Google Toolbar on IE

[Listener]

I realize that 99% or more of you are probably not using IE, but I am forced to because my company's proprietary web app ONLY runs on IE.

Go ahead.  Laugh.  At least the IT guys are supportive of me using Firefox on my manager's computer.  They even notify me when a new version comes out.  They actually have a "these people use Firefox" list.  Our IT dept is teh_awesome.

Anyway.

I noticed that the Google Toolbar in IE seems to have updated itself without anyone noticing.  Desktop Search and a couple of other new features have been added.  I know for a fact that I haven't authorized Google to update anything, and while folks on the other computers may have done some upgrades, I don't know how said upgrades would have gotten downloaded on my management computer without me personally approving them, for I have Windows Update set to "I must approve everything" or whatever that setting is. 

Is Google trying to pull a fast one on us?

I use the Googlebar plugin in Firefox, and it hasn't updated.  Is it an IE thing, or a Google thing, I wonder.

[Alice]

I'd be willing to bet that it's a technicalogically savvy poltergeist.

[Jessie]

I use Google Toolbar on IE, and mine hasn't done anything funny.

[Beefy]

Firefox is overrated.  But I still use it.

[ReBurn]

Firefox is overrated.  But I still use it.

That's true.  And since it has now become a major target for hackers with the SSL security holes revealed this weekend, it isn't really that much safer to use.  It is a pretty cool browser, though.

[DownSouth]

I'm in IE and mine hasn't changed.

[Gamplayerx]

I manually updated my Google toolbar.  I wanted teh speel chekc.

[ReBurn]

I manually updated my Google toolbar.  I wanted teh speel chekc.

gud cal

[VikingJuice]

Speaking of IE questions, I have a couple of my own.  Since I'm "officially" required to use it at work, even though I think it sucks, I'm having problems managing my favorites folder.  Everytime I turn my computer on, IE throws in a bunch of default favorites listings.  I delete them and then the next day, they reappear.  I'm sure it's some sort of default reload button set in the on position but I can't find it and don't know how to solve the problem.

Also, my computer keep trying to hide all drop down windows except the recently used buttons or programs and I hate that feature.  Anyone know how to turn off that part?

Please advise me.  Also, I've already tried the "throwing" something at the screen method, didn't work.  I know for some of you that's the preferred method.

[Jessie]

I want to update mine.  Do I have to re-download it, or is there an upgrade clicky somewhere?

[Gamplayerx]

I manually updated my Google toolbar.  I wanted teh speel chekc.

gud cal

I thought sew.

Sorry, VJ.  I'm not qualified to answer your questions.  If the throw a quarter at the screen didn't fix it, you're beyond my level of expertise.

[ReBurn]

I manually updated my Google toolbar.  I wanted teh speel chekc.

gud cal

I thought sew.

Sorry, VJ.  I'm not qualified to answer your questions.  If the throw a quarter at the screen didn't fix it, you're beyond my level of expertise.

You could call DownSouth, though.  He can help you.

[DownSouth]

Someone call?

[Gamplayerx]

I want to update mine.  Do I have to re-download it, or is there an upgrade clicky somewhere?

Re-download it.

[meredith]

I should note that "Googlebar" isn't produced by Google, but is a lookalike.  Hence the lack of an update.  I think that Google /did/ release a Google Toolbar for Firefox recently, though.

That's true. And since it has now become a major target for hackers with the SSL security holes revealed this weekend, it isn't really that much safer to use. It is a pretty cool browser, though.

What holes are those?  I don't have any open bugs like that in Bugzilla, and if it's known, they wouldn't hide it from me.

[meredith]

http://toolbar.google.com/firefox/

[ReBurn]

I should note that "Googlebar" isn't produced by Google, but is a lookalike.  Hence the lack of an update.  I think that Google /did/ release a Google Toolbar for Firefox recently, though.

That's true. And since it has now become a major target for hackers with the SSL security holes revealed this weekend, it isn't really that much safer to use. It is a pretty cool browser, though.

What holes are those?  I don't have any open bugs like that in Bugzilla, and if it's known, they wouldn't hide it from me.

I said this weekend, but I meant earlier this year (bad-multitasker here).  They are the ones from February.  They are summarized here.  My point is that Mozilla-based browsers aren't inherently more secure.  They've just been relatively underscrutinzed by the hacking/phishing community.  But that's changing.

[meredith]

I said this weekend, but I meant earlier this year (bad-multitasker here).  They are the ones from February.  They are summarized here.  My point is that Mozilla-based browsers aren't inherently more secure.  They've just been relatively underscrutinzed by the hacking/phishing community.  But that's changing.

I disagree.  Yes, there are more people looking at Mozilla, and these vulnerabilities have been publicized recently, but I don't see that it's any worse off than its "competitors".  Mozilla has been fixing security issues for a while now, and they still have a better record, in terms of volume, threat, and time-to-fix, when compared to IE.  Microsoft is still the sole holder of browser vulerabilities that can be categorized as "egregious fuckup".


Disclosure:  I have had write access to the Mozilla and Gecko repositories for about four years now, and have submitted about 15 patches for Firefox.

[Mr. Ubiquity]

Firefox is overrated.  But I still use it.

Everything with a pc is overrated, but here we are.

[ignom]

I use IE at work. I've never actually bothered to see if there is a google toolbar for OS 9. They don't even make stuff for OS X.

[cnamon]

This thread has a lot of information.

[attachment deleted by admin]

[ReBurn]

I said this weekend, but I meant earlier this year (bad-multitasker here).  They are the ones from February.  They are summarized here.  My point is that Mozilla-based browsers aren't inherently more secure.  They've just been relatively underscrutinzed by the hacking/phishing community.  But that's changing.

I disagree.  Yes, there are more people looking at Mozilla, and these vulnerabilities have been publicized recently, but I don't see that it's any worse off than its "competitors".  Mozilla has been fixing security issues for a while now, and they still have a better record, in terms of volume, threat, and time-to-fix, when compared to IE.  Microsoft is still the sole holder of browser vulerabilities that can be categorized as "egregious fuckup".


Disclosure:  I have had write access to the Mozilla and Gecko repositories for about four years now, and have submitted about 15 patches for Firefox.

Oh, I never meant to imply that it was worse off in terms of security, only that it isn't necessarily absolutely secure.  I think that it is kind of like the argument that people with Macs have where they believe that it is simply the fact that the machine is a Mac that makes it secure, when the reality is that a good portion of the reason it is secure is because the user base is so much lower than the mainstream that it isn't worth the time and effort of ne'er do wells to try to exploit it.

I write software, too, so I know what you are saying...