(old)Puppy Linux Discussion Forum

Attention Chrome users.

Chrome Bug Lets Sites Listen to Your Conversations

http://www.youtube.com/v/s5D578JmHdU&autoplay=1

Published on Jan 22, 2014
By exploiting bugs in Google Chrome, malicious sites can activate your
microphone, and listen in on anything said around your computer,
even after you’ve left those sites.

source: http://www.orlytaitzesq.com/

Bill, My wife showed me that yesterday. For a long time I used and even advocated Chrome because it was the fastest--I even made numerous Chrome pets for Lucid. Since I became more interested in anti-tracking and internet privacy I have removed Chrome from my computers and use Firefox exclusively. This study from Stanford university may be of interest to people who share that interest. http://cyberlaw.stanford.edu/node/6730 One very interesting thing it says is that "While content blocking can effectively prevent third-party tracking, a content blocking tool is only as effective as its list of rules on what to block (often called a "blocklist")....Please note: Chrome, Safari, Mobile Safari, and the Android browser DO NOT presently support content blocking. Firefox extensions are able to block content..."

Here is a discussion of the Firefox configuration I am currently using http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=91416

I remember that there was also an article about companies purchasing Chrome extensions and then using them to manipulate your browsing experience. I will see if I can find it again. Oh, just search for "companies purchasing Chrome extensions." There are a bunch of articles.

I was a little sceptical of crome a few years ago as I noticed on windows it had a IE (not system shared as such) core library as one of its dependancies ... something I normally remove as part of my secured versions.

mike

the only reason I keep chrome is cos its HTML5 canvas performance is great.

Gotta be several times faster than any other browser.

Thanks all for your input
Playdayz: Yes,I have seen and tried several several distros but I always come back to Lucid.Lately I have been fascinated by RSHs Lazy Puppy 2.0.2.,He has put every bell and whistle imaginable inside and for a challenged user like
myself ,it is the best teacher for me.

Mike: Yes,Seems MS just can't get out of the belief they own all of our boxes,When my XP crashed ,I found Barrys genius and have never looked back.

Slenkar: There are a great many offerings and since Puppy allows us,to have it our way,I reckon users should use what works best for them.

cheers all

If you can't unplug the microphone, you could stick some heavy tape or chewing gum over the microphone hole.

If you can't unplug the microphone, you could stick some heavy tape or chewing gum over the microphone hole

.

Good one Flash I was thinking this morning that the problem probably is that Chrome includes Flash built-in. I used to think that was an advantage. Ha. If one uses any other browser with any Puppy that has the Get Flash program, Lucid, Slacko, etc., then that also installs the Flashplayer Config Program which allows one to have manual control over allowing the microphone to be used (through Flashplayer) by any site or other program.

Get Flash pet -> http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=74491

You could add a 'Get Eavesdropped' entry for a chrome installer

mike

I just happened to be looking at the .png files posted by playdayz when it dawned on me that if hackers can listen to audio around your computer could they also be viewing you with the built in cameras on your fancy little laptops ?
You may wish to smile ! You could be on "Candid Camera"

'NO SEX AND SURF" ...could be added to the scary warnings of puppy we were talking about elsewhere...

mike