Google Blogger Comments Firefox Extention

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Read my top posts or learn more about Michael Gray. Want more frequent updates follow me on Twitter. Thanks for visiting!

In case you haven’t noticed over on the Google Blog they released a new plugin called Google Blogger Comments. When you download it has one of the longest and most intimidating privacy notices I’ve ever seen on a plug-in (privacy notice). Now it’s quite possible that I watched too much X-Files in the 90’s, but when I encounter things like that happen a warning flag goes up in my head.

When you do install it a tiny little box appears in your status bar with a speech bubble (like in the Sunday comics). As you browse around and visit pages the speech bubble animates. The more comments the more speech bubbles appear. You can click and get a preview of the top 6 comments. You also have the option to view more comments which redirects you to the Google Blog Search. I tried the plugin out in lot of places where there were bloggers commenting (thanks Zawodnygate!) and found it really helpful. If you are a blogger and like knowing what or blogging about whatever the community is blogging about this is great plug-in.

However I’m uninstalling the plug-in today, and for the same reason I don’t use the Google toolbar, I don’t want Google to have access to my click stream. Do I think Google is actively monitoring me and looking at what I’m up to, nope, however I do think if they wanted to they could isolate me and see what I’m doing through things like Google accounts which I have to use for adwords and adsense. Jim wonders if you can be too paranoid in this business, and I don’t think so. Loosing a site for the convenience of having the googletoolbar or blogger comments just doesn’t make sense, and the risk outweighs the benefit.

Sphere It

Comments are closed.