Chrome: install in program files or user space

Is it better to install Chrome in ProgramFiles or user space? Does it make any difference if running SUA or SRP? I'm not only wondering about security but update problems, etc.

 

Both are considered user space. The User/* folder is different.

I would say just use the /user/* folder since that's the typical installation area.

 

I'll give the user folder a try. I used to download the googlechromeenterprise.msi in the past before I started using Chromium. It installed in ProgramFiles. One thing I noticed was when a new version installed the old version folders were kept causing me to have to clean house one in a while.

 

If you use SRP, I'd install into program files. For SRP to be effective, you need to limit execution to places that are not user writable. In theory, if you allow executables to run in user space through SRP, nothing is really stopping an exploit from overwriting your exempt files.

Will it actually happen? Probably not... Could it happen? Definitely.

Google updates fine nowadays, and the enterprise installer is perfectly stable from what I've seen. I have it on about 100 computers, and the googleupdater runs as a service..

 

AFAIK, I thought installing Chrome under Program Files was only possible using the Google Pack download option, which has been since discontinued.

Also, I don't see how ProgramFiles is considered user space or am I missing something?

 

They're talking about the enterprise .msi. I think that has other options.

 

You could install Google Chrome to Program Files with the main installer already. You just had to install Google Chrome using Windows cmd line, with the parameter -system-level.

You could also use the msi installer.

Now, Google has a page with both installers:

http://www.google.com/support/installer/bin/answer.py?answer=126299

 

Okay, I hadn't seen those options before. Thanks for the clarification vasa and m00nbl00d

 

Yes, you have (the -system-level parameter)... I remember a thread where I mentioned it to you. You need to quit consuming some Java.

 

haha...I'd be even worse off without my daily java quota Do you remember where that thread is? I'd like to revisit it.

 

I'll try to find it. But, now that I start to think about it, I'm not sure if it's -system-level or /systemlevel. I'll have to redownload Google Chrome and recheck it.

 

No worries, I found it

-http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showpost.php?p=1768793&postcount=8

I kinda remember that thread but I never got around to trying your suggestion at the time.

 

I noticed that the link Moonblood referred to will download an exe file where this link http://www.google.com/chrome/eula.html?msi=true will provide you with an msi file. What's the difference between the two?

Thanks for your replies by the way.

 

It's not.

 

Good question. I downloaded the installer meant for multiple user account from the link I provided, and I don't know why, it won't install to Program Files. AFAICS, it seems the standard installer? Also, none of the parameters I previously mentioned work with it, either.

The only installer that actually install to Program Files seems to be the MSI installer.

I wonder if Google screwed it up, and it's linking the links in the URL I provided to the same installer?

 

Web definitions

A conventional computer operating system usually segregates virtual memory into kernel space and user space. Kernel space is strictly reserved for running the kernel, kernel extensions, and most device drivers. In contrast, user space is the memory area where all user mode applications work and this memory can be swapped out when necessary....
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Userspace

Not to be confused with your user folder, partition, or what have you. Anything you put on your computer or install is a userspace application.

EDIT: I hadn't seen your question until Funkdude's quote. Sorry about that.

 

I think there is a confusion between user space and user level. There's user level and system level. User level affects the current user, while system level (system wide) affects all accounts.

So, one could say that Google Chrome's standard installer installs at user level.

I hope I'm not the use confusing myself, though.

 

It installs to the user profile or user folder or even user partition if that's how you have it set up. You can call it any of those things.

I was only trying to clarify that userspace and the user profile are two different terms. Just to make things easier in the future so no one gets confused.


EDIT: eh nvm I had a link but it'll just cause confusion =p

 

I wasn't replying to you. It was a general comment. I've noticed for quite sometime that people confuse user space with user level.

 

Okay =p

 

By the way, can anyone download Google Chrome offline installers (I didn't try the online installer), using IE9? I tried to download it today in a relative's system, but IE9 download manager said it couldn't. But, I could with Free Download Manager, though.

 

IE9 is working for me. Is there a TPL or something blocking ssl.google-analytics.com?

 

I didn't think of that. My relative does use some TPLs. From fanboy if I'm not mistaken.

I'll check it later on. I'd never thought about it.

Thanks