Question Chrome Browser Excessive Software Reporter Tool Activity

[mindless1]

First of all, FSCK THIS FORUM'S CODE for running some script that does a massive search when I merely try to type the title for this topic. It's utterly ridiculous.

Now onto the main course...

Anyone else notice on the latest Chrome browser updates, in the last 4 days or so, that suddenly their Software Reporter Tool is overly aggressive, now staying active after closing chrome, much more aggressively scanning your system, something I did not want in the first place but now has gotten to the point of being obnoxious?

I saw some "fixes" for disabling the software reporting tool, but apparently Google wants their software to remain malware and has taken countermeasures to continue forcing upon users, things they actively didn't want.

For example even if you try to disable the software reporting tool using steps like those listed on the following site, Chrome will just create a new instance of the tool in your temp folder to do it more stealthily using a cryptic file name instead. How lovely. Reminds me very much of malware.

https://www.askvg.com/how-to-disable-or-remove-chrome-software-reporter-tool-in-windows/

This is something that should never have been enabled by default! I do not give my browser permission to do anything other than... get ready for it... BROWSE!!!!!

Google, you are not looking out for my best interests and don't blow smoke at me pretending otherwise. The only malware I have on my system is your browser, but that can change.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Should have never used (or installed) Google.

 

[mindless1]

^ I prefer my more secure and far better blocking Firefox install after tweaked for years to get there, but I admin 'sites and using Chrome is not optional for QA. I have to have it, can only limit damage... so if this shell game keeps up, it'll only be on a testbed system.

 

[mindless1]

^ It is not that simple, obviously that was the first thing I looked at.

With a web search you can find registry changes that (maybe) used to work, and they do still have an effect, but that effect is Chrome starts putting the folder in your TEMP folder cryptically named, AND changes the name of it every time it updates it.

For example instead of the former Software Reporter Tool .exe file name, it names it like 0f5e8069-5a79-490d-5458-59538c785c9a.exe and if you delete the files, and each new uniquely named folder, it just recreates them.

If you keep following steps on the internet, eventually it stops making the folder and instead, directly in the windows TEMP folder it makes cryptic filenames, named with strings of characters like the above but with .tmp filename extensions, downloading them every time you run chrome then deleting again when you close chrome.

At least Chrome is no longer doing all this after it closes which was the initial state which caused me to notice it. Well that and the case HDD/SSD activity light flashing a lot more than formerly.

On a related note, Google disclosed a significant browser vulnerability recently so anyone who uses it might want to update it to 95.0.4638.54 (or newer) if it hasn't autoupdated already.

Google Reveals 5 New ‘High’ Rated Vulnerabilities In Chrome

Google has issued an urgent upgrade warning to all Chrome users...

www.forbes.com

LOL WAIT JUST A MINUTE!!! "This version addresses vulnerabilities that an attacker could exploit to take control of an affected system. "

... that's what Chrome was already doing, to run the software reporter tool against my permission and active steps to stop doing it.