Comments for Three Ways to Enjoy Google Chrome Without Privacy Concerns

Three Ways to Enjoy Google Chrome Without Privacy Concerns

2008-12-22T14:08:17Z

Since its launch, Google's new web browser, Google Chrome, has been applauded for its lightweight look and feel and for the speed of its JavaScript engine. Although the browser still lacks support for things like RSS and browser add-ons, the company has already ripped off the beta label, a move that was probably made in preparation for Google's upcoming bundling deals with PC manufacturers. ]]> Despite Chrome's popularity, there are some of us who are a bit uncomfortable with giving Google yet another avenue to track our user data. Luckily, we have several options which can be used to protect our privacy while still enjoying this slick new web browser.

1. Chrome Privacy Guard

Chrome Privacy Guard was the first tool to automatically delete the unique Client ID that Google assigns to your Chrome installation. With this tool, that ID is automatically deleted before each run of Chrome. To use Chrome Privacy Guard, you launch an executable file ChromePrivacyGuard.exe instead of launching the browser itself. The tool cans the "Local State" file inside the Chrome directory and removes all information regarding the Client ID. It then automatically starts Chrome.

2. UnChrome

Like Privacy Guard, UnChrome also removes your unique ID from the browser, instead replacing it with a null value. This is a bit more convenient because UnChrome only needs to be run once. After you download and run the tool, you will see a pop-up advertisement for the developer's other applications, but again, it's only a one-time thing. Afterwards, your browser will forever have the unique ID removed.

3. Iron

Iron is a fork of Chrome's Chromium core, the open source project behind Google Chrome. Developed by a German software company SRWare, Iron goes even further than the above tools to protect your privacy. Where the other tools simply remove the unique ID from Google's version of the Chrome browser, Iron is actually its own, separate browser. In addition to removing the unique ID, Iron also makes sure that no user-specific info is sent to Google, including crash reports. When you enter in a URL incorrectly, Iron does not present any alternative error messages like Chrome does. Finally, Iron does not come bundled with the Google Updater tool, which checks with Google to see if there are any new updates for the Google products you have installed.

Do you use any of these tools to protect your privacy? If so, share your experiences or your preferences in the comments.

Comment from Nick Stamoulis on 2008-12-22

2008-12-22T15:49:05Z

Could Google follow up with an operating system in the next five years? Imagine that.

Comment from Billy Girlardo on 2008-12-22

2008-12-22T16:33:19Z

I dropped Chrome for Iron as soon as it came out and never went back, but truth is, I'm too used to my Firefox extensions to use anything else.

Comment from networkubik on 2008-12-22

2008-12-22T22:57:40Z

After all this time, since Chrome was released, I still fail to understand how my privacy is unprotected...

Really.

None of the sensationalist stuff I read about it convinced me in any way that my privacy was being compromised. It's just speculation and far fetched conspiracy/paranoid theories in my opinion.

Can anybody here enlighten me with facts?

Thanks.

Comment from Pater Kasting on 2008-12-22

2008-12-23T00:17:25Z

networkubik: The Chromium team has posted about the ways in which Google Chrome and Chromium communicate with Google: http://blog.chromium.org/2008/10/google-chrome-chromium-and-google.html

In recent releases, Google Chrome has reorganized the options to turn these features off to put them in one place, to make it more clear what data is sent when and how to turn it off.

Comment from networkubik on 2008-12-22

2008-12-23T00:39:59Z

Peter Kasting: Thanks for the link. I did read that post a few weeks ago and re-read it tonight and I still can't see how my privacy is compromised.

What I'm looking for is facts that prove that my privacy may be at risk. And I haven't found any, so far.

I never anonimized my GoogleChrome and I can't see why I should do it.

Comment from venkat on 2008-12-22

2008-12-23T06:00:57Z

I am concerned about my privacy in Chrome so I am using Firefox as primary browser ,the tools you are mentioned worth to use.

Comment from noam on 2008-12-23

2008-12-23T12:23:34Z

wouldn't it be funny if by using these products in our attempt to block Google from tracking out activities we were in essence helping other companies track our activities instead of google? What if Iron tracks our activities?

Comment from Paul on 2008-12-23

2008-12-23T19:18:04Z

There is a 4th way... Don't use Chrome.

Comment from Avatar on 2008-12-24

2008-12-24T12:15:33Z

I use Iron myself as i alternate with IE8 and Firefox 3.

Comment from John Dean on 2008-12-24

2008-12-24T16:20:47Z

Until Chrome has ad blocker (especially those from Google's AdSense and DoubleClick) will I consider it.

Comment from oyun on 2008-12-24

2008-12-25T00:45:45Z

ı have followed your writing for a long time.really you have given very successful information.

Comment from imapologize on 2009-01-08

2009-01-08T16:02:38Z

i think google chrome has first success when release it, but chrome team have a lot of thing to do to make it more safe, fast and friendly like firefox,

http://experts-one.com/index.php