Google Chrome’s Sync feature allows users to save information when they are logged in across multiple devices. However, this convenience can come with a cost in terms of your privacy. Despite being the most popular web browser, Chrome presents a number of privacy concerns — and you should avoid using it on your Android phone and other devices if possible. Concerns surrounding Google’s data sharing practices and other privacy infringements have cropped up, but there is an even bigger issue with Chrome’s Sync function.
If one of your devices linked to your Google Account is compromised, then that data breach likely extends to all other devices you had synced together. For example: Even if your synced phone is suitably protected, if someone gains access to your synced laptop, then data shared by your phone via Sync could still be at risk. While Chrome’s Sync may happen automatically, the good news is that it can be turned off manually. Even better, there are options aside from Chrome that offer strong privacy protection.
Privacy concerns surrounding Google Chrome’s Sync functions
Google Chrome’s Sync function is certainly convenient, but personal data shared across your devices through it invites security risks. Sync keeps your bookmarks, your search history, and your open tabs available across synced devices. Your Google searches aren’t actually private, even in Incognito mode, and Google has come under legal fire in the past over these concerns.
Chrome Sync also stores your passwords, your payment information (such as credit card details), saved addresses, and phone numbers. This is private information you likely don’t want distributed, and don’t want anyone else to have access to. The risk of someone hacking into one of your devices, and thus getting information from all of your devices, presents a huge security risk. There’s also the fact that Google shares your data with third parties. So, conducting searches on one device will result in targeted ads on another device.
What to do about these privacy concerns
One step you can take to protect your privacy within Google Chrome is to turn off the sync functionality. In Chrome, click your profile on the top right of the screen. You will see an option that says Sync is on. Select Turn off to disable it. Moving forward, Chrome won’t sync future information — however, you may want to remove what has already been synced in the past. To do that, open Chrome on your computer. Then go to https://chrome.google.com/sync. You will want to scroll down and select the Delete Data option.
You may also opt to not use Chrome at all in the future. Apple itself has told iPhone users to stop using Chrome and opt for a safer internet browser instead. Do some research into alternative internet browsers that specifically state they do not share your data with third parties, and look for ones that detail their security features. For example, DuckDuckGo offers a free internet browser and a free internet search engine option, both focused on secure browsing. You’ll want to look for a browser that specifies it blocks third party trackers and email trackers, that doesn’t track or collect data from your searches, and that has strong security around passwords and other sensitive information.
