“Your articles are fun to read and you talk a lot about your experiences,” a customer mentioned to me the other day.  Her comment made me think I do write an awful lot about myself.  So this week I decided to drop the story line and not mention my dating habits, my kids, and won’t bash my bank.  It’s going to be a challenge.

Sorry to disappoint, but this week isn’t going to be any different from past.  I worked alone this week and had a chance to get my hands dirty with more software repairs than I’ve done in a while.  About machine fifty I noticed most computers had the Google Chrome browser installed.  Every computer that comes through my door has something wrong.

I’m not bashing Google or insinuating Chrome is malicious, I’m only making an observation.  Reality is that Google Chrome comes packaged with many different pieces of free software.  Of the half dozen basic utilities we use in the shop I counted three titles which come packaged with Google Chrome.  Throughout the week I also noticed websites and installation CD’s offering Chrome.

One customer told me she uses Chrome but had no idea where it came from.  After talking with her a bit she was convinced it just appeared on her computer one day.  Ha, the subject of this week’s article (and from personal experience I might add).  Google, among others, has been rearing its head in many places.

I was once told there’s no such thing as free and that’s truly the case here.  SUPERAntiSpyware, a title we use at the shop, defaults to install Chrome along with SUPERAntiSpyware.  If the user isn’t paying attention and just clicks through the options, Chrome will install onto the computer alongside SUPERAntiSpyware.

Companies, like the one that publishes SUPERAntiSpyware, fund their free giveaways with proceeds they receive from Google.  Google pays SUPERAntiSpyware a royalty every time Chrome is downloaded and installed.  It doesn’t seem like they could amass any real money until you realize millions of copies of SUPERAntiSpyware have been downloaded.

Viruses, spyware, and toolbars also come packaged with free software downloads.  Malicious utilities which monitor computer use are very commonly installed alongside legitimate titles to ease the burden of giving something free.  One of the more common nasty titles is 24X7 Helper which plants a little operator type of person in the upper right corner of every window.

You may be asking yourself why a company like Google would pay to have their free software bundled with other titles.  It all comes down to money.  Google makes its money by collecting users’ data and providing relevant advertising.  In other words, I look up a ton of information on woodwork.  Ads I receive are related to woodwork and Google hopes I click on one of the ads which will make them money.

The woman who didn’t know where Chrome originated also had many other odd pieces of software installed.  My guess is she didn’t know where those came from either.  I spent a fair amount of time removing odd sounding titles installed from May 2013 to present.  Quickly I realized someone in the house isn’t reading and just clicking.

One of the easiest ways to prevent junk from collecting on your computer is to read everything.  Hastily clicking “yes” will lead to a pileup of unwanted junk which could cause a breach of personal information and a very slow computer.  Somehow I managed to write another article intertwining my personal experiences with technology.  I’ve got to find a new storyline.

(Jeromy Patriquin is the President of Laptop & Computer Repair, Inc. located at 509 Main St. in Gardner.  You can text him directly at (978) 413-2840 or visit www.LocalComputerWiz.com.)