Chrome 70 fixes Google's controversial sneaky sign-in policy, kind of

[nir]

While logging you into Chrome when you sign into a Google service may be a convenience to some, some feel it goes too far.

 

Google has begun pushing out Chrome 70 late on Tuesday, reluctantly providing a solution to fix its controversial sign-in snafu while also introducing app-like Progressive Web Apps to Windows machines. That fix still comes with a catch, though.

 

Chrome 69, the last major release, hid a disturbing twist: if you log into Gmail or another Google service, Chrome automatically logs you into the browser as well. That means you’ll automatically begin sharing browsing data with Google, like it or not. Privacy experts raised a stink and Google quickly promised to address the concerns.

 

Chrome 70 indeed comes with a toggle to turn off linking web-based sign-in with browser-based sign-in. Unfortunately, the option is opt-in, not opt-out. In other words, signing in to a Google service will still automatically log you into Chrome by default. Google doesn’t explicitly tell you about the new “feature,” either.

 

To opt out, you’ll need to enter the Settings menu by clicking the three vertical dots, all the way in the upper-right corner of the browser. From there, you’ll need to enter the Advanced settings at the very bottom and find the “Allow Chrome sign-in” toggle, then turn it to off. Doing so lets you sign into Google services like Gmail and Maps without signing into the Chrome browser itself.

 

Mark Hachman / IDG

Here’s what Google’s new sign-in controls look like. Note that it defaults to “on,” as shown here.

 

What this means for you: Google would like you to believe that it’s doing you a favor by signing you into Chrome when you log into its other services. And for many people, that’s true. It’s still a little arrogant to offer a feature to separate browser sign-ins from account sign-ins without even specifically calling out the option to users, though. 

 

Progressive Web Apps

 

Google 70 now also supports Progressive Web Apps, a cross-platform improvement that isn’t specifically linked to Chrome. Progressive Web Apps, as the name suggests, are webpages that look and feel like apps. In fact, you can install them in Windows 10 just like “normal” apps. Microsoft has begun pushing some PWAs through the Microsoft Store; if you download the Twitter app, for example, chances are that it’s a PWA.

 

Now Google is doing the same. You may find that certain Web sites will begin advertising versions of themselves as installable apps, as Google notes here. Spotify is one example:[.]

 

You don’t have to install the app, of course, but it’s there if you want it. Mac and Linux users are expected to receive PWA support in Chrome 72.

 

Source

 

 

[steven36]

I  already tested  it on Linux before Chromium 70 beta  i use a patched beta ppa  to get hardware accelerated video decoding in Chromium for Linux. Google has no plains to add it to Chrome in Linux.. But even if you dont never sign in like me it's annoying even if you turn that off it always the nag reappears telling you to sign in even if you close that out.

[straycat19]

The simple fix is not to use chrome.  There are too many browsers to be stuck with one that you don't like for one reason or another.

[csmdew]

U still can't turn it off since it's grayed out.

[steven36]

18 minutes ago, straycat19 said:

The simple fix is not to use chrome.  There are too many browsers to be stuck with one that you don't like for one reason or another.

I don't use chrome  I use opensource Chromium and it has same issue as the op talks about  for Linux that's  patched. to get full  hardware accelerated video decoding for YouTube and other video sites only,   when i'm just browsing or downloading  just use waterfox . I dont use Chromium at all on windows no one makes a good portable of it  .Portableappz  does one and it messes with my Firefox profile  and i have to reboot  to fix it., I  dont install nothing that has Google stamped on it.

 

7 minutes ago, csmdew said:

U still can't turn it off since it's grayed out. 

 I dont sign in and on Linux it was not grayed out ..Does it gray out once you sign in? I would boot into Linux and test the new beta but i dont fell like having to do updates tonight.

[shamu726]

1 hour ago, steven36 said:

I dont use Chromium at all on windows no one makes a good portable of it

 

Have u tried : http://www.winpenpack.com/en/download.php?view.1082

[GlacialMan]

 

2 hours ago, steven36 said:

I dont use Chromium at all on windows no one makes a good portable of it  .Portableappz  does one and it messes with my Firefox profile  and i have to reboot  to fix it., I  dont install nothing that has Google stamped on it.

 

 

 

1 hour ago, shamu726 said:

 

Have u tried : http://www.winpenpack.com/en/download.php?view.1082

 

If you are interested, we are working on Chromium Portable (the same for Opera, Firefox and other browsers), some tests/testers are needed before releasing

[csmdew]

12 hours ago, steven36 said:

I don't use chrome  I use opensource Chromium and it has same issue as the op talks about  for Linux that's  patched. to get full  hardware accelerated video decoding for YouTube and other video sites only,   when i'm just browsing or downloading  just use waterfox . I dont use Chromium at all on windows no one makes a good portable of it  .Portableappz  does one and it messes with my Firefox profile  and i have to reboot  to fix it., I  dont install nothing that has Google stamped on it.

 

 I dont sign in and on Linux it was not grayed out ..Does it gray out once you sign in? I would boot into Linux and test the new beta but i dont fell like having to do updates tonight.

don't use linux; played with it many yrs ago but old ppl like what's simple

[steven36]

1 hour ago, csmdew said:

don't use linux; played with it many yrs ago but old ppl like what's simple

Old people like Linux too , Linux Mint is more simple than Windows 10 is and a lot more stable . You can get all your apps from the package manger if you want meaning you dont have to visit any sites to get software And Linux Mint comes loaded with useful apps out the box .. They made it so easy now you don't even have to know how to use the terminal, unless you want to learn it.  I'm not young nor am i old yet  so i dont do a Linux distro loaded with apps i  do a minimal install and only install apps i want.  Years ago Linux was not as easy as it is now  ..But i was not even talking about Linux i was asking you do it gray out on you on windows, did you test it with signing in  are did you just say that because of the screen shot in the OP?