Google AI "doing a U2"

AntonHunter

...and installing stuff on people's devices without asking. I don't understand much of the words (or how to stop it), but the premise is worrying!

Google Chrome silently installs a 4 GB AI model on your device without consent. 

https://www.thatprivacyguy.com/blog/chrome-silent-nano-install/

LionAquaLooper

That's chrome uninstalled on my devices then. 

racefaceec90

thankfully i don't have chrome on my laptop (i have edge but tbh i doubt that is any better). it's a horrible time we are living through currently in more ways than one :-(

PC_Dave

racefaceec90 said:

thankfully i don't have chrome on my laptop (i have edge but tbh i doubt that is any better). it's a horrible time we are living through currently in more ways than one :-(

Edge uses the Chromium engine, so I wouldn't bet against them doing the same thing. 

Kittyfrisk

It'll be fine. They're like Don't be Evil, dude...   

AntonHunter

LionAquaLooper said:

That's chrome uninstalled on my devices then. 

Yeah, I'm doing the same now. I still use Gmail etc, but this might be the prompt to fully de-google. Problem is a bunch of stuff I need for work doesn't like Firefox, but I'll figure it out.

I've also not gone and checked whether it's downloaded anything yet, I still don't understand all the words in that article...

crunchman

Chrome is also trying to kill off ad-blockers like U Block Origin.

Firefox or Brave.

GoFish

Kittyfrisk said:

It'll be fine. They're like Don't be Evil, dude...   

Ah, that was Google the company. Google is now a name "owned" by Alphabet, the company. I beleive their moto is "Yes, we are evil.  What made you notice?"   

crosstownvamp

I can't see the file he talks about on my PC. (I'm a Firefox user but need Chrome sometimes)

crunchman

crosstownvamp said:

I can't see the file he talks about on my PC. (I'm a Firefox user but need Chrome sometimes)

Do you have it set to see hidden files?

crosstownvamp

I use an obscure search tool called 'Everything' which does what it says with instant results. 

Maybe Google have not rolled it to PCs in the UK yet?

joneve

Can't obviously see where to find the directory or file on a Mac. 

axisus

Bastards! Just deleted it off my Work mac.

axisus

joneve said:

Can't obviously see where to find the directory or file on a Mac. 

search for weights.bin with 'system files are included'

AntonHunter

axisus said:

Bastards! Just deleted it off my Work mac.

Did you find the massive file then? Or have you just deleted Chrome as a precaution?

Grunfeld

AntonHunter said:

I still use Gmail etc, but this might be the prompt to fully de-google. Problem is a bunch of stuff I need for work doesn't like Firefox, but I'll figure it out.

I use Brave when a website won't play with FF.  It doesn't happen often (Costco comes to mind) but if you drop the stricter FF security settings that often solves issues.

De-google.  Highly recommended.  Registering a domain made changing from Gmail to another provider (Tuta for me) completely painless and took less than an hour.  I absolutely don't trust the idea of Google handling data which are confidential -- not with their AI now crawling all over it.*  

Other aspects of de-googling can be done bit-by-bit.  With a little planning it can be done smoothly.  You end up with a couple of small costs, e.g. email with Tuta is €36 per year; storage with Koofr is €5 per year.  But everything works just as it should and no google in control.  

My next move is Graphene OS.  I've already started with it but will likely jump fully in September if Google's plans to lock down its app store go through. 

*EDIT I know we're all different on this but I was surprised at the amount of relief I felt and a sort of, "that needed doing" feeling, when I'd finished downloading all my Google data, verified the contents, and then deleted the bloody lot from my accounts.  I'd bet they haven't really, really been deleted (lol) but at least it looks empty now.

Nitefly

Interesting, but what's the answer for Google docs and Google sheets? I have quite a few of them...

AntonHunter

Nitefly said:

Interesting, but what's the answer for Google docs and Google sheets? I have quite a few of them...

That was my first thought too. I could copy everything over to Zoho or something, but have a lot of shared Google docs.

I guess one thing at a time would be the way?

earwighoney

Grunfeld said:

AntonHunter said:

I still use Gmail etc, but this might be the prompt to fully de-google. Problem is a bunch of stuff I need for work doesn't like Firefox, but I'll figure it out.

I use Brave when a website won't play with FF.  It doesn't happen often (Costco comes to mind) but if you drop the stricter FF security settings that often solves issues.

De-google.  Highly recommended.  Registering a domain made changing from Gmail to another provider (Tuta for me) completely painless and took less than an hour.  I absolutely don't trust the idea of Google handling data which are confidential -- not with their AI now crawling all over it.*  

Other aspects of de-googling can be done bit-by-bit.  With a little planning it can be done smoothly.  You end up with a couple of small costs, e.g. email with Tuta is €36 per year; storage with Koofr is €5 per year.  But everything works just as it should and no google in control.  

My next move is Graphene OS.  I've already started with it but will likely jump fully in September if Google's plans to lock down its app store go through. 

*EDIT I know we're all different on this but I was surprised at the amount of relief I felt and a sort of, "that needed doing" feeling, when I'd finished downloading all my Google data, verified the contents, and then deleted the bloody lot from my accounts.  I'd bet they haven't really, really been deleted (lol) but at least it looks empty now.

Some great points here. 

How does de Google from using an Android phone?  All my shit seems to be in this particular device, especially with WhatsApp. Meta and Google seem to have all my data, but I have no idea how to step away from them both. 

Grunfeld

earwighoney said:

How does de Google from using an Android phone?  All my shit seems to be in this particular device, especially with WhatsApp. Meta and Google seem to have all my data, but I have no idea how to step away from them both. 

WhatsApp was surprisingly easy once I'd decided:  I'm on Signal.  It's identical to WhatsApp but people are massively resistant to it but the people who matter will use it.  And to be fair I no longer needed WhatsApp for my work.

Google Maps has actually been only thing I've kept, and one other thing which @AntonHunter mentioned: sharing documents.  I have a single document for the band sitting in Drive because the other guys in the band only know how to use Google and it's just easier.  You find a level that works for you and doesn't cause you stress.  It doesn't have to be perfect and doesn't need to be done overnight.

To get off Android properly requires using another OS.  Graphene OS is gradually working for me.  Ironically you can only install it on a Google Pixel phone, although Motorola are offering something next year.  Not gonna lie, Graphene takes a bit of extra commitment, but it's getting easier.  

axisus

AntonHunter said:

axisus said:

Bastards! Just deleted it off my Work mac.

Did you find the massive file then? Or have you just deleted Chrome as a precaution?

I ditched the 4GB file. I use Chrome all the time at work - for personal stuff! eg Fretboard etc. Every time I close it the history gets deleted.