Chrome somehow auto-installed?

Saint

So, a while back, my dad, after putting down a bunch of Internet Explorer Parental Controls on porn sites (mostly for the benefit of my 14-year-old brother), uninstalled google chrome and said we'd get a year of computer restriction if we reinstalled it and that's that. Now, cut to now, somehow on Feb.23 it got reinstalled and I don't know how (my brother had been using the Safari browser that comes with each new version of iTunes, but that's beside the point because my dad doesn't know that) so are there any ways (and a link to the source would be appreciated) that some windows 7 update or some other software update also would install Google Chrome because I know for a fact neither of us did it.

Esh

Saint wrote: »

So, a while back, my dad, after putting down a bunch of Internet Explorer Parental Controls on porn sites (mostly for the benefit of my 14-year-old brother), uninstalled google chrome and said we'd get a year of computer restriction if we reinstalled it and that's that. Now, cut to now, somehow on Feb.23 it got reinstalled and I don't know how (my brother had been using the Safari browser that comes with each new version of iTunes, but that's beside the point because my dad doesn't know that) so are there any ways (and a link to the source would be appreciated) that some windows 7 update or some other software update also would install Google Chrome because I know for a fact neither of us did it.

No, Windows would not install Chrome. If anything it would install Explorer. Someone had to manually install it.

SniperGuy

The only way that would happen would be if you installed a toolbar or something that brought it with, but Google doesn't do stuff like that to my knowledge.

So your brother probably did it.

edit: Also, tell your dad IE is terrible and to let you use Firefox. Or Chrome. Hell, Opera.

Saint

Well we have the google toolbar, I'm not sure if that installed it, but the problem is that he only makes us use the awful browser because he can lock down stuff with parental controls, he doesn't give a fuck about ease of use or speed.

SniperGuy

What about security?

Also, oh hey, turns out other people have seen this too.

http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Chrome/thread?tid=207851fb9738c58c&hl=en

Roger-Ohio
Level 2
1/22/10
I just discovered that Google Chrome installed itself, without my approval, and made numerous modifications to my Registry without my permission.
I did allow Google Earth to install and I did allow Google Search & Toolbar to be added to my PC bu NOT Chrome.
If I uninstall Chrome I will have numerous problems with Windows Explorer and probably other programs because og Google modifications to my Registry.

Esh

Saint wrote: »

Well we have the google toolbar, I'm not sure if that installed it, but the problem is that he only makes us use the awful browser because he can lock down stuff with parental controls, he doesn't give a fuck about ease of use or speed.

Nope. Google Toolbar only works with Firefox and Explorer so there's no reason it would install it.

Riale

I've noticed a few smaller programs I've downloaded recently have tried to tack on chrome as an additional installation. The names of them don't come to mind offhand, but you might want to check out the last few programs you installed and see if their installers included any checkboxes to install chrome as well.

Esh

Riale wrote: »

I've noticed a few smaller programs I've downloaded recently have tried to tack on chrome as an additional installation. The names of them don't come to mind offhand, but you might want to check out the last few programs you installed and see if their installers included any checkboxes to install chrome as well.

Avast and Realplayer both do this. But it's pretty glaringly obvious that they're asking if you want to do it or not.


EDIT: Basically what I'm saying is there is nothing that "stealthily" installs Google Chrome. Whoever did it knew it was going onto the computer.

SniperGuy

Esh wrote: »

Riale wrote: »

I've noticed a few smaller programs I've downloaded recently have tried to tack on chrome as an additional installation. The names of them don't come to mind offhand, but you might want to check out the last few programs you installed and see if their installers included any checkboxes to install chrome as well.

Avast and Realplayer both do this. But it's pretty glaringly obvious that they're asking if you want to do it or not.


EDIT: Basically what I'm saying is there is nothing that "stealthily" installs Google Chrome. Whoever did it knew it was going onto the computer.

Or, didn't read it when they were clicking yes and next over and over on the install screen.

taliosfalcon

SniperGuy wrote: »

Esh wrote: »

Riale wrote: »

I've noticed a few smaller programs I've downloaded recently have tried to tack on chrome as an additional installation. The names of them don't come to mind offhand, but you might want to check out the last few programs you installed and see if their installers included any checkboxes to install chrome as well.

Avast and Realplayer both do this. But it's pretty glaringly obvious that they're asking if you want to do it or not.


EDIT: Basically what I'm saying is there is nothing that "stealthily" installs Google Chrome. Whoever did it knew it was going onto the computer.

Or, didn't read it when they were clicking yes and next over and over on the install screen.

Yeah there are a few (adobe flash updates anyone?) that really ninja the chrome install option in there.

Riale

Esh wrote: »

Riale wrote: »

I've noticed a few smaller programs I've downloaded recently have tried to tack on chrome as an additional installation. The names of them don't come to mind offhand, but you might want to check out the last few programs you installed and see if their installers included any checkboxes to install chrome as well.

Avast and Realplayer both do this. But it's pretty glaringly obvious that they're asking if you want to do it or not.


EDIT: Basically what I'm saying is there is nothing that "stealthily" installs Google Chrome. Whoever did it knew it was going onto the computer.

Yeah, it was avast now that I'm thinking about it.

But if it was the OP's younger brother, I could see this happening if he rushed through the install. Hell, I've been in a hurry before and stupidly clicked through without realizing it. It seems like the most realistic possibility here, unless a ghost did it or something.

Gaslight

It can't just be Google doing evil. That's against their corporate policy.

Hevach

Most if not all of the programs that bundle Chrome will do it "stealth" if you do quick install. This is why you should never do a quick install. Ever. Chrome is harmless (well, not in the OP's situation but normally), but you can get all kinds of bad stuff by clicking quick installs.

tofu

I've had Chrome install itself. I think what happened was the auto-update routine was never removed when I uninstalled Chrome, so when a new update came out it downloaded and installed itself

Thanatos

doPDF and I think CCleaner also have an already-clicked checkbox to install Chrome sometimes (other times it's Google Toolbar). And I'm gonna guess that Google is offering a partnership program with all sorts of downloadable software that does it, too (probably Java updates, as well).

There are a ton of ways you could have gotten it if you weren't paying attention. Hell, your dad probably did it.

FyreWulff

Stealth installed. Also, show your dad OpenDNS, that works with any browser.