Security Hole in Google Desktop Search Toolbar



Three academic computer scientists have uncovered a serious security hole in the Google Desktop Search Toolbar that was released on October 14th. Dan Wallach, assistant professor of computer science at Rice University and two graduate students, Seth Fogarty and Seth Nielson, have known of the security problem for a month; however, this is the first confirmed report of a serious problem with Google’s popular search tool.


The security hold allows a cracker to gain access to the contents of a toolbar user’s computer without the user’s being aware of the the attack. Google says that it has repaired the security hole and has begun distributing an updated version of the search toolbar installation program.

Dave’s Opinion
It seems that users of the Google Desktop Search Toolbar are safe from this security problem, if they are using version 121.004 or newer.

Call for Comments
What do you think? Leave your comments below.

References
Rice University
Google

About Todd Cochrane

Todd Cochrane is the Founder of Geek News Central and host of the Geek News Central Podcast. He is a Podcast Hall of Fame Inductee and was one of the very first podcasters in 2004. He wrote the first book on podcasting, and did many of the early Podcast Advertising deals in the podcasting space. He does two other podcasts in addition to Geek News Central. The New Media Show and Podcast Legends.