Google Toolbar 2.0.102

Given Google's *questionable* past practices (forced upgrade and an 'advanced' feature which is nothing more than spying) I would like to know if this is a needed update/upgrade or are they putting something in that is for their benefit, not mine.

There are some companies that I trust...completely. I don't think I trust Google...completely.

For what it is worth, I like the Google Toolbar, but since I mainly use Firebird and Google Toolbar Extension, the IE Google Toolbar update/upgrade is more of a trivial concern at this point in time, so this question is more out of curiosity, thanks!

i use auto fill just leave blank what you want to leave out

I would never use Autofill, and never have in anything. I always disable this function first in all software. I look at it this way - to work, it needs to store the data, often personal data, somewhere. Whether it is on a web storage facility (BIG 'not gonna happen in my lifetime dude!!') or on the user's own hard drive, it can be stolen, with all the problems of ID fakery that brings.

To me this is the biggest security threat computer users face, and I have never, nor will I ever, allow personal data beyond my name (for registering software), to reside on my machine. I also will never allow it to be transmitted to God knows where I don't know about. I don't give snesitive data like contact numbers to companies in my own homeland, so I sure as hell won't be offering it to faceless foreigners who have no respect for my privacy rights.

dale its your choice to rank, plus auto fill only fills in what info you put in it

Yes and no, Mark. Yes, it is our choice, and Google does at least post very clearly in the PageRank and AutoFill sections of its help pages, that we are encouraged to read their privacy policy. I can think of companies who are less responsible, like the one who built the OS I run for a start.

However, the 'No' comes with the Autofill option. Also on the help pages it states clearly, that if you encounter a page which asks for data you haven't got in your Autofill respository, it takes you to the info page at Google for you to add it in. To me, even if it still lets you ignore it, doing such is downright pushy.

On the TIP side: did you read those pages? Did you see, that using Shift key as you click on Autofill, will reveal all data being sent to fields on the form page, BEFORE the form is submitted? Google added that one in as a security precaution against disreputable sites stealing data via hidden fields.

dale when i go to a page that asks for info
1: i dont have phone# never sends me to another page
am i misunderstanding you if so im sorry.
only info i have in auto fill is addy and name stae etc.
im very happy with it