, Mozilla, would be furthering his ability to support that sort of cause and I consider myself smart enough to never work against my own best interests.

But yea. I agree with your reasoning as well.

Well I also believe the guy should be punished for that decision, doesnt really require me to hate him to hold him responsible.

Huh. Didn't know that it did that. Thanks for the heads up.

Have not run into this as I do all my personal surfing in firefox and all my work stuff in IE.

And all the porn? In incognito mode. :)

I don't really see why anyone would want to have this feature honestly seems useless and annoying IMO

This feature is only "dangerous" if you have... yknow... compromising webpages set to open automatically. That's not really the fault of Google. :B

Or if such pages happen to be open in tabs on any of your computers, anyway randomly sharing personal info of any kind is dangerous

It's not sharing it, it's linking it. It's still shared only with you on your account.

If your info pops up without warning on a work computer, maybe not porn, maybe you have your paypal or online banking open at home, That is a significant security and privacy issue.

Nononono, that' s the "nothing to hide, nothing to worry" policy.
It is dangerous, umpleasant or simply inconvenient if tyou have things that you prefer not to share being shared by default. The only fault by google is that' setting "share" ON by default.
It doesn' t have to be compromising contents like ponr, I found it while searching safe stuff at work, there was stuff that would stick to the search story and was quite inconvenient.

You can use Google Chrome without signing in, which will keep it from syncing anything. Google just really wants you to sign in, like they really want you to use Google+, so they put the sign in thing all over the place. If I were you I'd recommend leaving Chrome signed out at work (you should be able to do this from the menu).

But yeah, I prefer/use Firefox, and they do have an option to sync, but you have to go looking for it.

Its google.....ya know George Soros......the ultimate spy for the NSA. Now working with MS they know all your actions....welcome to the NWO.

Use a different chrome based browser. Like SRWare Iron. Its chrome with no google connections.

Yeah no, incognito does nothing to protect your privacy. I laugh at people who think it does. It just deletes your history and local cookies during that session. Thats it. Also lol @ EVER signing into chrome. Why would you do that?

Not directed at you, HammyToy, more at everyone.

But seriously, to actually be helpful, here are the chrome settings you NEED to set:

Under Privacy:
[OFF] Use a web service to help resolve navigation errors
[OFF] Use a prediction service to help complete searches and URLs typed in the address bar
[OFF] Predict network actions to improve page load performance
[OFF] Enable phishing and malware protection
[OFF] Use a web service to help resolve spelling errors
[OFF] Automatically send usage statistics and crash reports to Google
[ON] (but most sites wont listen to your pref anyway) Send a ‘Do Not Track’ request with your browsing traffic

Under Search, click "Manage search engines" and delete every single one of those fuckers that isn't Google; it prefetches search results from them, so searches in the omnibox are sent to every single site in that list. Awful.

^this^

^and this^

Well, thats good information to tell us. Thank you for that tidbit of information.

I'm not too sure about the open tabs thing but yes, the browsing history and favourites are synced, hence why I always use incognito for pron.
Also chrome is a botnet for google, so use chromium and install the https everywhere and collusion plug in.

+1, just keep in mind that incognito is only useful if you have kiddie siblings who use your computer. That's all it does is delete session data.

As I mentioned before chrome pretty much records everything you type into the url bar and sends it to Google, supposedly under the pretense of autocorrection. Though I do tend to trust Google more than say Microsoft where server to server transfer of information is unencrypted.

Well, tabs was one of the sync options,

It happened to me too. Some people here is not realizing that some old users started using Chrome before the entire Cloud fad. This generation may be habitued to have to spend an hour setting his privacy blocks options before doing anything, but for us it is just a recent issue. And I think is not one that should be shoved on. Even my email account warns me of interfase changes beforehand, is common courtesy and avoids these problems.

I just use Firefox. I've used it for the last several years, and it's never required any kind of sign in or syncing features unless I seek them out myself.

The concept of a browser requiring a login would make me laugh all the way to the uninstall button anyway. =D

It doesnt require a login to use the browser, the login is jsut for a google account, WHICH I thought was jsut for gmail and youtube comments, I didn't realize it did all kinds of other things :)

Well... Ill just not log in, or maybe switch to firefox... Im only on Chrome because Firefox crashed constantly on my old computer

Google has been all kinds of annoying shit lately.