Isn't Google's toolbar just spyware by another name?

[Bernard McGranaghan]

Hello,

I have Google's Toolbar installed on a machine in our office. It's great for blocking pop ups!

The only thing is.. I was using OpenSTA (www.openSTA.org) for load testing a new website and I discivered that ever URL I visited with my browser was passed back to Google via the toolbar..... now I don't recall reading anywhere in the toolbar description the fact that their toolbar would in effect let Google.com know every page I visited.

I am I just slow off the mark here or is this where we have got to with invasions of privacy?

[tsutton]

Think it only happens if you have Pagerank enabled.

Have a read here... (http://www.google.com/support/toolbar/?quick=privacy&v=3.0)

[imbrod]

Every '...bar' is adware or spyware of a kind.

Only, sometimes it's not visible like Google toolbar, so you are not aware of having one...

[dragonsage]

When you installed the Google Toolbar, you had the option to install it in a limited mode, where the install told you specifically that you would not be able to use some of the functions but that it would not pass information back to Google.

How do you think things like the PageRank indicator and AutoLink work? PageRank has to tell Google which page you are on and AutoLink has to tell Google the content of the page so it can generate links (map links for addresses on the page, for example).

I see that you can uncheck these, if you go into the toolbar's Options. If you want to make sure, uninstall and then install again with the more restrictive setting.

Spyware is spyware. Tools are tools. When it is working with your knowledge and for you, it is a tool. When it works without your knowledge and consent and sends personal information, it is spyware. That dichotomy is the reason the antispyware programs give you the option to uninstall or quarantine the things they identify as spyware.

[bluewren]

I do not know the first thing about putting it together. Lol.
Just a question
is it suitable as a substitute for the home theatre situation. You know the plasma screen the extremely comfy chairs ( for the champaigne :with snack and drink trays imbedded in the arms) carpeted floor :surround sound and light dimmer ? Red velvet curtained surrounds might be nice too.
Is it a T.V. or a P.C?
Anyway the above is my dream. If it is a PC. the viewing interest could be endless.
In anycase you are extremely clever I think.( If I may say so) :o

[dragonsage]

I do not know the first thing about putting it together. Lol.
Just a question
is it suitable as a substitute for the home theatre situation. You know the plasma screen the extremely comfy chairs ( for the champaigne :with snack and drink trays imbedded in the arms) carpeted floor :surround sound and light dimmer ? Red velvet curtained surrounds might be nice too.
Is it a T.V. or a P.C?
Anyway the above is my dream. If it is a PC. the viewing interest could be endless.
In anycase you are extremely clever I think.( If I may say so) :o
If you are asking about my home theater PC pages, it is a PC with software and hardware (tv tuner/encoder cards and lots of hard disk space) for recording television shows. Of course, it has to be hooked up to a TV to become a home theater. I can watch DVDs on it also, can listen to music an dcan run a slide show of photographs.

You can read my home theater PC pages at http://www.terrystockdale.com/htpc