General alert was issued to the state users in different agencies using “Google Desktop 3 Beta”. Among the enhancements in the this version of the product, which is available by download, is a feature called Search Across Computers, which allows people to choose files on their hard drives that they want Google to automatically index, store and track on its servers, and make accessible over the Web from any computer.  Besides storing files, the company also allows to store a person's email and instant messaging correspondences.

RI Division of IT advises people not to store personal data with Google, and remove this software from the workstations and laptops the access the State network completely.

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