I hope yesterday’s post didn’t scare you away from Google’s service offerings. If not, then today I’m going to point out a really useful service, Google Bookmarks.
If you already use the Google Toolbar, then you are probably familiar with the Bookmarks function. Whenever you bookmark something, it becomes available from anywhere via http://www.google.com/bookmarks. All you have to do is log in with your Google account and you have access to all your bookmarks, from anywhere. If you do not have the Google Toolbar installed, you can always manually add your links, however the toolbar makes it significantly easier.
I absolutely love this feature as I have been able to get to my temporary bookmarks from public computers to help fill some time. If you are not already using this feature, be sure to check it out.
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I am confused. Yesterday’s Tip recommend folks stay away from one Google Tool, the Google Desktop. The tip:
1. Reported it was a security risk
2. Reported Google refused to change methods and fix the vulnerability
3. Linked to advice that said, “…administrators that allowed the installation of Google Desktop Search should be seriously reconsidering their decision”
Today’s search encouraged users to use TWO tools from the same company, Google Toolbar and Google Bookmarks, without a shred of concern or warning about any security issues with those tools. I don’t understand, why?
Do a Google of “Google toolbar security” and you get more than 2 million hits!!
Google has already demonstrated many times they will do things their way – in spite of concerns from individual users and many security experts. The warning about Desktop a perfect example, so too is GoogleUpdater and its insistence to update Google Toolbar without your permission. They are the new Symantec when it comes to arrogance, intrusion and persistence. They make no bones about wanting to use Google Bookmarks so they can TARGET you for “mass marketing” – called “spamming” when “unwanted”.
Do you want a company to know the all the sites you frequently visit or recently found of interest? Do you want that information used to target you for direct marketing schemes/spam?
Yes, you can change defaults and opt out of those “features” – but have you ever installed a program update only to discover all your defaults were reset – but they never told you? Do you trust Google to never do that?
Social Bookmarking has its place, especially in the business world for road warriors, but I think it is remiss to not include the social woes of such programs – AND companies, especially in light of the fact Google has made it clear, they want to use your computing habits to tailor your computing experience.
My advice is to use Google Toolbar and Google Bookmarks with caution. Use Bookmarks as a temporary bookmark storage for when you are on the road – then pull those out of then when back home. If you need access to all your bookmarks, use another bookmark manager service, or copy your bookmarks into an email and keep that email in your ISP webmail account, which you can access from anywhere. And make sure anything in toolbar that wants to call home with your data is disabled in the Options page, and blocked in your firewall.
Bill,
I’m not trying to say you should or shouldn’t use this service or that service. I merely pointed out services available as well as what “experts” say are security concerns.
The choice to use them is strictly up to you.