Chrome unique IDs removed after first update

Google decided to appease privacy advocates by making the “unique ID” feature “disappear” when the Chrome browser checks for updates for the first time after the installation.

The feature is used to keep track of successful installations, and it consists of a randomly- generated token that – according to Google – is in no way connected with any personal data of the user. These assurances and even the lack of evidence that Google is collecting and storing this data were apparently not enough for concerned users, so the company decided to bend to the will of the customers.

This change – along with the options concerning Chrome communication with Google such as usage statistics and crash reports – has been announced in a recently published white paper, and it will be implemented with the version 4.1 of the browser.