# Google - every web-page may harm your computer **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 31, 2009, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-every-web-page-may-harm-your-computer/483864 "2009-01-31T14:52:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-every-web-page-may-harm-your-computer/483864/21 "2009-01-31T15:19:59Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > working okay for me now, google is. > [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > And now it’s broke again… > [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > And now it’s working again… Could you check my turn signals while you’re at it? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-every-web-page-may-harm-your-computer/483864/22 "2009-01-31T15:20:13Z")
Still not for me (although in my case I am using google.ca; maybe things are still broken north of the border). ETA - Spoke too soon. Seems OK now. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-every-web-page-may-harm-your-computer/483864/23 "2009-01-31T15:21:55Z")
No problem here but I remember I once needed to access a site deemed dangerous by google and I analysed the code and there was nothing there which could be considered dangerous. Maybe there was some other reason. I emailed the owners of the site to warn them. Maybe it was just because it was in China. I notice it is no longer labeled as dangerous. I have no idea what’s going on. Do you guys have the google toolbar or other crap installed? I stay away from such things. ---
**Author:** ![Fake\_Tales\_of\_San\_Francisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8491ac/32.png) [@Fake\_Tales\_of\_San\_Francisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fake_Tales_of_San_Francisco)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-every-web-page-may-harm-your-computer/483864/24 "2009-01-31T15:23:46Z")
It’s all working again. How bizarre. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-every-web-page-may-harm-your-computer/483864/25 "2009-01-31T15:25:29Z")
> [@Phlosphr](#): > > Like \*\*Qadgop \*\*- it’s fixed…uhhh…uhhh…broke - fixed. broke. > > DAMN IT ALL I NEED IS A PICTURE OF A MARBLED MURRELET [Here](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/82/WO_2087_Marbled_Murrelet.jpg). Google works fine for me, though on other boards I’ve heard talk like this. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-every-web-page-may-harm-your-computer/483864/26 "2009-01-31T15:27:54Z")
> [@postcards](#): > > [Here](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/82/WO_2087_Marbled_Murrelet.jpg). Google works fine for me, though on other boards I’ve heard talk like this. Hey thanks! 🙂 Google apears to have taken it’s Xanax and is now functioning like it should. Cursery look at the interwebs it’s amazing how many people are effected by this, and how disturbing it is to many millions of people at one time. Interesting still how much our psyche seems to need Google…Scarey ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-every-web-page-may-harm-your-computer/483864/27 "2009-01-31T15:29:01Z")
Does anyone know why it happened? ---
**Author:** ![gladtobeblazed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85f322/32.png) [@gladtobeblazed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gladtobeblazed)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-every-web-page-may-harm-your-computer/483864/28 "2009-01-31T15:30:15Z")
I wonder if Google will give an explanation… ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-every-web-page-may-harm-your-computer/483864/29 "2009-01-31T15:31:44Z")
maybe if you google it… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-every-web-page-may-harm-your-computer/483864/30 "2009-01-31T15:32:40Z")
> [@Phlosphr](#): > > Interesting still how much our psyche seems to need Google…Scarey That shows how Google has successfully positioned itself as the “top-of-mind” search engine. The Internet isn’t much use to the average person without a search engine - thus the dependency on Google and others. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-every-web-page-may-harm-your-computer/483864/31 "2009-01-31T15:43:48Z")
> [@NinetyWt](#): > > That shows how Google has successfully positioned itself as the “top-of-mind” search engine. The Internet isn’t much use to the average person without a search engine - thus the dependency on Google and others. Exactly, google would be a great tool to disseminate information to the globe quickly. Though this is most likely already happening, and being an American company I would think our gov’t has the keys to that particular function if it’s ever needed. From a psychological standpoint I find it very fascinating how one entity can be so influencial on such a utilitarian basis for so many. Boggling. ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-every-web-page-may-harm-your-computer/483864/32 "2009-01-31T15:43:51Z")
Same prob here. In the middle of intensive internet research, I was ready to scream and kill when all Google results became unusable for no reason. Closed the browser and it went away. I truly hope it won’t come back. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-every-web-page-may-harm-your-computer/483864/33 "2009-01-31T15:47:32Z")
Yahoo still exists, you know. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-every-web-page-may-harm-your-computer/483864/34 "2009-01-31T16:12:08Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Yahoo still exists, you know. lol ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-every-web-page-may-harm-your-computer/483864/35 "2009-01-31T16:21:04Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Yahoo still exists, you know. What is really scarey is that it never crossed my mind that there are any other search engines. I’ve even got a folder of them in my bookmarks. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-every-web-page-may-harm-your-computer/483864/36 "2009-01-31T16:28:11Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Yahoo still exists, you know. Next you’ll expect us to use AltaVista, Northern Lights, or Archie. Troglodyte. ---
**Author:** ![Ahu\_Ha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dc4da7/32.png) [@Ahu\_Ha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ahu_Ha)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-every-web-page-may-harm-your-computer/483864/37 "2009-01-31T16:36:19Z")
Infoseek used to be the bomb. I still remember when I first used Google (on recommendation). “Meh, what’s so special about this? Back to Infoseek for me!”. Ahh, the naivety. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-every-web-page-may-harm-your-computer/483864/38 "2009-01-31T16:44:25Z")
Google the company is constantly updating and adding to their existing software, making changes and tweaks. Obviously they can’t take the servers down and apply a patch so they pretty much have to do it real-time. At this point, whenever I see Google acting up, my first thought is “Ha, they’re screwing with it again.” ---
**Author:** ![CWN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc79bd/32.png) [@CWN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CWN)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-every-web-page-may-harm-your-computer/483864/39 "2009-01-31T18:05:52Z")
From BBC ( I used google news ) 🙂 > **[BBC NEWS | Technology | 'Human error' hits Google search](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7862840.stm)** > > Google says a "human error" left users temporarily being told that all search results were potentially harmful. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-every-web-page-may-harm-your-computer/483864/40 "2009-01-31T18:30:46Z")
Kind of nice to think that. for all the deep cleverness of their search engines and distributed files systems and so on, one little cock-up by a grunt somewhere could bring the whole thing crashing down. I’m glad I was there to witness it. Just for a moment Google didn’t seem quite so mighty. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-every-web-page-may-harm-your-computer/483864.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-every-web-page-may-harm-your-computer/483864.md?page=3)