How To Remove Client Id From Chrome To Protect Your Privacy

Posted By : Avinash on Sep 8th, 2008 in categories FireFox, Google Chrome, Tips,Tricks and Hacks, Tutorials, Web 2.0

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Google Chrome is using a client_id variable in the file Local State which can be found in the user data folder of the chrome installation which is unique for every Chrome user, and which can be used to create exact user profiles of a user’s actions while using Google Chrome.

Here’s how you can remove the client id from Chrome

Method 1 : Using Google Chrome Anonymizer

Run the anonymizer, it scans the “Local State” file inside the Chrome directory and removes all information regarding the Client ID and afterwards automatically starts Chrome.This tool can run from anywhere.This means that no client id is transferred to Google when using Google Chrome,but remember to start chrome using this tool everytime.

Download Anonymizer.

Method 2 : Manually edit the Local State

The Local State file can be found in Documents and Settings\Profle Name\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\

open the file and look for the key “client_id” and remove the key.

[This has to manually done because once you close the chrome browser a new client_id is generated if entries have been deleted earlier.]

As mentioned by a commentor on GHacks, you can also try to change the file attributes to ‘ Read-Only’ to prevent the client_id to be regenerated.

Do this to make the file read only

1. Start Chrome using Anonymizer and head to Documents and Settings\Profle Name\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\
   Right Click on Local State, Select Properties and check ‘Read only’ under Attributes.
2. Close Chrome and then again the folder
   ie., Documents and Settings\Profle Name\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\
   an new file “Local State.tmp” is created edit the file as mentioned in Method 2 above and change the attributes to “Read Only” as mentioned above.

NOTE : For the Local State file to be visible change the folder options in Windows to show Hidden Files And Folders.

– Via GHacks