Google Chrome Question

[rfdjr1]

I'm running Windows 7 Professional, 64 bit. I keep hearing about Google Chrome
and would like to give it a try. I currently use Seamonkey as a browser and I'm
completely happy with it, having tried several others. My question, if anyone
knows the answer, is will a download and install of Google Chrome hijack my
system, take over as the defaultbrowser (which I don't want) and just be a pain
in the butt to uninstall? I plan on creating a System Restore Point before
beginning but just wan to know what I might be getting myself into. Thanks.

 

[VanguardLH]

I'm running Windows 7 Professional, 64 bit. I keep hearing about Google Chrome
and would like to give it a try. I currently use Seamonkey as a browser and I'm
completely happy with it, having tried several others. My question, if anyone
knows the answer, is will a download and install of Google Chrome hijack my
system, take over as the defaultbrowser (which I don't want) and just be a pain
in the butt to uninstall? I plan on creating a System Restore Point before
beginning but just wan to know what I might be getting myself into. Thanks.

System Restore points are NOT image backups. If you want to restore
your computer back to the way it was before, save an *image* backup (of
the affected partitions on your hard disks, like the OS partition).

You could install a VMM (Virtual Machine Manager), like VirtualPC,
VMware Server, or VirtualBox, install the test OS as a guest, and test
new installs of software inside a VM. Then when you are done testing,
revert/undo the changes and, poof, all the changes are gone.

You could use the virtualized image of many web browsers to see which
one you like or simply to test your code or a site under multiple web
browsers. See http://spoon.net/browsers/ (was originally Xenocode;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenocode). As I recall, you have to
install an ActiveX control which provides the virtual layer in which the
image of the web browser will run.

They're using these free virtualized web browsers to showcase their
application virtualization scheme (to virtualize apps rather than the
entire OS as when you use a virtual machine). Altiris had their free
SVS (Software Virtualization Solution) but Symantec gobbled up them up
and SVS disappeared in about a year (it was a bit flaky, anyway); see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_Virtualization_Solution and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Application_virtualization. Cool stuff in
that you virtualize the apps rather than the OS. The virtualization was
for isolation between different apps, not for isolation of the app from
the OS. It is NOT intended as a security or anti-malware solution: when
the app's virtual layer is loaded (so the app is available), it behaves
just like a normal app which means it can get at anything on your host
based on the privileges for the account under which you login. You
could, for example, have multiple versions of the same software
installed on a host but only have 1 layer loaded (for the version you
wanted to use at the time). You could have multiple versions of WinZip,
MS Office, OpenOffice, IE or Firefox, concurrently available in separate
layers and then choose which layer to load to make a particular version
available. You could make the layers dependent so conflicting software
wasn't available at the same time. Loading a virtual layer didn't load
the app. It just made it available, just like MS Office is available
after you install it. While Altiris had a free version (that Symantec
made disappear), I don't know of any free app virtualization products.
Spoon is just giving you pre-built images of web browsers to run under
their app virtualizer. You can't add your own apps because you have no
means of generating the image to load in the virtual layer. You have to
buy their product to do that.

If you go the Spoon route of running virtualized web browsers, and
because an AX control gets installed (and many if not most don't include
an uninstaller or even show an entry in the Add/Remove Programs applet),
use something like Zsoft's Uninstaller to record the changes so you can
do a clean uninstall later. The Spoon plug-in is the virtualization
manager that runs the image they load when you select a particular web
browser to load on your host.

 

[Roy Smith]

I'm running Windows 7 Professional, 64 bit. I keep hearing about Google Chrome
and would like to give it a try. I currently use Seamonkey as a browser and I'm
completely happy with it, having tried several others. My question, if anyone
knows the answer, is will a download and install of Google Chrome hijack my
system, take over as the defaultbrowser (which I don't want) and just be a pain
in the butt to uninstall? I plan on creating a System Restore Point before
beginning but just wan to know what I might be getting myself into. Thanks.

Just do it... you won't have any problem removing it once it's
installed, and when you run it for the first time you will be asked if
you want to make Chrome your default browser. When you run the
installer to install Chrome, pay close attention to what's being
displayed. If you don't you may find that other unwanted software has
been installed.

