Google's new desktop search download is surprising some early adopters by keeping records of instant messaging conversations, deleted emails and secure web pages. Apparently these features can be switched off, but are enabled by default. A variety of risks are raised as a result, particularly for those that share their PC with others. For every person offering up thanks when a deleted item turns out to be still available, there will surely be another spitting out curses as they face an angry spouse or livid boss with the evidence of some forgotten misdeed. For now, the desktop search works only with Windows XP and Windows 2000 SP3+; meaning that Mac and Linux users can continue to delete dodgy mails, chat chirpily and surf suspect sites with impunity. There's also a growing case to be made for back-migrating to Windows 95, Sneak feels, and retreating back to a time before the world and the web got so complicated.

18 Oct 2004