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Chrome Is Scanning Files on Your Computer

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Re: Chrome Is Scanning Files on Your Computer

#2
Chrome is, actually, not scanning files on my computer. Because I don't run Chrome on my computer.

This is very much a no-thanks piece of functionality. If I already have malware scanning software, the last thing I want other apps doing is also scanning my entire file system. I'm mostly on SSDs now which significantly reduces the performance hit, but still.

I would also note this is a serious concern with the whole trend for auto-updating "evergreen" software. Without you even knowing, your browser software may decide to load up a different company's antivirus engine without even giving you so much as a heads up about it. You have to be aware of what companies you grant this type of access to, because once they have it, they essentially have complete control of your computer.

Re: Chrome Is Scanning Files on Your Computer

#4

Chrome is, actually, not scanning files on my computer. Because I don't run Chrome on my computer. This is very much a no-thanks piece of functionality. If I already have malware scanning software, the last thing I want other apps doing is also scanning my entire file system. I'm mostly on SSDs now which significantly reduces the performance hit, but still. I would also note this is a serious concern with the whole t…

> Because I don't run Chrome on my computer.

That's what you think.

Re: Chrome Is Scanning Files on Your Computer

#5
Sadly, the article doesn’t say what’s being uploaded to Google.

Just the file metadata of my documents folder? Just the metadata of the files that Chrome thinks might be malware?

In this climate, I’m shocked Google thinks they’re above needing to fully inform their users that their web browser is inspecting user files that have nothing to do with that browser.

Re: Chrome Is Scanning Files on Your Computer

#9
As far as I could tell as a non Chrome user, Chrome Cleanup Tool is a separate download from Chrome. Chrome may prompt to install it under some circumstances. However, what's described in the article does not appear to be a functionality that exists in normal Chrome installation.
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