Google Chrome silently installs a 4 GB AI model on your device without consent. At a billion-device scale the climate costs are insane.
https://www.thatprivacyguy.com/blog/chrome-silent-nano-install/
https://www.thatprivacyguy.com/blog/chrome-silent-nano-install/
19 Comments
ExtremeDullard@piefed.social · 34 pts · 128d
It's almost as if Big Tech thinks the stuff we buy with our own money belongs to them...
reluctant_squidd@lemmy.ca · 5 pts · 128d
I’m not sure if you just mean tech only companies, but this sentiment seems to be the new capitalist mindset.
It’s bleeding into the auto and home appliance sectors as well. You buy it, but they control it.
Pretty soon you’ll have to pay a subscription and do an update to get tooth paste from the tube.
Auli@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 127d
That's why I hate the if you don't pay for it your the product. Because TVs, cars are all spying on us and we pay for them.
waz@feddit.uk · 27 pts · 128d
Absolutely unacceptable. I’d already decided against using chrome on any of my devices, now I’m going to recheck that I removed the browsers completely.
whyNotSquirrel@sh.itjust.works · 16 pts · 128d
oh, you made me realize that not using it isn't enough and I too, need to check if it's not installed somewhere
krigo666@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 128d
Ungoogled Chromium, for the addicts.
Or Chromite.
stoy@lemmy.zip · 13 pts · 128d
Or Firefox to get rid of WebKit/Blink
Damage@feddit.it · 6 pts · 128d
I'm not an addict, but I need to keep a copy of Chrom(ium) for sites I MUST access that don't work with Firefox
Sturgist@piefed.ca · 9 pts · 128d
There's a possibly unsurprisingly high number of these...like my vet's online booking service. Literally cannot access it without Chrome. Not Chromium. Not Firefox. Not any FF derivatives. Only Google Chrome. It's frustrating. I used it once because the office was closed, and ever since I call in to book. When they tell me I can book online I tell them that the system doesn't support my browser of choice, not just my main choice but the top 10....
grue@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 128d
Change vets and tell them why.
Auli@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 127d
A good vet is more important then one who's site works with Firefox.
Sturgist@piefed.ca · 1 pts · 123d
Unfortunately they're the best and also closest. I'd rather call to make an appointment and remind them why I don't use the online portal than be charged for poor care for my cat. Really not a difficult decision for me.
atrielienz@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 127d
Yeah. I ran into that when I moved into my new place. Couldn't access the resident portal via anything but a chrome browser. Wouldn't even load in Firefox (or waterfox).
freijon@lemmy.zip · 4 pts · 128d
Or Helium
frosty@pawb.social · 1 pts · 128d
I keep UGC mostly because the tool my Keychron keyboard uses to program itself requires a Chromium-browser, and I refused to use actual Chrome. No other reason. 😩
solrize@lemmy.ml · 4 pts · 128d
Joke's on them, I only have 1gb/month of mobile data.
quick_snail@feddit.nl · 2 pts · 128d
Does it happen on chromium too?
lechekaflan@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 128d
Not likely as that is an open project.
mrvictory1@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 127d
Am I the only one who noticed the install size is assumed to be the same as download size with no compression used despite the great lengths taken to calculate the environmental impact of the download?