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A utility called Google Desktop is now coming pre-installed on many
new Windows computers. Others are downloading it from Google's Web site or
installing it as an add-on when they install other applications. The fact that
Google Desktop is being installed when you install other applications
is not always apparent. You should always check the Advanced
Installation options or similar option when applying a software
update to be sure you know what is being installed on your computer.
This utility is designed, in part, to allow users to find things more
quickly on any of their computers. Unfortunately, this option also poses a
security risk. If you use the Search Across Computers option,
a copy of any Word document, spreadsheet, PDF, etc., you work on, any
e-mail, chats, or Web site history will be stored on a Google server
for 30 days so that you can quickly find that information from any of your
other computers. This means that confidential data will no longer be solely on
your computer, but also on a Google server. In other words, Dartmouth's
confidential data will be on a server that can potentially be compromised
without our knowledge. This is an unacceptable risk for
Dartmouth. If you keep sensitive information, for example social
security numbers, salary data, credit card information, medical, confidential
legal information, or personally identifiable student information, you
must remove Google Desktop from your computer.
To do this, click Start, Control Panel,
then Add or Remove Programs. Click Google
Desktop from the list of programs that appear, then click
Remove. When prompted to remove it from all users, click
Yes.
If you have questions, please contact the Computing Help Desk at 646-2999
and select from the options provided, send electronic mail help@dartmouth.edu, or call your department's
computing support office.
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