Google Desktop creates a searchable index of your computer's files, email, chats, and web history. This index lives only on your computer and is never sent or made accessible to Google or anyone else without your explicit consent.
When you use certain Desktop features, the program may send non-personal information to Google's servers. These cases are described in detail below.
Improve Google Desktop
If you enable the 'Improve Google Desktop' option in 'Desktop Preferences,' Desktop may send information to Google about the websites you visit in order to enhance Desktop functions, such as the personalized news display in your sidebar News gadget. Enabling Advanced Features also allows Desktop to collect a limited amount of non-personal information from your computer, including information about the number of searches you do, the time it takes for you to see your results, and application reports that we'll use to improve the program. Again, your personal information and files are not sent to Google. To prevent Desktop from sending non-personal information, you can deselect this option on the Desktop Preferences page.
Search Across Computers
If you choose to enable the Search Across Computers feature, your shared information is cached on Google Desktop's servers. This feature uses Secure Socket Layer (SSL) to transfer and receive data with your authorized Google Desktop computers. This data is encrypted, and Google treats your index and its contents as personal information, in accordance with the Google Privacy Policy. You can read the Desktop Privacy Policy at http://desktop.google.com/privacypolicy.html
Gadget Content
If you enable the feature to store gadget content online, your gadget settings and data are stored on Google Desktop's servers. This feature uses SSL to transfer gadget settings, and it encrypts the gadget content on Google Desktop's servers. For more information, visit our gadgets information page
Sending Search Terms to Google
Google Desktop offers spelling suggestions for searches conducted from your Quick Search Box, Deskbar, or sidebar. In order to send you spelling suggestions, your search terms will be sent to Google.
Google Desktop may also send search terms to Google if you search on Google immediately after searching Google Desktop or if you perform a Google Web Search and then click the Google Desktop results. These searches may indicate that they originated from a Google Desktop page and are treated in accordance with our Google Privacy Policy.