Google Toolbar is Spyware? - Comments Page 2

Simply put "yes" the google toolbar is spyware. It collects data about your usage and sends it back to Google. That's the definition of spyware. The only difference is Google tells you they're doing it and you're giving them permission to do it.

However, that didn't stop google from taking advantage of a security hole in Safari and spying on people WITHOUT their knowledge. http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052970204880404577225380456599176-lMyQjAxMTAyMDEwNjExNDYyWj.html

They've lost all trust... I don't use them for search anymore. Their results are actually getting worse anyway, while Yahoo & Bing have gotten much better.

Looks like the editor is struggling here. Spyware, even when identified as such in user agreements, is still spyware. Through information hoarding and sharing, google is losing users to Bing and other search engines. Maybe it would behoove Google to get the PR department on this.

Some of you are clueless, spyware doesn't have to collect personal information, by tracking your browsing habits that also constitute the collection of data regardless of it being anonymous, you are still uniquely identified, it doesn't have to be personal information for them to do that; that is how they form patterns about your browsing habit to target ads toward you, that is why it also constitutes "spying"!

Just because it is couched in a excuse of needing this information to update and improve browsing "experience" and etcetera, is merely a by product of the real goal of free software and tool-bars, to track you browsing habits! Just because it is not personal information doesn't mean it is not spying or spyware!

While not being spyware, the toolbar is considered "junkware" by IT professionals like myself, it attaches to the browser, sometimes altering home pages specifically setup by the user or company for a reason, it entices google searching which is the most common way every computer is infected with actual spyware. Google toolbar has no purpose, ever wonder why programs like Adobe Acrobat Reader want to try and sneak the toolbar in on you? All google searches are stored, this is a fact, its data mining, the toolbar helps this, while calling this "spyware" is muddying the waters because "malware" is what you are actually probably asking here, and no its not that, but yes it does track your browser searches and tries to prompt you to using more google services for better or worse. when i find this, i remove it and ask the user to not install this stuff, no days its pretty much blocked as the users are prevented from installing programs that will try to add it, and the valid programs needed like Chrome and Acrobat are modified before considered ready for use and installed upon request by the user if permissible, I've seen browsers with 5 or more toolbars and each one effects the browsers performance. In short there is absolutely no benefit of google toolbar and that's why it is not installed and frowned upon. No you didn't infect your computer simply by installing it if you even can, but you will probably see it removed when an IT person accesses your computer or asked to remove it if they notice it. it's just good IT practice to keep this off your computer.