Wes Felter has an odd comment about Google’s latest:
Google Desktop Search somehow intercepts regular Google searches so it can splice in local search results. I’ve heard of spyware that splices ads into result pages from major search engines; it may use the same technique. I wonder why Windows or Web browsers would allow this. I doubt that Google Desktop is spyware, but it risks guilt by association if it uses the techniques of spyware.
What a bizarre accusation. The “techniques of spyware”? Spyware is a pretty ill-defined term to begin with, but I think we can all agree that the defining characteristic is deception. Developers of spyware programs often try to hide the fact that their program is installing itself. They fail to disclose what the software actually does. They make the software difficult or impossible to remove.
By contrast, Google fully discloses what its Desktop Search program does. The program has a sensible and thorough privacy policy. I had no problem whatsoever disabling it and uninstalling it.
Anyone who refers to this as spyware has truly lost perspective.
Ed Bott 