 

[Char Jackson]

System Restore points are NOT image backups. If you want to restore
your computer back to the way it was before, save an *image* backup (of
the affected partitions on your hard disks, like the OS partition).

<snip>

I'm curious, would a program like Sandboxie help out in a situation
like this, where you want to try something without making permanent
system changes? <http://www.sandboxie.com/>

Another option, if the OP has Acronis True Image, is the Try&Decide
feature, described as follows:

"The Try&Decide feature allows you to create a secure, controlled
temporary workspace on your computer without requiring you to install
special virtualization software. You can perform various system
operations without worrying that you might damage your operating
system, programs or data."

 

[FooAtari]

Just do it... you won't have any problem removing it once it's
installed, and when you run it for the first time you will be asked if
you want to make Chrome your default browser. When you run the
installer to install Chrome, pay close attention to what's being
displayed. If you don't you may find that other unwanted software has
been installed.

I've installed and removed Chrome under both Linux and Windows several
times to evaluate new releases and never had any problems. Like Roy said,
just pay attention to dialogues and will be fine.

Use something like Revo Uninstaller to complete remove it when done.

 

[LouB]

I'm running Windows 7 Professional, 64 bit. I keep hearing about Google Chrome
and would like to give it a try. I currently use Seamonkey as a browser and I'm
completely happy with it, having tried several others. My question, if anyone
knows the answer, is will a download and install of Google Chrome hijack my
system, take over as the defaultbrowser (which I don't want) and just be a pain
in the butt to uninstall? I plan on creating a System Restore Point before
beginning but just wan to know what I might be getting myself into. Thanks.

No to all questions. Pay attention if asks to be the default and tell
it no.
If you do not like it do not use.

 

[VanguardLH]

I'm curious, would a program like Sandboxie help out in a situation
like this, where you want to try something without making permanent
system changes? <http://www.sandboxie.com/>

You need to install the program OUTSIDE the sandbox which is where you
run into conflicts when installing multiple versions of the same
software. You use the sandbox to *run* the software. This is an
example of where a virtual machine is used for isolation and for
product testing or trialing which a sandbox cannot do except for
attempting to intercept or isolate the software *during* its execution.

Application layering lets you *install* multiple versions of the same
software or products that conflict with each other. You just disable
the layer for the current version to make it invisible to the OS (all
registry entries and files are hidden) during the install of the other
version or conflicting software. Then you choose which layers you want
loaded when you start the OS, you can disable layers and enable others,
and you can create depdendencies that prevent you loading a dormant
layer when an active one has a product that conflicts with the product
in the dormant layer.

A sandbox is a security feature in controlling the behaviors of a
program AFTER installed and AFTER it loads into memory (nothing runs
unless in memory). Application layering has nothing to do with
security. While there is some consequential security protection
afforded by app layering, that's not its intent.

Another option, if the OP has Acronis True Image, is the Try&Decide
feature, described as follows:

I have Acronis True Image. I actually asked them if there were a means
of installing *without* this feature. While it may work, it is not as
convenient or tried under fire as, say, Returnil. Also, there is no
convenient content entry in its tray icon nor a quick command line for
activating Try&Decide so you get nuisanced with loading its GUI,
waiting for that GUI to load (since it goes around detecting fixed and
removable storage devices), wade through the menus, until you
eventually get to the Try&Decide screen where you can activate it.

With Returnil, you have a tray icon and can simply right-click on it to
activate System Safe mode (virtualized mode). Alas, in these free
products, there is no means to retain changes across an OS reboot. This
means you cannot trial or test software that demands a reboot to
complete its installation (since the reboot wipes the changes which
means the installation, so far, also gets wiped from the virtualized
hard disk). As I recall, the payware version of Returnil (Pro) lets you
retain changes across a reboot but still lets you decide to later
discard all changes. Try&Decide has no means of remembering changes
across a reboot. When you reboot, Try&Decide wipes its virtual disk and
all changes are gone. The nuisance with both products is that you have
to reboot to discard all changes made during their "safe" (virtualized)
operation mode. You can configure them to require a password to change
their settings and make them load on OS startup (which means you could
let the kids screw over a host and still be able to reboot to wipe out
all those changes). Microsoft's SteadyState is a similar product (but
is getting phased out; see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2390706 - all
because Microsoft won't invest the resources to make SteadyState usable
under Windows 7) but adds features to throttle host use by the kids or
anyone not the owner of the host. Out of these 3 products, I'd
recommend Returnil ... iif you feel you need that additional layer of
protection assuming you plan on doing nasty stuff on your host, to risk
its usability, need to undo test changes, or let kids or someone else
use your computer. Just remember that anything you install that
requires a reboot means the [partial] install disappears after the
reboot.

