Google’s Justin Schuh spoke out against the recent privacy concerns over Chrome Cleanup, stating that it isn’t a system-wide scan or filter. Why not Chrome Cleanup? Even more, why is it scanning the Documents folder? Windows 10 users can turn off Windows Defender. One Chrome user points out a solid complaint: The browser should not have the ability to scan the PC without explicit user consent. The problem with Chrome Cleanup is that users have no way of turning it off. You can also opt out of Google’s reporting component if you feel that the company is just a little too creepy with this PC-scanning tool. Chrome supposedly does this automatically, but you can manually scan for harmful software for better peace of mind. Click on the arrow, and a new screen appears with a tool for scanning and removing harmful software. The built-in version of Chrome Cleanup resides under Settings > Advanced > Reset and clean up > Clean up computer. That policy applies to software deemed deceptive, piggybacks on the installation of another program, affects the user’s system in “unexpected ways,” and so on.

It’s not meant to replace your current anti-virus program, but merely detects and removes software that violates Google’s unwanted software policy. “That’s why on Chrome for Windows, the Chrome Cleanup feature alerts people when it detects unwanted software and offers a quick way to remove the software and return Chrome to its default settings.”Ĭhrome Cleanup is based on detection technology provided by IT security company ESET combined with Google’s sandbox technology designed for Chrome. “Sometimes when you download software or other content, it might bundle unwanted software as part of the installation process without you knowing,” the company said at the time. It’s still available as a download now dubbed as the Chrome Cleanup Tool, but the company decided to overhaul this tool and inject it directly into the browser itself in October 2017, renaming it to Chrome Cleanup. In its early days, Google’s Software Removal Tool was a downloadable component to remove junk software that could cause issues with Chrome, such as the Ask Toolbar. But given the recent Facebook scandal involving Cambridge Analytica, privacy advocates are now on red alert.

She’s referring to Chrome Cleanup, a component in the browser dating back to 2014 designed to scan and remove malware and bloatware that could compromise Chrome’s performance. Fitbit Versa 3Ī recent tweet from Kelly Shortridge at cybersecurity startup SecurityScorecard recently stirred the privacy hornet’s nest regarding Google’s Chrome browser.

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