Google Toolbar on Public Computers: Information Leakage?
Posted 10/19/2007 02:31:00 PM |


I don't know if you share my experience at other universities, but I've noticed that some computer labs I've used have Google Toolbar installed. This is worrying; in its standard installation, the Google Toolbar sends "limited information" to Google. However, once one of the "advanced" features is enabled, the Google Toolbar sends all sorts of information to Google, including "the log information and additional information, such as the URLs you visit or the text on the page."

Why is this an information leak? Well, if one student enables the advanced features, he or she has now opted-in every other user of the machine to sending all of their browsing information (OPAC searches, etc.) to Google. Of course, this will cease if the machine is reimaged or a student knows enough to turn these features off, but how often will that occur?

One can't blame lab administrators for installing the toolbar - it is widely popular - but it is also a key component of Google's data mining strategy. Would a university export its user's server logs to third parties in any other circumstance? Not without a subpoena. Is it time to call on universities, libraries and other public computing spaces to remove the Google Toolbar? I think so.


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