Unlike rollback products (Comodo Time Machine [don't use - VERY flaky
and unstable due to where it stores its recovery points], GoBack, image
backups) let you choose multiple points in time to where you can restore
your host depending on when the restore points were saved. Try&Decide
and Returnil are single restore points to let you do a recover to a
prior state but they also virtualize the changes to your host whereas
the other rollback products let all changes affect your real host.

 

[Cameo]

No to all questions. Pay attention if asks to be the default and tell
it no.
If you do not like it do not use.

I came to like the fast Chrome browser and made it my default. However,
I still can't do everything with it I could do with IE 8. One is video
streaming from my IP camera, the other is to work with some of the
security features of my bank's and broker's site. I also was not able to
figure out how to save a shortcut of the current web page on desktop.
You can do that easily with IE8 using the right mouse click menu over
the web page and selecting the desktop for saving the shortcut. I wonder
if anybody figured this out yet for Chrome.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

I came to like the fast Chrome browser and made it my default. However,
I still can't do everything with it I could do with IE 8. One is video
streaming from my IP camera, the other is to work with some of the
security features of my bank's and broker's site. I also was not able to
figure out how to save a shortcut of the current web page on desktop.
You can do that easily with IE8 using the right mouse click menu over
the web page and selecting the desktop for saving the shortcut. I wonder
if anybody figured this out yet for Chrome.

Have you tried just dragging the shortcut to where you want it? Click
the icon at the left of the address bar & drag it.

BTW, I never tried that in Chrome before experimenting for you - it
just seemed the obvious thing to do.

 

[KCB]

I'm curious, would a program like Sandboxie help out in a situation
like this, where you want to try something without making permanent
system changes? <http://www.sandboxie.com/>

You need to install the program OUTSIDE the sandbox which is where you
run into conflicts when installing multiple versions of the same
software. You use the sandbox to *run* the software. This is an
example of where a virtual machine is used for isolation and for
product testing or trialing which a sandbox cannot do except for
attempting to intercept or isolate the software *during* its execution.

Application layering lets you *install* multiple versions of the same
software or products that conflict with each other. You just disable
the layer for the current version to make it invisible to the OS (all
registry entries and files are hidden) during the install of the other
version or conflicting software. Then you choose which layers you want
loaded when you start the OS, you can disable layers and enable others,
and you can create depdendencies that prevent you loading a dormant
layer when an active one has a product that conflicts with the product
in the dormant layer.

A sandbox is a security feature in controlling the behaviors of a
program AFTER installed and AFTER it loads into memory (nothing runs
unless in memory). Application layering has nothing to do with
security. While there is some consequential security protection
afforded by app layering, that's not its intent.

Another option, if the OP has Acronis True Image, is the Try&Decide
feature, described as follows:

I have Acronis True Image. I actually asked them if there were a means
of installing *without* this feature. While it may work, it is not as
convenient or tried under fire as, say, Returnil. Also, there is no
convenient content entry in its tray icon nor a quick command line for
activating Try&Decide so you get nuisanced with loading its GUI,
waiting for that GUI to load (since it goes around detecting fixed and
removable storage devices), wade through the menus, until you
eventually get to the Try&Decide screen where you can activate it.

