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back to article Adults-only Chrome add-on grabs you by the Googlies

Google's Chrome Remote Desktop app does what it says on the can: install it in Google's browser and it becomes possible to drive the host Mac, PC or Chromebook from another similarly-equipped machine. As of today it's also possible to drive a machine from iOS, as Google has been kind enough to release an app for the iPhone or …

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  1. Montreux

    Apple gives your app a rating, not the developer, based on your answers to a range of questions. These being how often your app contains: violence, profanity, fear/horror, drugs references, nudity, sexual content; plus 'unrestricted web access'. I would guess the latter is the reason for the rating.

    0 0 Reply
    1. Elfo74
      Reply Icon
      Facepalm

      protect the kids!

      violence: no

      profanity: nope

      fear/horror: nothing

      drugs references: zero

      nudity: zip

      sexual content: zilch

      that leaves 'unrestricted web access'... like browser or email client...

      CLEARLY we must think of the children

      2 0 Reply
      1. Mark 85
        Reply Icon

        Re: protect the kids!

        I suppose that all of your "no" answers could be "yes" depending on who's pc/mac/etc. was being remoted... yes, they're thinking of the children and also parental sueballs.

        0 0 Reply
        1. Elfo74
          Reply Icon

          Re: protect the kids!

          "I suppose that all of your "no" answers could be "yes" depending on who's pc/mac/etc. was being remoted... yes, they're thinking of the children and also parental sueballs."

          So, the same as gmail app that "may" contain smut/violence... that's why it is rated 17+ so parents don't sue itunes...

          oh wait...

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    2. DNTP
      Reply Icon

      I wish more developers would realize this, and be all like, "Well, we are getting an adult rating for unrestricted web access and there's nothing to be done about that, might as well add in functionality that puts breast pictures onto everything."

      Like when movie directors know they're gonna get an R rating because of two women holding hands or something, they are suddenly free to put in more swearing, explosions, and toplessness.

      1 0 Reply
  2. Gordon 10
    WTF?

    Does the world really need another remote desktop option?

    .... exploit coming in 3..2..1...

    6 0 Reply
    1. Gotno iShit Wantno iShit
      Reply Icon

      Re: Does the world really need another remote desktop option?

      Indeed, and is there a worse place than in the browser to implement one?

      7 0 Reply
    2. Anonymous Coward
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      Holmes

      Re: Does the world really need another remote desktop option?

      @Gordon10 - ".... exploit coming in 3..2..1..."

      Chrome Remote Desktop has been around for years on Windows and Linux and I haven't heard about the exploits. I've used it - works alright as long as you've got a good wifi connection on both ends.

      As with all Google services, be sure to use 2-step verification for account safety.

      0 0 Reply
  3. Stretch

    Giving crapple products to children is child abuse, hence the restriction.

    2 2 Reply
  4. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    <cynic> Does it present targeted ads based on what it finds on the remote machine? And for good measure, are remote files searchable with Google later? </cynic>

    1 0 Reply
    1. Anonymous Coward
      Reply Icon
      Holmes

      No. And no.

      It's just a simple remote - sorry to burst your cynic bubble. Not really good for much else. Not even the best free remote desktop - teamviewer is much nicer.

      0 0 Reply
  5. patrick_bateman

    and i bet no admin rights are needed to install just like all the other google downloads.

    BLOODY annoying to administrate (and before people mention blocking or firewalls, I work for the NHS - talk to a brick wall unless your sucking off some big boss or its an outside contractor getting payed a sh1t load for wasting money and not know what there doing)

    0 0 Reply
    1. Oninoshiko
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      That's not google's fault. The ability was always there, they are just pointing it out.

      Remember administration (or security) through obscurity is not administration at all.

      0 0 Reply
    2. Sandtitz Silver badge
      Reply Icon
      Boffin

      @patrick

      "and i bet no admin rights are needed to install just like all the other google downloads [...] and before people mention blocking"

      I'm still going to mention the blocking. ;-)

      Create a Software Restriction GPO to allow running software only from places where the end user doesn't have write access. That will deny installation of Chrome or running eg. a portable USB version.

      If Chrome is desired in your organization, install the ADM extensions and deny Chrome extensions via a group policy.

      I highly recommend the software restriction policies in all organizations by default anyway since it prevents running any dodgy downloads such as browser hijackers or worse. Even user space programs can generate DoS traffic, transfer all data you have access (incl. servers) to China, encrypt everything you have write access to, or exploit a privileges escalation bug.

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