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Google Starts Blocking Extensions Not In the Chrome Web Store
An anonymous reader writes "Google has begun blocking local Chrome extensions to protect Windows users. This means that as of today, extensions can be installed in Chrome for Windows only if they're hosted on the Chrome Web Store. Furthermore, Google says extensions that were previously installed 'may be automatically disabled and cannot be re-enabled or re-installed until they're hosted in the Chrome Web Store.' The company didn't specify what exactly qualifies the "may" clause, though we expect it may make exceptions for certain popular extensions for a limited time. Google is asking developers to reach out to it if they run into problems or if they 'think an extension was disabled incorrectly.'"
Does this include Java?
I refuse to use Google search, maps, cloud, G-mail or anything of theirs. I strongly object to entries in their terms of service and this is the only way that i can express my displeasure with them. Try to find an e-mail address that a live human will read at Google.
The extension I used to correct their staunch adherence to the idiocy that is mapping backspace to the browser back button is unhosted, so... bye.
The claim of protection is just the public plausible deniability excuse.. The real reason is to force people to use their stupid 'app store.'
I help fix computers for friends and family and the amount of incredible crapware that gets installed into browsers "by itself" is staggering. NONE of that is ever wanted.
Firefox had this problem first, and I'd say it was the only reason why most of them moved to Chrome.
Now Chrome is just as bad.
It is good for everyone I know, including me.
For those of us on the Dev channel for Chrome hit this in February. It's definitely a fucked up decision by the Chrome team and has led to a lot of folks ripping out Chrome in favor of something else. The claim made by the devs is that it's safer if the extensions come out of their web store and would eliminate malicious activity from extensions. They obviously didn't want to fix the browser to alert the user when malicious extensions are installed or provide a sysadmin set of functions necessary to install necessary, safe extensions. Of course we all know it's another fucking walled garden take-over by Google. I've already recommended to clients that they don't use Chrome and have removed it from a little over 4000 systems thus far. Personally Google is fucking the user community on this one, so fuck Google.
Harrison's Postulate - "For every action there is an equal and opposite criticism"
Look, you can spin it any way you want, but his is pretty obviously a step to protect non-technical Chrome users from malware. It's not aimed at people who have the know-how to manage their own plugins/apps.
Oh come on. This is obviously phase 2 of google's plan to consolidate its hold on the internet. Note that if the extensions are in the chrome store then all the data flows through google, which is all they want anyway.