MyComputingArt

How to get rid of googleupdate.exe

Google Update is a tool that Google installs on a pc when some other Google software is installed, and runs each time Windows starts; it's supposed to update Google software, but a comprehensive description can be found on this blog.

I tagged this article as spyware, because Wikipedia defines it as

a computer software that is installed surreptitiously on a personal computer to collect information about a user, their computer or browsing habits without the user's informed consent.

Well, in my case I installed Google Earth, and during Google Earth installation there was no mention of Google Update. As most users do, I didn't read the License Agreement - I have something better to do than spend my time reading long, capitalized, boring and incomprehensible texts full of legal terms and obvious concepts.
Point 4 of Google Earth License Agreement recites:

The Software may communicate with Google servers from time to time to check for available updates to the Software, such as bug fixes, patches, enhanced functions, missing plug-ins and new versions (collectively, "Updates"). By installing the Software, you agree to automatically request and receive Updates.

It's vague at least, pretty different than "By installing this software you agree to also install a tool that will constantly run with your system and will periodically communicate with Google servers by itself, without the user intervention and knowledge" (that's what it really does).
So, Google Update is certainly installed surreptitiously because while regular software setups show the components that will be installed, the Google Update application is never mentioned during Google Earth setup, and the only mention of something vaguely resemblant to Google Update behaviour is in the License Agreement, that's a good place where to put information which you want that nobody reads: I firmly believe there is no informed consent about Google Update installation. Moreover, it appears that Google collects information about Google software usage through Google Update, still without informed consent (usage information collection is not mentioned in License Agreement either).
So, Google Update is a spyware.

How to get rid of Google Update

First, kill it by the Task Manager
Google says it's listed amongst windows applications and in the start menu, where it should be possible to uninstall it, but that was not true on my system
remove or disable the GoogleUpdateTaskMachine scheduled task from Control panel, Scheduled Tasks
run services.msc and disable the Google Update Service
if you use Firefox, go to Tools, Add-ons, Plugins and disable Google Update (or remove it; maybe if you want to play with the registry, this is its placement: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MozillaPlugins\@tools.google.com/Google Update;version=7
finally, if you want to remove it "physically" (metaphorically speaking), you can find the exe in C:\Program Files\Google\Update\ and its subfolders

Once I disabled the scheduled task, the service and Firefox plugin, googleupdate.exe was never launched anymore, neither after launching Google Earth. I'll see if the Google spyware will reappear when I will update Google Earth manually (when a new version will be available).

I hope this helps, and if you still can't get rid of it using these methods, or if you find other places Google Update is hidden, please let me know. I'm curious how deep Google decided to fall.

Posted by: Z24 | Sat, May 02 2009 | Category: /software/windows | Permanent link | home
Tagged as: google, software, spyware, windows

FileDate Changer

FileDate Changer
License: freeware
Author: NirSoft
Install: no
Size: 50 KBytes
Requirement: Windows 95 or later, comctl32.dll

With this very little tool you can change the Created/Modified/Accessed dates of one or more files at the same time.

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Posted by: Z24 | Fri, Mar 16 2007 | Category: /software/windows | Permanent link | home
Tagged as: file management, freeware, software, tools, windows

Convert

Convert
License: freeware
Author: Josh Madison
Install: no (optional installer available)
Size: 560 KBytes (153 KBytes compressed)
Requirement: Windows 95 or later

Convert is a compact and simple unit conversion program: it converts distance, speed, pressure, temperature, time, volume, angle, area, mass, power, and many more measure units, and it allows to create custom conversions.

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Posted by: Z24 | Fri, Mar 16 2007 | Category: /software/windows | Permanent link | home
Tagged as: freeware, measurement, software, tools, windows

Panorado Flyer

Panorado Flyer
License: freeware for private use
Author: Karl Maloszek
Install: yes
Size: 250 KBytes (114 KBytes installer)
Requirement: Windows with COM support

Panorado Flyer is a compact program that gathers GPS coordinates from Google Earth and writes them into images EXIF information.

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Posted by: Z24 | Fri, Mar 16 2007 | Category: /software/windows | Permanent link | home
Tagged as: freeware, google earth, gps, images, software, tools, windows

CamStudio

CamStudio
License: freeware
Author: RenderSoft
Install: yes
Size: 8 MB (1.3 MB install), 33 KB codec
Requirement: Windows 95 or later, comctl32.dll

CamStudio is a free screen and audio recording tool and comes with a swf flash converter and a lossless codec.

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Posted by: Z24 | Fri, Mar 16 2007 | Category: /software/windows | Permanent link | home
Tagged as: freeware, screen recording, software, tools, windows