Subj : Googles Chrome extensions' safety checks might actually make brow To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Fri Aug 18 2023 17:15:03 Googles Chrome extensions' safety checks might actually make browsing safer for all Date: Fri, 18 Aug 2023 15:59:20 +0000 Description: In the Chrome 117 update, Google will proactively highlight removed Chrome extensions to improve its browser ecosystem security. FULL STORY ====================================================================== Google is planning to proactively highlight Chrome extensions that have been made unavailable in the Chrome Web Store. An extension suddenly disappearing without explanation may leave users unsure about it (and extensions in general), so Google is taking this step to inform and reassure users. You can find some of our favorite Chrome Web Store extensions here (while they're up!). What's happening to Chrome extensions There are three reasons Google would remove an extension, as reported by PC Mag UK : the developer manually unpublished it, the extension is in violation of a Chrome Web Store policy, or its malware. This new feature will arrive in the Chrome 117 update. After installing the update, the extensions that qualify for review will be listed in a Safety Check category under the Privacy and Security section in Chromes settings. It seems like existing installed extensions wont be automatically removed from a users browser, but if youd like to know which extensions you might want to consider removing, heres how to find out. If you click Review , youll be told which extensions are no longer in the Chrome Web Store and for which of the above given reasons theyve been removed. You will then be able to delete the extension, or simply hide the warning and continue using the extension. However, if the extension is flagged up as having malware, it will be disabled automatically. As for the developers, Google will also give them a chance to address any alleged violations of Chrome Web Store policies before a review notification goes out to users. (Image credit: TechRadar) Google's focus on user-centered security Google stated it intends for this change to "keep the ecosystem safe for users while limiting the chances that this will impact genuine extensions." A major aim of this shift is to let users tailor their experiences and be informed to be able to choose if they want to continue to use a specific extension, even if the extension isnt totally kosher by Google guidelines. Google also recently announced that security patches would be delivered weekly in newly instituted weekly updates , as of update Chrome 116. This move was made to target malicious actors who are looking to attack Chrome in the time intervals between the identification of a potential issue (either by the bad actors or by Chrome developers) and when a fix is rolled out via an update. A similar development being worked on in this vein is that Chrome will display a warning when you attempt to download high-risk files with an insecure connection, as discussed by The Verge . This is expected to be deployed in mid-September. (Image credit: Natty_Blissful / Shutterstock) How to give Google feedback In an official blog post , Google asked for any feedback you might have about this and if you have anything youd like to share on this topic, you can post in the chromium-extensions mailing list (a Google group thats an official forum for announcements from the Chrome extensions team). Im pretty convinced at this point that Google is being quite attentive and pretty meticulous about improving the user experience of its products. This will probably help improve user confidence, especially with the onset of Googles integration of its AI models into different apps, features, and the Chrome browser. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE A host of malicious Google Chrome extensions with millions of installs have been removed Hackers have been spreading malware via fake Chrome updates Google's new Chrome update will make your password management easier ====================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/browsers/googles-chrome-extensions-safety- checks-might-actually-make-browsing-safer-for-all --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64) * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100) .