Google Chrome is one of the widely used web-browser, the perks of Google Chrome are its wide variety of extensions. Lately, Google addressed the issue with an updated Chrome Web Store Policy, which blocks the spam extensions which might be significantly a vulnerability to a user’s data. The extensions take the users to misleading content and might cause issues for the users in the longer run.
Vulnerabilities through Chrome Extensions
Extensions of the same functionality, extensions with misleading information that are used only to launch applications, web pages or other similar resources, as well as programs that use notifications for malicious or annoying purposes, will be deleted or blocked at launch starting August 27, 2020, of the year.
According to the company, “the platform has begun to attract many spammers and scammers who introduce substandard and misleading extensions to the store in an attempt to fool users and force them to install.” Developers are also prohibited from manipulating the placement of their extensions in the Chrome Web Store. Thus, overstatement, the number of downloads or the publication of fake reviews will lead to the removal of the program from the store.
The following is a complete list of spam policy updates designed to reflect the quality of Chrome extensions:
• Developers should not publish several extensions that provide duplication of the functionality of existing programs in the Chrome Web Store;
• Extensions should not contain misleading, improperly formatted, uninformative, excessive or inappropriate metadata, including but not limited to the description of the extension, developer name, name, icon, screenshots and advertising images. Developers must provide a clear description. Inappropriate or anonymous user reviews in the application description are also not allowed;
• Developers should not try to manipulate the placement of any extensions in the Chrome Web Store. This includes cheating product ratings, reviews, or counting installations in illegal ways;
• Extensions are not allowed, the sole purpose of which is to install or launch another application, theme or web page;
• Extensions sending messages on behalf of the user without providing the ability to confirm the contents and the intended recipients are also not allowed.
