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Google: From Garage Glory to “Hack-Back?”—How the Hero of Search Became Today’s Most Debated Tech Giant

September 10, 2025 · Browsers, Email, Privacy
Illustration of Google’s evolution—from a garage startup to Chrome dominance—with a search bar, magnifying glass, and a crossed-out ad icon representing ad-blocking.

This week on our KFGO 7:40am Tech Talk, we dug into Google’s origin story, how it reinvented the browser, and why many folks (me included) are rethinking their relationship with the company today. Here’s the plain-English recap with sources and takeaways.

The early days: a better answer to a messy web

In 1998, two Stanford PhD students—Larry Page and Sergey Brin—founded Google to solve a simple but gigantic problem: search results were noisy. Their PageRank system prioritized links by relevance, and it worked so well that people started saying they would “google” things. (The verb “to google” landed in the Oxford English Dictionary in 2006 and in Merriam-Webster the same year.) About Google+1

Meanwhile, Microsoft dominated PCs and pushed Internet Explorer everywhere—bundled into Windows and distributed through OEMs and ISPs—crushing early rivals like Netscape Navigator. U.S. antitrust findings later detailed how those tactics impeded competition. Department of Justice+1

Chrome changed the game

In 2008, Google launched Chrome with the pitch that a browser should be fast, secure, and a platform for powerful web apps—basically, a mini operating system in a tab. That vision proved right. blog.google+1

Under the hood, there are really three major engine families today:

  • Blink (Chromium) – powers Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Brave, Opera, and many others
  • Gecko – powers Firefox
  • WebKit – powers Safari (and all iOS browsers by Apple policy) MDN Web Docs

Chrome’s dominance is real: as of August 2025, Chrome holds ~69% of global browser share across devices (and ~70% on desktop). Edge sits around 5% globally across devices and ~12% on desktop; Safari is strong on mobile. StatCounter Global Stats+1

“Don’t be evil,” then and now

Google’s famous motto “Don’t be evil” isn’t totally gone: in 2018 it was moved from the intro to the very last line of Google’s Code of Conduct—where it still appears (“And remember… don’t be evil…”; last updated Jan 17, 2024). Alphabet’s separate code uses “Do the right thing.” Alphabet Investor Relations+1

Ads, data, and why ad-blocking matters

Google’s core revenue still comes from advertising; the company says it does not sell your personal information and instead uses data to target ads. Critics counter that the ad model incentivizes pervasive tracking. (Both things can be true.) Google Help+2About Google+2

Here’s where it hits your browser: Google is deprecating Manifest V2 (the older extensions model) and enforcing Manifest V3. That shift limits some advanced ad-blocking/anti-tracking capabilities—which is why uBlock Origin (the powerful MV2 version) has been disabled for many Chrome users, with a leaner uBlock Origin Lite as the MV3-compliant alternative. The phase-out accelerated in late 2024 and continued through 2025. Chrome for Developers+2The Verge+2

Two practical notes:

  • Brave ships strong built-in Shields (no add-on needed) and still allows extensions.
  • Firefox continues to support powerful content-blocking via its own engine.
  • Edge is Chromium-based too, so it inherits many of Chrome’s extension changes. Brave+1

Why many folks still block ads: malvertising (malicious ads) remains a real security risk; recent campaigns hijacked accounts and pushed infostealers to 1M+ devices. Microsoft+2BleepingComputer+2

The new wrinkle: Google’s “disruption unit”

In August 2025, Google previewed a cyber “disruption unit” inside Google Threat Intelligence Group. The goal: intelligence-led, legal takedowns of active threat campaigns—moving from reactive defense to proactive disruption (not private “hack-back,” which remains illegal for companies). This sits squarely in a growing U.S. debate about going more offensive in cyberspace. CyberScoop

Read the reporting I’m referencing here: CyberScoop’s piece on Google’s disruption unit. CyberScoop

Quick tips / Key takeaways

  • Browser choice matters. If you want strong built-in blocking, try Brave or Firefox. If you stick with Chrome/Edge, consider uBlock Origin Lite and tighten privacy settings. Brave
  • Stay extension-aware. MV3 changes mean some old extensions won’t work the same way. Check each extension’s current status. Chrome for Developers
  • Treat ads like untrusted content. Avoid clicking “download/installer” ads from search results—go to the vendor’s official site instead. Malvertising is still a top infection vector. WIRED+1
  • Separate accounts. Use one browser (or profile) for work and one for personal to limit cross-tracking.
  • Revisit Google privacy settings. Review Web & App Activity, Ad Personalization, and Location History. Google offers controls—but you have to use them. Google Policies

Sources & further reading

Wrap-up

Google unquestionably mastered search and reinvented the browser. But as the company scaled—and as ads/data became the economic engine—choices like Manifest V3 and a push into proactive cyber “disruption” have many users re-evaluating. If you’re trying to de-Google your life or just want a safer daily setup, you don’t have to go it alone.

DarkHorse IT helps businesses and households make smart, secure choices—browsers, privacy, AI tools, backups, the whole stack. Let us help you pick what’s right for you and keep it maintained as the landscape changes.

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