Is Google Using Gestapo Tactics?

Today when using my Internet Explorer browser, a Google message popped up from the tool bar asking if they could follow all my searches.

It didn’t have a close option and I couldn’t proceed to use the browser or even close it.

I promptly shut down my computer and when it restarted I went to the control panel and in “add or remove programs,” I eliminated the Google Toolbar from Internet Explorer.

How did they get the control to take over my browser and activities?