With Returnil, you have a tray icon and can simply right-click on it to
activate System Safe mode (virtualized mode). Alas, in these free
products, there is no means to retain changes across an OS reboot. This
means you cannot trial or test software that demands a reboot to
complete its installation (since the reboot wipes the changes which
means the installation, so far, also gets wiped from the virtualized
hard disk). As I recall, the payware version of Returnil (Pro) lets you
retain changes across a reboot but still lets you decide to later
discard all changes. Try&Decide has no means of remembering changes
across a reboot. When you reboot, Try&Decide wipes its virtual disk and
all changes are gone. The nuisance with both products is that you have
to reboot to discard all changes made during their "safe" (virtualized)
operation mode. You can configure them to require a password to change
their settings and make them load on OS startup (which means you could
let the kids screw over a host and still be able to reboot to wipe out
all those changes). Microsoft's SteadyState is a similar product (but
is getting phased out; see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2390706 - all
because Microsoft won't invest the resources to make SteadyState usable
under Windows 7) but adds features to throttle host use by the kids or
anyone not the owner of the host. Out of these 3 products, I'd
recommend Returnil ... iif you feel you need that additional layer of
protection assuming you plan on doing nasty stuff on your host, to risk
its usability, need to undo test changes, or let kids or someone else
use your computer. Just remember that anything you install that
requires a reboot means the [partial] install disappears after the
reboot.

Unlike rollback products (Comodo Time Machine [don't use - VERY flaky
and unstable due to where it stores its recovery points], GoBack, image
backups) let you choose multiple points in time to where you can restore
your host depending on when the restore points were saved. Try&Decide
and Returnil are single restore points to let you do a recover to a
prior state but they also virtualize the changes to your host whereas
the other rollback products let all changes affect your real host.

Are you serious? He's talking about installing a BROWSER! Would you
actually worry about this for a browser?

 

[VanguardLH]

I'm curious, would a program like Sandboxie help out in a situation
like this, where you want to try something without making permanent
system changes? <http://www.sandboxie.com/>

You need to install the program OUTSIDE the sandbox which is where you
run into conflicts when installing multiple versions of the same
software. You use the sandbox to *run* the software. This is an
example of where a virtual machine is used for isolation and for
product testing or trialing which a sandbox cannot do except for
attempting to intercept or isolate the software *during* its execution.

Application layering lets you *install* multiple versions of the same
software or products that conflict with each other. You just disable
the layer for the current version to make it invisible to the OS (all
registry entries and files are hidden) during the install of the other
version or conflicting software. Then you choose which layers you want
loaded when you start the OS, you can disable layers and enable others,
and you can create depdendencies that prevent you loading a dormant
layer when an active one has a product that conflicts with the product
in the dormant layer.

A sandbox is a security feature in controlling the behaviors of a
program AFTER installed and AFTER it loads into memory (nothing runs
unless in memory). Application layering has nothing to do with
security. While there is some consequential security protection
afforded by app layering, that's not its intent.

Another option, if the OP has Acronis True Image, is the Try&Decide
feature, described as follows:

I have Acronis True Image. I actually asked them if there were a means
of installing *without* this feature. While it may work, it is not as
convenient or tried under fire as, say, Returnil. Also, there is no
convenient content entry in its tray icon nor a quick command line for
activating Try&Decide so you get nuisanced with loading its GUI,
waiting for that GUI to load (since it goes around detecting fixed and
removable storage devices), wade through the menus, until you
eventually get to the Try&Decide screen where you can activate it.

With Returnil, you have a tray icon and can simply right-click on it to
activate System Safe mode (virtualized mode). Alas, in these free
products, there is no means to retain changes across an OS reboot. This
means you cannot trial or test software that demands a reboot to
complete its installation (since the reboot wipes the changes which
means the installation, so far, also gets wiped from the virtualized
hard disk). As I recall, the payware version of Returnil (Pro) lets you
retain changes across a reboot but still lets you decide to later
discard all changes. Try&Decide has no means of remembering changes
across a reboot. When you reboot, Try&Decide wipes its virtual disk and
all changes are gone. The nuisance with both products is that you have
to reboot to discard all changes made during their "safe" (virtualized)
operation mode. You can configure them to require a password to change
their settings and make them load on OS startup (which means you could
let the kids screw over a host and still be able to reboot to wipe out
all those changes). Microsoft's SteadyState is a similar product (but
is getting phased out; see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2390706 - all
because Microsoft won't invest the resources to make SteadyState usable
under Windows 7) but adds features to throttle host use by the kids or
anyone not the owner of the host. Out of these 3 products, I'd
recommend Returnil ... iif you feel you need that additional layer of
protection assuming you plan on doing nasty stuff on your host, to risk
its usability, need to undo test changes, or let kids or someone else
use your computer. Just remember that anything you install that
requires a reboot means the [partial] install disappears after the
reboot.

