Comments on: Google Chrome OS is “careless computing” warns GNU founder

By: Bryan

Bryan — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 21:01:23 +0000

Hi,

Chrome OS provides file system-level encryption of home directories for each user.

Encrypting each user’s home directory means that all of the data stored and cached while browsing will be encrypted by default. The same goes for any data stored by HTML5-enabled web applications.

In a nutshell, each user gets a unique “vault” directory and keyset that is created at her first login. The vault is used as the underlying encrypted storage for her data. The keyset is tied to her login credentials and is required to allow the system to both retrieve and store information in the vault. The vault is opened transparently to the user at login. On logout or reboot, the user’s data is locked away again.

You can read more about our encryption technology here:
http://www.chromium.org/chromium-os/chromiumos-design-docs/protecting-cached-user-data

Bryan, on behalf of the Chrome team

By: third.musketeer

third.musketeer — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 23:58:15 +0000

Privacy is definitely a concern and google will have to come up with a solution for that. In my case I don’t have any private data, at least none that I would want to hide from the government.

Encrypted storage is a nice idea and it might actually be implemented in the near future, heck even google might offer it for a price.

I see such a notebook fit my needs quite nicely. As long as they give me a decent ssh client, I am all set. The first outing of chrome might not be a hit out of the ball park but I am sure like the Ipad it will establish itself quite nicely.

By: war59312

war59312 — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 08:22:12 +0000

And I’d still encrypt my data with a totally different set, just in case google left in a back door, sure they will!

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 23:11:58 +0000

The Ultra-wired perspective:

I’m a very highly paid programmer in LA (3x senior level norm) and I’m always watching my client’s servers so I have to be connected but still have a life. My technology platform is all windows yet I only use my Macbook Pro with Remote Desktop because it runs very cool and is very reliable compared to pc laptops. I have no choice but to be connected and yet I use wireless and 3G/4G all the time, have a 3G/4G Sprint USB hub and can easily find a Starbucks or a hotel lobby within minutes with broadband speeds if my portable connection is lagging.

The point being is I live this life now and the internet is only getting faster and more prevalent. I am hearing Google’s laptop will have Remote Desktop so guess what I’m getting when that comes out?

People dissing Google’s idea have valid privacy concerns but in terms of Google’s internet-only take on this, that is now for some of us and an absolute certainty in the near future for all.

By: joe blow

joe blow — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 21:54:46 +0000

wouldn’t it be possible for google to use cryptography and offer that so only the user can actually see the data? this makes google’s life easier because they don’t have to deal with governments trying to strongarm them, since google doesn’t even have the crypto keys

By: Jme

Jme — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 15:42:12 +0000

Sad to think there will be no option for data storage. If you at least had the option, this would be a viable alternative to Windows, but to trust that your data will be safe in someone else’s hands is simply foolish.

How do you even access your critical info while on the road, away from any connection? I have no cell access from my house, and occasionally loose phone service. What would I do at that time, sit and wait to be able to work???

Let’s see how many fools are hooked before one gets tossed into a frying pan.

By: Arimathéia

Arimathéia — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 15:10:43 +0000

People don’t think about how the information is stored. They just think
in trivialities and fads.