Google to block local Chrome extensions, limit installs to the Chrome Web Store

[Matsuda]

Google today announced it will block local Chrome extensions starting in January, but only on the Windows platform. This means that next year, Windows users will only be able to install extensions for the company’s browser from the Chrome Web Store.

The changes will affect both Chrome’s stable and beta channels on Windows. Google says it will continue to support local extension installs on its Dev and Canary channels, as well as installs via Enterprise policy. Chrome apps are not affected at all and will continue to be supported normally.

This is strictly a security move. Google says it is making the move in reaction to malicious Chrome extensions plaguing Microsoft’s desktop platform:

"Many services bundle useful companion extensions, which causes Chrome to ask whether you want to install them (or not). However, bad actors have abused this mechanism, bypassing the prompt to silently install malicious extensions that override browser settings and alter the user experience in undesired ways, such as replacing the New Tab Page without approval. In fact, this is a leading cause of complaints from our Windows users."

Google says none of these malicious extensions are hosted on the Chrome Web Store, making it difficult for the company “to limit the damage they can cause to our users.” In other words, Google says it has no choice but to block local extensions, on Windows.

Google recommends that developers who have extensions hosted outside the Chrome Web Store migrate them “as soon as possible.” As for users, this only affects new extensions: if you already have local extensions installed, nothing will change.

This is not the first measure Google has made to fight malware in Chrome (see links below). Clearly the company is being forced to make more and more changes as criminals adjust their tactics accordingly. It’s a vicious cycle.



View: Original Article

[emerglines]

The last thing i use now it their browser time to import chrome bookmarks to Firefox and uninstall it from my computers...

[ben01]

Are userscripts concerned ?

[ShEsHy]

Isn't it fun how open Chrome is? The phrase "You can do whatever you want, as long as it's something we allow" comes to mind.

[demoneye]

The last thing i use now it their browser time to import chrome bookmarks to Firefox and uninstall it from my computers...

My friend its really the time to uninstall google chrome do a big :fist: and switch to opera 18 :D

[nIGHT]

The last thing i use now it their browser time to import chrome bookmarks to Firefox and uninstall it from my computers...

The last thing i use now it their browser time to import chrome bookmarks to Firefox and uninstall it from my computers...

My friend its really the time to uninstall google chrome do a big :fist: and switch to opera 18 :D

In the old days we chose to use browser based upon its speed.

Then, by its features such as addons.

Later, due to to have access to chrome extension, the reason why some browsers like opera shifted to webkit engine.

Chrome is fast but only if you open a new tabs without the help of extensions such as the great suspender. Unlike firefox even 50-100 tabs its still fast.

Opera gives amazing speed before it migrated to webkit. Now after opening a few tabs it displays behavior similar to chrome.

I think the future, with h.264, asm.js, ORBX.js and html5, is in firefox when it comes to speed, features and stability.

Edited November 8, 2013 by nIGHT

[Avitar]

Ohh, okay... F**K you too google. I've stopped using your search engine now time to kick your crappy a$$ browser. We the citizens of the internet need to come together to make our own open browser, one we can customize the hell out of as we like and won't be tracked and monitored while using... Oh hold on a sec, there IS a browser like that: