I ask this because I opened up Internet Explorer today for the first time in months, and noticed the Google desktop search button on my toolbar.
I stopped using IE long before that came out.
I never downloaded Google desktop.
I never downloaded any IE updates.
I never downloaded any Windows updates.
Nobody has used this computer except me.
Has IE been installing software WITHOUT MY PERMISSION? :eek:
I use the Google toolbar on IE (there is Google Toolbar and there is Google Desktop, they are different, not sure exactly what you are seeing) and I had to install it very explicitly from Google’s web site.
There are lots of spyware programs out there that will covertly install themselves into IE, adding toolbars and hijacking your searches, without your permission. However, Google is not nasty like that.
In addition, MS and Google are not exactly on speaking terms so there’s no way IE would willingly install Google toolbar if you didn’t ask for it.
So I am just as perplexed as you are.
I installed Real Player the other day and Google Toolbar is bundled with it. I think it’s also bundled with WinZip. You may have installed one of these and blew through the installation not realizing you opted for the toolbar.