Google is currently testing a new feature in the Chrome browser that aims to alert users whenever an installed extension has been removed from the Chrome Web Store. This typically indicates that the extension may be malicious or associated with malware.
The Chrome Web Store is filled with an incessant influx of unwanted browser extensions, often promoted through intrusive popup ads and redirect ads. These extensions are created by deceitful companies and malicious actors who employ them for various nefarious purposes.
These may include injecting advertisements, tracking your search history, redirecting you to affiliate pages, or, in severe cases, pilfering your Gmail emails and compromising your Facebook accounts.
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The issue lies in the rapid release of these extensions, as developers continuously produce new ones while Google removes outdated ones from the Chrome Web Store. Regrettably, once you’ve installed one of these extensions, it remains in your browser even after Google identifies it as malware and removes it from the store.
Google Chrome Safety Check For Extensions
To address this concern, Google is introducing its Safety Check feature for browser extensions. This feature will notify Chrome users when an extension is flagged as malware or removed from the store, prompting them to uninstall it from their browser. The feature is set to be implemented in Chrome 117, but you can currently test it in Chrome 116 by enabling the browser’s experimental ‘Extensions Module in Safety Check‘ option.
To activate this feature, just copy and paste the following URL into the address bar of your Chrome browser: ‘chrome://flags/#safety-check-extensions‘. After pressing enter, you will be directed to the Chrome Flags page with the ‘Extensions Module in Safety Check‘ feature highlighted. Next, set the feature to enabled and restart the browser when prompted. Enjoy the enhanced functionality!
Once enabled, a new option will appear in the ‘Privacy and security‘ settings page, prompting you to review any extensions that have been removed from the Chrome Web Store. By clicking this link, you will be directed to your extension page, where the removed extensions will be listed along with the reasons for their removal. You will also be prompted to uninstall them.
Reasons That Will Trigger This Warning
Google states that there are three specific occurrences that can trigger this warning:
- The developer has unpublished the extension.
- The extension has been taken down for violating Chrome Web Store policy.
- The item has been marked as malware.
If any extensions are identified as malware, it is strongly recommended that you promptly uninstall them. This will not only safeguard your data but also shield your computer from potential future attacks.
Similarly, for those extensions that are removed for other reasons, it is advisable to uninstall them as well. These extensions are no longer supported or may violate other policies that, while not strictly related to malware, do not offer any significant benefits.
Google provides a comprehensive Chrome Web Store policies page that outlines the specific content or behavior that may result in the removal of an extension from the store.
