Google just blocked this Chrome privacy extension — here's why
Google simply blocked this Chrome privacy extension — here's why
Google has removed a Chrome extension from its Chrome Web Store, and some users are up in arms. The extension programmer is questioning Google's motives.
The ClearURLs extension, still available for Firefoxand Edge, is geared towards user privacy and removes tracking components from URLs when users click on a link.
- The best Android browsers for your smartphone
- Stay safe: Get the best Android antivirus apps
- Plus: Google just made Wi-Fi way better than Bluetooth — here's how
Information technology's possible to encounter tracking components for yourself with a glance at the browser address bar, where really long URLs are ofttimes displayed.
The latter portions of a long URL — anything that follows a question mark, equal sign or ampersand — tin can sometimes be removed without affecting the content of the web page, as the extra bits may just be in that location to rail users and collect data for analytics.
Futhermore, links that y'all encounter posted in Google search results don't always atomic number 82 directly to their destinations. Oftentimes, the link instead goes to a Google server, which takes notation of where it came from and where it's going, thanks to all those actress tracking bits in the URL. The Google server and then sends the user on their way to the intended website.
ClearURLs removes that center footstep and sends the user straight from the search results page to the final destination.
'Damaging Google's business model'?
Google is penalizing ClearURLs because it "damages Google's business model," said extension developer Kevin Roebert.
Roebert posted a lengthy argument on the situation over on GitHub along with the High german-language email (in Roebert'due south native tongue) that he received from Google explaining the justification for the removal.
"The reasons for this are ridiculous," Roebert wrote. "ClearURLs has made it to its mission to preclude tracking via URLs and that's how Google makes money. I remember that ClearURLs at present has so many users that it is unwelcome for Google and they would like to see the addon disappear permanently."
Contradictory explanations
Roebert has appealed to Google and says the company gave him conflicting reasons as to why the extension was taken down.
Roebert said Google manifestly thinks the description is "as well detailed" and hence violates the shop policy, proverb it's confusing to users.
On the other mitt, Google likewise informed Roebert that the description wasn't detailed plenty, leaving out references to features similar its settings import/consign characteristic, logging functionality, and donate button.
Speaking about the missing descriptors to BleepingComputer, Roebert stated, "This almost reads similar a joke. No user seriously cares about during installation if there is a way to donate, a badged indicator, a log for debugging, or a function to relieve and restore settings.
"The task of the addon is to make clean URLs," he told Bleeping Computer. "I described these functions and not that there is also a donate button. Just Google wants that these 'important' functions are also described considering otherwise the users are 'deceived.' I have at present added this to the description."
Minor infractions
To be fair to Google, the automatic High german-to-English translation of the email Google sent Roebert, and which he posted himself, is a little more than subtle and names only minor infractions.
It docks Roebert for not mentioning the "Donate, Badges, Logging, Export/Import" functions of the ClearURLs extension in its description.
It also says that "superfluous and/or irrelevant keywords are in the description of the article," i.due east. extension. The Google electronic mail suggests removing those keywords and updating the description.
Google likewise patently penalized Roebert for unnecessarily writing to the system clipboard, which he admitted was a feature left over from an earlier version of the extension.
Reaction to the removal of ClearURLs from the Chrome Web Store are split, with some users suggesting the add together-on had security issues, while others retrieve the idea that Google would encounter the extension as a threat to its business is preposterous.
Meanwhile, a different segment of the community is concerned about Google'due south monopoly over the space, and the level of control it exerts.
For at present, users who nonetheless want to utilize the extension tin manually install information technology.
- Find the best Android apps to install on your phone
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/news/google-just-blocked-this-chrome-privacy-extension-heres-why
Posted by: ortiziggerstoost.blogspot.com
0 Response to "Google just blocked this Chrome privacy extension — here's why"
Post a Comment