Unlike rollback products (Comodo Time Machine [don't use - VERY flaky
and unstable due to where it stores its recovery points], GoBack, image
backups) let you choose multiple points in time to where you can restore
your host depending on when the restore points were saved. Try&Decide
and Returnil are single restore points to let you do a recover to a
prior state but they also virtualize the changes to your host whereas
the other rollback products let all changes affect your real host.

Are you serious? He's talking about installing a BROWSER! Would you
actually worry about this for a browser?

A subthread has started as of Char's post. I was not responding to the
OP although the info might apply to him.

The web browser is the biggest and most flawed Internet-facing
application you use. It is the prime infection vector into your host.
So, yes, it is the biggest problem to worry about and requires robust
solutions to provide protection.

 

[KCB]

Char Jackson wrote:

I'm curious, would a program like Sandboxie help out in a situation
like this, where you want to try something without making permanent
system changes? <http://www.sandboxie.com/>

You need to install the program OUTSIDE the sandbox which is where you
run into conflicts when installing multiple versions of the same
software. You use the sandbox to *run* the software. This is an
example of where a virtual machine is used for isolation and for
product testing or trialing which a sandbox cannot do except for
attempting to intercept or isolate the software *during* its execution.

Application layering lets you *install* multiple versions of the same
software or products that conflict with each other. You just disable
the layer for the current version to make it invisible to the OS (all
registry entries and files are hidden) during the install of the other
version or conflicting software. Then you choose which layers you want
loaded when you start the OS, you can disable layers and enable others,
and you can create depdendencies that prevent you loading a dormant
layer when an active one has a product that conflicts with the product
in the dormant layer.

A sandbox is a security feature in controlling the behaviors of a
program AFTER installed and AFTER it loads into memory (nothing runs
unless in memory). Application layering has nothing to do with
security. While there is some consequential security protection
afforded by app layering, that's not its intent.

Another option, if the OP has Acronis True Image, is the Try&Decide
feature, described as follows:

I have Acronis True Image. I actually asked them if there were a means
of installing *without* this feature. While it may work, it is not as
convenient or tried under fire as, say, Returnil. Also, there is no
convenient content entry in its tray icon nor a quick command line for
activating Try&Decide so you get nuisanced with loading its GUI,
waiting for that GUI to load (since it goes around detecting fixed and
removable storage devices), wade through the menus, until you
eventually get to the Try&Decide screen where you can activate it.

With Returnil, you have a tray icon and can simply right-click on it to
activate System Safe mode (virtualized mode). Alas, in these free
products, there is no means to retain changes across an OS reboot. This
means you cannot trial or test software that demands a reboot to
complete its installation (since the reboot wipes the changes which
means the installation, so far, also gets wiped from the virtualized
hard disk). As I recall, the payware version of Returnil (Pro) lets you
retain changes across a reboot but still lets you decide to later
discard all changes. Try&Decide has no means of remembering changes
across a reboot. When you reboot, Try&Decide wipes its virtual disk and
all changes are gone. The nuisance with both products is that you have
to reboot to discard all changes made during their "safe" (virtualized)
operation mode. You can configure them to require a password to change
their settings and make them load on OS startup (which means you could
let the kids screw over a host and still be able to reboot to wipe out
all those changes). Microsoft's SteadyState is a similar product (but
is getting phased out; see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2390706 - all
because Microsoft won't invest the resources to make SteadyState usable
under Windows 7) but adds features to throttle host use by the kids or
anyone not the owner of the host. Out of these 3 products, I'd
recommend Returnil ... iif you feel you need that additional layer of
protection assuming you plan on doing nasty stuff on your host, to risk
its usability, need to undo test changes, or let kids or someone else
use your computer. Just remember that anything you install that
requires a reboot means the [partial] install disappears after the
reboot.

