Personally I think the tool is effective but I have concerns about it. Especially on public computers. Now we're starting to see stories like:
Great 'spy' tool
PEOPLE who use public or workplace computers for e-mail, instant messaging and Web searches have a new privacy risk to worry about: Google's free new tool that ...
More Google Desktop Privacy Worries & A Microsofty's Fear
Search Engine Watch
... Meanwhile, Google Desktop-rival Copernic is touting the privacy angle as a weakness. Google Desktop privacy branded 'unacceptable ...
New Google tool could be privacy risk
Boulder Daily Camera, CO
... "On the flip side of things, it's a perfect spy program.". Google Desktop Search, publicly released Thursday in a "beta" test phase for computers running the ...
Google program could invade privacy
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, MO
... Google is one of the first Internet companies to offer a desktop search engine ... But it could be used to spy on others in situations where computers ...
At this point I have it on a test computer. I will NOT use any public (or friends) computers with the Google desktop installed.. PERIOD and I recommend that you don't either. I also recommend that business not use it until some of these concerns are addressed and if a user has installed it, uninstall it for now. Is it worth the risk? At this point I say no.
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