Google makes it with an upcoming update of its browser Chrome impossible for third parties to install extensions without the user’s notice or consent. According to Google, this feature is widely abused.
Using a registry method was up to now possible to silently extensions to add to Chrome on Windows machines. That possibility was there to give users an opt-in offer if they have software installed that additional Chrome extensions wanted to add. “Unfortunately, the functionality is widely abused by third parties to secretly extensions in Chrome to install without the user’s informed”, notes Google.
With the upcoming version 25 of Chrome, turn Google this option for this reason. If a program of a third party is now an extension install, it will give the user the option whether he wants to enter or wants to remove. All already using the registry method installed extensions are automatically disabled. Google gives no examples of extensions that misuse made of the option. According to Google, is the blame that users are not informed of were because extensions affect the performance and functionality of Chrome. The company does not indicate the possible concerns about privacy.