Unlike rollback products (Comodo Time Machine [don't use - VERY flaky
and unstable due to where it stores its recovery points], GoBack, image
backups) let you choose multiple points in time to where you can restore
your host depending on when the restore points were saved. Try&Decide
and Returnil are single restore points to let you do a recover to a
prior state but they also virtualize the changes to your host whereas
the other rollback products let all changes affect your real host.

Are you serious? He's talking about installing a BROWSER! Would you
actually worry about this for a browser?

A subthread has started as of Char's post. I was not responding to the
OP although the info might apply to him.

The web browser is the biggest and most flawed Internet-facing
application you use. It is the prime infection vector into your host.
So, yes, it is the biggest problem to worry about and requires robust
solutions to provide protection.

I was actually commenting on your initial reply to the OP, _and_ the
evolving thread. Your initial reply warned about the differences between
restore points and system images, then went on to suggest he run
virtualization software to try a different web browser.

He asked three basic questions. If an install of Chrome would hijack his
system (no), if it would take over as default browser (no), and if it would
be a pain in the butt to uninstall (no).

If he said he was going to use the new browser to download warez , or watch
porn, then I would agree with all the protective measures. But just the act
of installing it doesn't justify big drama. I would say the same thing
about installing Firefox or Opera or Safari.

 

[Char Jackson]

A subthread has started as of Char's post. I was not responding to the
OP although the info might apply to him.

And I appreciate the detailed info, VanguardLH.

 

[Cameo]

Have you tried just dragging the shortcut to where you want it? Click
the icon at the left of the address bar & drag it.

BTW, I never tried that in Chrome before experimenting for you - it
just seemed the obvious thing to do.

I'll be darned! I never would have thought of that and yes, it works.
Thanks a million.

 

[VanguardLH]

KCB wrote:

With the use of a virtual machine, virtualized app (app layering; e.g.,
Spoon), or virtualized disk (e.g., Returnil):

If an install of Chrome would hijack his system (no),

Doesn't matter. With virtualization, hijacking would be irrelevant. If
the product tried, the hijacking is gone after the virtualized copy of
the program is eradicated.

if it would take over as default browser (no),

Doesn't matter. With virtualization, not a permanent change.

and if it would be a pain in the butt to uninstall (no).

Doesn't matter. With virtualization, unload the VM or app layer and,
poof, the product is *completely* gone. Not even remnants in the
registry and file system are left behind (and rare few uninstalls are
actually 100% clean since Windows creates entries when you *use* a
program after you installed it).

If he said he was going to use the new browser to download warez , or
watch porn, then I would agree with all the protective measures. But
just the act of installing it doesn't justify big drama. I would say
the same thing about installing Firefox or Opera or Safari.

He said he wanted to *try* Chrome. That means he doesn't know if he
really wants it yet. Virtual machines (VirtualPC, VMWare Server,
Virtualbox), virtualized disk (Try&Decide, Returnil), or virtualized
apps (nothing free anymore other than Spoon's selections) means you can
trial or test an application and then completely wipe it from your host.
I also mentioned image backups so you could restore your host to its
prior state (as long as you saved an image before the installation).
You can't do that if you are installing the unknown software and
polluting your real OS. My suggestions provide a means of not only
testing Chrome but other software the OP might consider in the future.

I provided suggestions on how to use test platforms in which to trial
the unknown software. You want the OP to pollute his OS with testing of
unknown and possibly unwanted software.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

I'll be darned! I never would have thought of that and yes, it works.
Thanks a million.

Of course, to paraphrase an old slogan, one man's obvious is another
man's obscure.

You can get even with me by finding something that is obvious to you and
obscure to me - and I am sure it can be done

Here's an oddity: the above technique is what I do in Firefox. But if I
drag the icon from a tab on a tabbed window, the tabbed window moves to
a new Firefox window - I have to use the icon on the left end of the
address bar to make it work to make a shortcut. Weird...

 

[VanguardLH]

Here's an oddity: the above technique is what I do in Firefox. But if I
drag the icon from a tab on a tabbed window, the tabbed window moves to
a new Firefox window - I have to use the icon on the left end of the
address bar to make it work to make a shortcut. Weird...

