Google Desktop gets scarier

Google recently released Google Desktop 3, which includes a nifty new feature called "Search Across Computers." This function has an innocuous-sounding purpose -- it allows you to search any of the computers you own, linked by your Google account. The benefit is that you're able to search for a document on your desktop when you're on the road using your laptop or search your home PC from work, etc.

Wondering how this great service works? It maintains a centralized index of your files on Google's server farm. To quote from the Google Desktop Privacy Policy: "If you choose to enable 'Search Across Computers,' Google will securely transmit copies of your indexed files to Google Desktop

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Google's well-publicized philosophy is to "Do No Evil." However, even if you trust Google to be a responsible steward of your organization's data, you should consider these factors: So, what can you do about this threat? First, you may wish to implement a search management solution for your enterprise and direct users to that approved, internally managed solution. If you absolutely must run Google Desktop 3, consider using the Enterprise Edition, which allows you to manage settings across the enterprise. You can then set enterprise systems to automatically disable the "Search Across Computers" functionality. To learn how to block Desktop Search Engines, read How to tame Google Desktop.

About the author
Mike Chapple, CISSP is an IT Security Professional with the University of Notre Dame. He previously served as an information security researcher with the National Security Agency and the U.S. Air Force. Mike is a frequent contributor to SearchSecurity, a technical editor for Information Security magazine and the author of several information security titles, including the CISSP Prep Guide and Information Security Illuminated.

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