Today Google released Google Browser Sync, an extension for Firefox that “continuously synchronizes your browser settings – including bookmarks, history, persistent cookies, and saved passwords – across your computers.” Hold up just a second: settings, bookmarks, history, cookies, passwords? Isn’t this taking it a bit too far? Personally, I’m not comfortable with Google storing all of my personal browsing information, especially cookies, history, and passwords. Google says that this information is encrypted, but doesn’t say much more than that. They claim that a PIN that the user chooses will prevent Google or other people from reading your data - but I’m not too convinced that it wouldn’t be too difficult for this to be worked around. I’m sure that this extension will be useful for some people, but I’m not too sure about all of my browsing information being stored on Google’s servers.

Here’s what I don’t like:

• By default, it automatically stores everything on Google’s servers. You have to choose the advanced installation options (or change it in the options later) to disallow storing of passwords or other sensitive information. Google should let the user decide upfront. Choosing whether or not Google stores your passwords and other sensitive information should not be an advanced feature.
• If you’re using two different computers and try to open up browsers in both, Browser Sync will give you the error “Google Browser Sync is disconnected because you logged in on a different machine. Your changes will be sent to the server next time you connect.” So wait - I can’t have two browsers open and it updates on the other system if I decide to change a setting? I don’t want to have to close and reopen the browser everytime I switch computers.
• It isn’t innovative… Foxmarks has been around for a while now. And with Foxmarks, I don’t have to worry about my privacy because I can use my own server if I choose and it doesn’t go sniffing around in my passwords, history, or cookies.

If you choose to use the extension, I’d recommend that you turn off syncing of saved passwords in the sync settings (especially if you work with sensitive information online like banking). Please exercise caution when using Google Browser Sync. As soon as I get more information on the storage and transfer of this information, I’ll let everyone know.