computer question

[carmalee]

Did I read on AB recently not to use the Google toolbar as it's tantemount to malware? If so could a kind ABer explain in very simple terms what this means as I use it all the time. Am a thousand years old and not too clued up computer-wise. Many thanks

[ChuckFickens]

It was probably me that said that...

Google toolbar reports back to google every single page that you ever go to, it also reads all of your cookies and reports them back to google. The toolbar also basically give google complete access to every single file on your hard drive every time you load IE because it's able to update silently without asking you (which is a massive security hole!)

[carmalee]

CF - many, many thanks - think I'll go back to my IE toolbar - don't want the snoops knowing my business!

[carmalee]

another question -when I open up IE, the first page (which is the one I want now) almost instantly flicks to the Google page - I can't remember how I altered it - have tried tools and internet options but it doesn't seem to have what I want. sorry to be so thick.

[carmalee]

don't know how I did it but now seem to have got rid of google as my home page - am a happy bunny.

[theshedman]

Hi carmalee, I have had Google toolbar on my pc in the past along with others and to get rid of them properly you need to go to add or remove programs and delete it from there. Otherwise when you go on IE they are all trying to get in on the act and slow things up. In my experience you are better off having just the one toolbar on. But it is my opinion maybe not everyone's.

[carmalee]

thanks for that - yes, maybe it's a good idea to get rid of it altogether. go well

[redman41]

Chuckfickens knows more about it than me, but for what it's worth, on my PC you can edit Google Toolbar to stop it sending info back to Google.
It comes under General Toolbar Options/Additional Settings. Unclicking box that send info back to Google.
Having said that who knows what goes on, as there could well be covert accessing going on without anyones knowledge. I suppose that is why we have Hackers in this world!

[carmalee]

Redman thanks for that - will check it out and 100% agree with you about 'who knows what's going on' - scarey to think of the millions of places one's personal data is held.