Last week I was interviewed on the Data Security podcast.  The host, Ira Victor, is obviously very knowledgeable about the security issues, but speaking to him off the record revealed that he is very passionate about it as well.  The topic was my previous post about how Google Desktop sends your search keystrokes up to its servers and its implications thereof.

Initially I was going to write an application in an effort to block Google Desktop from doing its dirty deed.  Then I realized that Windows already this ability: via the hosts file.

So here are the steps to block Google Desktop from spying on you:

  1. Press WinKey+ R.  You’ll get the Run dialog.  Type in the following: %windir%\system32\drivers\etc and press Enter.  You’ll be taken to a folder.
  2. Open hosts file in notepad or any other text editor.
  3. Go to the last line of the file and paste the following in: 
    127.0.0.1       suggestqueries.google.com
  4. Save the file.  You might want to restart Google Desktop for a good measure, although in my case, the block took effect almost immediately.

That’s it.  Search away in safety.