Sync Cloud Computing Servers – by krzysztof-m on Pixabay, used under Public Domain / CC0
Google launched version 69.0 of its Chrome web browser on September 5, 2018 [1]. After the last version update of the browser [2], we talked Google’s decision to mark all HTTP-only websites as ‘Not Secure’. In their update for Chrome 69, Google decided to log users who had turned the ‘Sync’ feature into their accounts on the Chrome browser when visiting sites owned by Google [3].
The Chrome browser offers two types of ‘Browsing Modes’: Basic Browser Mode and Signed-In, Synced Mode [4]. Basic Browser Mode claims to store information locally on the user’s computer such as:
- Browsing history
- Passwords
- Thumbnails of most visited websites
- Cookies from visited websites
Signed-In, Synced Mode sends this information to Google’s servers and synced with your account:
- Browsing history
- Bookmarks
- Tabs
- Passwords
- Installed Extensions and Other Browser Settings
Previously, users could opt to remain in the Basic Browser Mode and not sign into the Chrome browser using their Google Account, even if they used their Google Account to visit and login to a Google-owned website, such as YouTube or Gmail. In the update to Chrome 69.0, users who authorized the ‘Sync’ on machines running Chrome will no longer have the choice to remain in Basic Browser Mode when they choose to login to a Google-owned website. If users are browsing YouTube on Basic Browser Mode and choose to login to their YouTube account, Chrome will automatically switch their browsing mode to ‘Signed-In, Synced Mode’ and sign them into Chrome alongside signing into YouTube [5].
However, for machines that have not been authorized to use the ‘Sync’ feature on Chrome, users are still able to visit and login on Google-owned sites without automatically logging into their Chrome accounts as well. Adrienne Felt, manager of the Chrome project at Google, explained that this change was to prevent users who shared computers from leaking data into another user’s Google profile [6].
What do you think?
- Is Google doing enough to inform its users about this change in their browser’s sign-in procedures?
- Do you think a browser should change its behaviour depending on what site you visit?
- What kind of web browsers do you use? For desktop? For Mobile?
- Are you confident that Google is storing your data locally when browsing in ‘Basic Mode’?
Let us know what you think about this article and your responses to our questions in the comments below!
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not constitute legal or financial advice.
Always do your own research to make informed decisions.
Image Credits
Sync Cloud Computing Servers – by krzysztof-m on Pixabay, used under Public Domain / CC0
Sources / Articles You May Find Useful
Google Chrome Help [Google] – https://support.google.com/chrome/?p=help&ctx=menu#topic=7438008
Turn Sync On or Off in Chrome [Google] – https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/185277?co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&hl=en
Adrienne Porter Felt on “Leaking Data across Chrome Users” [Twitter] – https://twitter.com/__apf__/status/1043334510824181761
Google started quietly logging you into Chrome with latest update, reports say [Cnet] – https://www.cnet.com/news/google-started-quietly-logging-you-into-chrome-with-latest-update-reports-say/
Why I’m Done with Chrome [Wordpress Blog] – https://blog.cryptographyengineering.com/2018/09/23/why-im-leaving-chrome/
Google made a subtle change to Chrome that could help it track you online – https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/24/google-chrome-69-automatic-login.html
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