Author Archives: Larry Kahm

A security-based newsletter entered my Inbox Tuesday afternoon and, like a gerbil, I immediately clicked it open to see what kind of shenanigans were going on in the world of cybersecurity.  You can imagine how intrigued I was at the following title:  “Chrome Is Scanning Files on Your Computer, and People Are Freaking Out.”

Well, that certainly got my attention, and I clicked on the link to read the article at Motherboard, and a lot of the associated links, and those associated stories and their links, and before I knew it, more than 30 minutes had gone by – and my jaw was just as slack at the end of that adventure as it was at the start.

Here’s the original article:  https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/wj7x9w/google-chrome-scans-files-on-your-windows-computer-chrome-cleanup-tool

I’m going to give you the “Reader’s Digest” version because I don’t know if many of you are going to read that.

Let’s start with the basics.  Google Chrome is a browser, just like Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, and Mozilla’s Firefox, and Apple’s Safari.  The browser lets you explore the pages on the World Wide Web.

The focus of this article is that deep within the Google Chrome settings, there is a ‘clean up’ option that uses a third-party product (from antivirus vendor ESET) to scan for malware that could, potentially, harm the Chrome browser itself.

One of the parameters associated with this option, “Report details to Google,” is defined as follows: “Includes information about harmful software, system settings, and processes on your computer.”  And the default for this setting is to ALWAYS SEND the data to Google!  Obviously, this setting lets Google’s developers know how to handle any problems that may have been encountered during the scan.

Now that’d be great if Chrome simply scanned a few known locations in which malware frequently appears and then closed down.

Unfortunately, as the reporter describes it, the scanner reached further into the computer than anyone would have suspected, and it was going through the My Documents folder.  I can’t imagine that any malicious software would reside there that could cause any harm to the browser.  So that’s just overkill.  The exaggerated claim is that Google is spying on you, your files, and your computer.

According to a leading Google developer, the scanner “only runs weekly, it only has normal user privileges (meaning it can’t go too deep into the system), is “sandboxed” (meaning its code is isolated from other programs), and users have to explicitly click” on a box if anything is detected.

Like I said, this is the first time I’m hearing about this.  But the text of the “agreement” you have with Google when using Chrome can be found here: https://www.google.com/chrome/browser/privacy/whitepaper.html#unwantedsoftware

I looked into this, and it seems that this clean up “feature” has been in existence for more than a year, and is only now getting any reaction.  But that’s the wonderful nature of the Twitter universe.  Someone makes a discovery; some of her followers take a closer look and get agitated; a reporter asks a few questions, and then everyone gets all riled up about the intrusive nature of a global corporation.

I doubt that any of my clients who have Chrome have EVER seen a pop-up that malware was found.  And I know that many of you use Chrome and that some of you have encountered instances of malware.  It’s simply that the software I have installed on your computers scans more frequently than once a week, is constantly updated, and – most importantly –I monitor the results (not Google!).

While I would want everyone to turn off the setting that sends data to Google, the steps I have followed do not work for more than the logged on session.  If you close your browser and then re-open it, the setting turns itself on again.  I have checked, and it seems that this setting simply cannot be eliminated.

What’s my recommendation:  If you don’t mind having your machine bogged down every now and then by a scanner over which you (and I) have no control, you can continue to use Chrome.  But I would really like to know if you ever get a pop-up from Google about malware.  Otherwise, if you’d prefer a less intrusive browser, send me an email or give me a call and I’ll install Firefox and transfer your favorites.

Thanks and safe computing!

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It is Black History Month, but it also contains Groundhog Day, Valentine’s Day, President’s Day (remind me, why did we decide to smoosh all of those birthdays into only one day?), and let’s not forget my favorite: National Margarita Day (2/22). For a short month, this is chock full of “days.”

What’s all that have to do with computers and security?

Quite a lot!

Every day, there is another announcement of some form of threat to your security: a data breach here, a ransomware attack there, new forms of malware, some other scheme for mining cyber-currency from your computer or smart phone, and even more sinister, the ever-present phone calls from “flaming idjits” that tell you about a problem with your computer that they have detected and called to help you fix. Please! That one just makes me angry. (Although you might be amused at the sheer number of individuals whom I’ve told to engage in physical acts that would require contortions beyond the ability of most…)

I know that no one can be kept on “high alert” day after day without getting weary of it. It is tough for me, and it is a major aspect of my job. I am always pleased when one of my clients gets an email and forwards it to me to ask, “Is this legitimate?” or “What should I do about this?” That means you’re staying on your toes and looking out for your own safety. That’s what I want you to do; that’s what I need you to do.

However I don’t know how many others are getting emails and continuing down the path of – there’s no other word for it – ignorance, and clicking on that link. Because, despite all of the protections that I’ve put in place on your computers, there is still the risk that if you click on a link in an email something bad could happen.

So what should you do if you are attacked?

1. First of all don’t panic, although that’s what most people do.

2a.  Simply pull the Ethernet cord from the back of the computer (there’s a little hitch to squeeze in before you unplug it).

2b.  Business owners, you need to make sure the affected computer is no longer communicating with the server.

3.  Do NOT turn off the computer! You will lose any forensic information that is available. I’m going to need that data to help remediate the problem.

4.  Call me immediately, and use your phone to send me an email with a photo of what’s on your screen so that I can identify the exact nature of the problem.

5.  Let me handle this for you – it is not a “DIY” (do it yourself) project! Don’t start “Googling” for the fix! Some Russian firm with 500 employees wrote the malware and will charge $79.95 to your credit card to fix the solution they created in the first place. And it won’t get fixed – you’ll simply be scammed…

6a.  After I have assessed the damage, and if it is necessary, you can reach out to the local police and to your insurance company.

6b.  For business owners, this is a reminder to make sure you get, or review, your cyber-liability insurance policy.

There, some “tough love” on Valentine’s Day. I hope that you don’t have to go through any of this, and can simply relax and enjoy National Margarita Day with me.

Thanks and safe computing!