EasyList Forum

While looking through Google Chrome's settings I found that there is this "Chrome Cleanup Tool" option there. Well turns out Chrome scans your computer weekly (no user interaction needed though it asks for user permission before removing detected malware) like an antivirus for malware, spyware, adware etc. and sends the metadata of the scan back to Google servers. This tool is powered by the cybersecurity company ESET.

You can't turn the scanning off but you can turn off if the data is sent to Google in the settings under "Advanced".

Well, so much for being simply being a browser eh; feels like Chrome is getting bloated with every update. As if Google Chrome isn't already enough of a resource hog it now even does virus checks.

Sources:

Setting: chrome://settings/cleanup

- https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/wj7x9w/google-chrome-scans-files-on-your-windows-computer-chrome-cleanup-tool
- https://www.google.com/chrome/cleanup-tool/

How the tool works:
- https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tips/web-browsers/using-chrome-settings-cleanup-to-scan-for-unwanted-software-using-chrome/

ESET page (the company which made the tool for Chrome):
- https://www.eset.com/int/google-chrome-cleanup/

Not present in Chromium, such crap is only added in Chrome by Google.

From their Privacy Whitepaper, the clean up tool is only present on the Windows platform, so all you mac/linux/chromebook users can rest easy.

No wonder I haven't seen it. I feel sorry for you Windows users.

This is why I use Chromium, don't want any surprises, don't get any either and no auto updates from Google, so I can decide when I want to update. Runs on bare essentials and all the browser functionality, without the additional crap from Google.

I feel like I want to delete my Chrome