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Tell HN: Using Gmail? You will be force logged into Chrome

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Re: Tell HN: Using Gmail? You will be force logged into Chrome

#51

Post by negutron »

vemv wrote: post #8
kilon wrote: post #3

Why is this a problem ?

Now Google can (potentially) associate your browsing history with your identity, whereas before, any read of one's history would be anonymous.

Everything you do in chrome is called back to google servers. Even if you block cookies you can look at the network tab in dev tools and see it calling back; also it sends the links you click on to a malware check service (you know, safe browsing) that server tracks everything you click on: no cookies needed; there are also endpoints for transmitting your urls for 'quality of service' (to optimize bandwidth), that tracks, and then all the performance data called bakc to the google servers could potentially have your data steganographically included in that data

There are many things that chrome is doing that are dubious, quasi legal

one thing they could be doing is a kind of reverse beacon or barium meal beacon where they generate a unique code and steganographically insert that as an overlay into images...you won't see the difference when your webpage loads the image, but then some javascript will send that image back to a server, and there you ahve a cross site tracking mechanism. This concept has been used in browser fingerprinting, but now that has evolved with html5 with the canvas tag which generates unique ids and sends that back in order to track your browser everywhere around the internet without needing cookies or websocket sessions or any other newer session mgmt mechanism

Re: Tell HN: Using Gmail? You will be force logged into Chrome

#52

Post by negutron »

negutron wrote: post #51
vemv wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Now Google can (potentially) associate your browsing history with your identity, whereas before, any read of one's history would be anonymous.

Everything you do in chrome is called back to google servers. Even if you block cookies you can look at the network tab in dev tools and see it calling back; also it sends the links you click on to a malware check service (you know, safe browsing) that server tracks everything you click on: no cookies needed; there are also endpoints for transmitting your urls for 'quality of service' (to optimize bandwidth), that tr…

https://panopticlick.eff.org/ eff has a tool that can show you what weird things your browser is doing to identify you

Re: Tell HN: Using Gmail? You will be force logged into Chrome

#53

Post by danmg »

duxup wrote: post #50

I wish I could just have multiple Chrome installs segregated from each other for different purposes. I used to use Firefox for work and chrome for personal stuff. My new employer uses Google's business apps so it is easiest in Chrome....but that knocks out my two browsers at once system. Often I'll need something I saved to drive (sample code, doc, something) or bookmarked in my personal account that suddenly was rel…

Use the --profile option

Re: Tell HN: Using Gmail? You will be force logged into Chrome

#54

Post by r721 »

"Google calls the feature "Identity consistency between browser and cookie jar" and a Chrome representative on the official Google Chrome Help Forum confirmed that this is the intended behavior.

>This is an intended behaviour if you are using the same Google Account for your Gmail and Chrome. If yes, you'll be signed out of Chrome when you signed out of Gmail account.

...

Good news is that it is possible currently to disable the feature. Doing to breaks the link between the Google Account in Chrome that is used to sync data and Google accounts on Internet sites.

Note: Google may remove experimental flags like the one described below at any time. As long as it turns up when you run the steps below it is supported.

Here is what you need to do:

1. Load chrome://flags/#account-consistency in the browser's address bar. Google Chrome should display the flag Identity consistency between browser and cookie jar at the top.

2. Set the flag to disabled with a click on the menu and selecting disabled from the context menu.

3. Restart the Chrome browser.

Chrome breaks the link between the Google account in Chrome used to sync data and Google accounts that you sign in using the browser on Google sites."

https://www.ghacks.net/2018/09/08/disable-the-sign-out-link-...

Re: Tell HN: Using Gmail? You will be force logged into Chrome

#55

Post by duxup »

danmg wrote: post #53
duxup wrote: post #50

I wish I could just have multiple Chrome installs segregated from each other for different purposes. I used to use Firefox for work and chrome for personal stuff. My new employer uses Google's business apps so it is easiest in Chrome....but that knocks out my two browsers at once system. Often I'll need something I saved to drive (sample code, doc, something) or bookmarked in my personal account that suddenly was rel…

Use the --profile option

Your talking about just multiple logins like Google allows right?

I still have to switch back and forth and would rather keep both open.

Re: Tell HN: Using Gmail? You will be force logged into Chrome

#56

Post by joshuamorton »

duxup wrote: post #55
danmg wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Use the --profile option

Your talking about just multiple logins like Google allows right? I still have to switch back and forth and would rather keep both open.

You can have them open in different chrome windows simultaneously. I keep one widow with my personal login and another with my work account and it works fine.

Re: Tell HN: Using Gmail? You will be force logged into Chrome

#57

Post by duxup »

joshuamorton wrote: post #56
duxup wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your talking about just multiple logins like Google allows right? I still have to switch back and forth and would rather keep both open.

You can have them open in different chrome windows simultaneously. I keep one widow with my personal login and another with my work account and it works fine.

Thanks I'll give it a try again.

Re: Tell HN: Using Gmail? You will be force logged into Chrome

#58

Post by raverbashing »

chris_mc wrote: post #43
raverbashing wrote: post #34

It probably is not a bug Though "Chrome integration" with Google is pointless at best and an awful user experience. I made the mistake of logging in w/ Google on Chrome mobile. Resulting in all my bookmarks being synced on the phone (because of course I want my desktop bookmarks on my phone. Obviously. Thanks Google). This is a mistake I'm not doing again.

Most people do want that, though. They literally want Google to sync everything for them. Makes sense to me, I don't see your POV to be super common, honestly, except maybe amongst the die hard tech people of hn and such.

In mobile I want/have the bookmarks that make sense for mobile usage. I believe this applies to most people.

Re: Tell HN: Using Gmail? You will be force logged into Chrome

#59

Post by abandonliberty »

duiker101 wrote: post #15
marssaxman wrote: post #10

This kind of chicanery is the reason I won't use Chrome for anything but browsing Facebook.

A while ago I switched to Vivaldi. I have never been happier with a browser.

Why do you like Vivaldi?

I'm using it but am fairly ambivalent.

Re: Tell HN: Using Gmail? You will be force logged into Chrome

#60

Post by cdancette »

interfixus wrote: post #27
urda wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You don't even need that, install Firefox and use their container for Facebook: https://blog.mozilla.org/firefox/facebook-container-extensio...

Even better: Install Firefox and use nothing for Facebook.

That's not an option for everyone
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