Google Concedes Desktop Security Risk

February 21st 2006 | General

Cross-computer file searching features in the latest version of Google desktop search tool represent an "unacceptable security risk" to large enterprises, analyst Gartner warns. Google concedes the analysts’ concerns are valid but argues that large firms are free to control the application of the technology.

Google Desktop 3 beta introduces the ability to search the contents of one computer from another. Previous versions of the tool indexed files on users’ PCs, but using the optional "Search Across Computers" facility in Google Desktop 3 temporarily stores text copies of searchable items on Google’s own servers for up to 30 days - a move Gartner describes as "inauspicious".

The Register

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Google Concedes Desktop Security Risk
Published in: General on 2006-02-21