You'll notice as you drag the *tab* outside the window that you see a
mini-view of the tab panel's content (i.e., it looks like a miniature
preview of the tab). Drag a tab outside the window to drop on the
desktop and you open a new window to contain that tab. Drag a tab from
one window into another window and you move the tab to the other window.
When you tear a tab to reposition it, you can move it to a different
position in the tab row inside the current window or you can move it
into the tab row in a different window (for the web browser). Dragging
the tab to the desktop means having to open a new window (to hold that
one dragged tab).

 

[KCB]

KCB wrote:

With the use of a virtual machine, virtualized app (app layering; e.g.,
Spoon), or virtualized disk (e.g., Returnil):


Doesn't matter. With virtualization, hijacking would be irrelevant. If
the product tried, the hijacking is gone after the virtualized copy of
the program is eradicated.


Doesn't matter. With virtualization, not a permanent change.


Doesn't matter. With virtualization, unload the VM or app layer and,
poof, the product is *completely* gone. Not even remnants in the
registry and file system are left behind (and rare few uninstalls are
actually 100% clean since Windows creates entries when you *use* a
program after you installed it).


He said he wanted to *try* Chrome. That means he doesn't know if he
really wants it yet. Virtual machines (VirtualPC, VMWare Server,
Virtualbox), virtualized disk (Try&Decide, Returnil), or virtualized
apps (nothing free anymore other than Spoon's selections) means you can
trial or test an application and then completely wipe it from your host.
I also mentioned image backups so you could restore your host to its
prior state (as long as you saved an image before the installation).
You can't do that if you are installing the unknown software and
polluting your real OS. My suggestions provide a means of not only
testing Chrome but other software the OP might consider in the future.

I provided suggestions on how to use test platforms in which to trial
the unknown software. You want the OP to pollute his OS with testing of
unknown and possibly unwanted software.

I totally agree with what you're saying, if indeed it was unknown.exe, but
here's where we go separate ways. I say it's not unknown software; it's
Google Chrome. I think D@LS in the other thread might need a VM, though.

 

[VanguardLH]

I totally agree with what you're saying, if indeed it was unknown.exe, but
here's where we go separate ways. I say it's not unknown software; it's
Google Chrome. I think D@LS in the other thread might need a VM, though.

Alas, Google has changed their install scheme at least once that I know
of. At one time, they installed a separate updater process to modify
the current install of Chrome - and without permission of the user or
even notifying them. Now the updater is built-in so you can't even
delete the updater files, use SRPs to block its execution, or use some
security product to prevent their updater from loading. That means
Google gets to alter the state of your host anytime they choose.

Anyone that has used Windows for awhile and wants a stable system along
with control over its state has long ago learned to disable Windows
Update (so it only notifies but does not download or install anything).
Can't do that with Google's Chrome. So you ARE getting unknown software
because automatic and unprompted updates can change the code and the
behavior of the product anytime Google decides. How Google behaves now
may not be how it behaves later after some unprompted update. Look at
Chrome's options. You won't find one for updates - because you don't
get a choice. Any software that is permitted to perform unprompted and
unnotified updates *is* unknown software. Might be known today (after
you thoroughly investigate how it behaves today) but that can change.

Also, since the OP doesn't know Google Chrome, its behaviors are also
unknown. So, to the OP, Chrome is unknown software. Rare few users do
intensive research before installing a product, especially a free one,
and this OP is no exception; otherwise, this thread wouldn't exist.
There are articles that explain how to disable auto-update but you won't
find many Chrome users that know about the solution. How many users
(not programmers or IT-level folk) that even know Windows has policies?
Of those users you know that know about policies, how many of them have
actually imported a policy template?

How to Customize or Disable Google Update
http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2009/05/customize-or-disable-google-update.html

Google isn't interested in the security or stability of your host. They
just want to push their product without your permission and without your
knowledge. That's why I use SRware Iron (another Chromium derivative)
instead of Google Chrome. Iron is polite. It installs in C:\Program
Files by default, not trying to circument security by installing under
%userprofile% as does Chrome. You get to elect when to do updates with
SRware Iron.

How can any software be known software if it is permitted to alter
itself to something unknown (as of today) whenever it feels like it?