Google Search Bar is donating spare cycles of users to Stanford?

Is it true?

[mrose]

Hi everybody. I am new here and have found the following statement in a wired news article

"Google is also experimenting with distributed computing. The Google Search Bar, which adds search capabilities to a Web browser's toolbar, donates spare cycles to Stanford's Folding@Home project, which simulates the ultra-complex process of protein folding."

[wired.com...]

Does this mean the Google Bar is actually "donating" users processing power to Stanford without asking for permission to do so and not even inform users about it?

Does anyone have a source that confirms above statement or (hopefully) discards it?

Thanks

[jeremy goodrich]

Yes, that is true -> Google is 'donating' the CPU cycles of it's users who enable that option on the Google Toolbar.

Welcome to WebmasterWorld! Always good to have more people asking good questions. :)

[mrose]

Thanks for the warm welcome and the prompt response.

I have looked into the Toolbar Options but cannot find an enable/disable option for this.

Could you provide me with some directions where or how I can find information about this?

Thanks in advance,

[mack]

One of the features this is being used for is the folding@home distributed computing project.

A very worth while cause and something you might want to take a read over before disabling the feature ;)

[jdMorgan]

Some versions of the toolbar do not have the option to enable distributed computing. In this case, you won't be able to join in the project.

Jim

[heini]

TIP: Google's toolbar only works with Microsofts browser, well known for safety and privacy.

[liquidstar]

If your toolbar doesn't have this enabled, you can always go to:

[toolbar.google.com...]

and install it.

[GoogleGuy]

Or visit labs.google.com. But the short answer is that your consent *is* required. It's not activated unless you turn it on, which is the right way to do it.