Chrome will soon disable old Manifest V2 extensions
Google’s plan to modernize desktop Chrome extensions is entering its final stages as Manifest V2 tools will stop working by early next year.Â
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Old Manifest V2 Chrome extensions will be disabled in 2024
With Manifest V3, Google wants to make extensions safer by prioritizing privacy, but was initially criticized for the impact to ad blockers. The Chrome team has since added new features in response and is ready to disable old Manifest V2 extensions in 2024.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Chrome extensions can now create a side panel UI
In addition to your Bookmarks and Reading List, the desktop Chrome side panel will soon support Manifest V3 extensions that want to display an interface.
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Chrome Web Store adding Established Publisher and Featured extension badges
Over the past few years, Google has worked to clean up, boost privacy, and increase security on the Chrome Web Store. The latest effort introduces badges in the Chrome Web Store to better highlight high-quality extensions.
Expand Expanding CloseShazam launches Chrome Extension to identify what’s playing in any tab, but it’s broken for some [U]
Apple-owned Shazam has just released a Chrome Extension that works to identify what’s playing in your “Netflix or YouTube video, that Soundcloud mix or in a Twitch streamed video game,” but it doesn’t work for all users just yet.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle’s code-free ‘Tab Maker’ tool lets you make extensions that customize Chrome’s New Tab Page
The Chrome New Tab Page on desktop (Mac, Windows, Linux) and Chrome OS can be customized by third-party extensions so that users “discover something new every time [they] open a new tab.” Google’s new “Tab Maker” tool lets anyone create such an extension with “no coding required.”
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle will phase out Chrome support for old Manifest v2 extensions in 2023
For the past few years, Google has been working on a new specification for building Chrome extensions. Manifest v3 became available earlier this year with Chrome 88. In launching, the company has been conscious of how big a shift the privacy-preserving aspects are, and today detailed the transition away from Manifest v2.
Expand Expanding CloseEnterprise Chrome users can now request permission to download extensions
Over the years, Google has worked to minimize the security risks posed by browser add-ons. Enterprise administrators now have a new option that lets managed Chrome users request extensions as needed.
Expand Expanding CloseChrome 92 expands Site Isolation to extensions, more sites on Android
As part of the broader Chrome 92 update today, Google is expanding the availability of Site Isolation on Android, as well as to extensions on desktop browsers.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle requiring Chrome Web Store devs to enable 2FA, combine repetitive extensions, more
Google today announced the latest set of policy changes to limit extensions abuse and improve security of the Chrome Web Store. This includes requiring 2FA for Chrome Web Store developers and cracking down on deceptive installations.
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Google, Apple, Microsoft, and Mozilla working to standardize browser extension development
Google, Apple, and the other major browser vendors today announced a WebExtensions Community Group (WECG) at the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to “work together to advance a common browser extension platform.”
Expand Expanding CloseFirefox will implement Chrome’s Manifest V3 extension spec, but still support old ad blocker approach
Manifest V3 is the latest specification for building Chrome extensions. The update was controversial in that it affected ad blockers, but Google maintained that privacy was the priority. Mozilla announced yesterday that it would support Manifest V3 extensions in Firefox to “maintain a high degree of compatibility to support cross-browser development.”
Expand Expanding CloseThe Great Suspender extension has been removed from Chrome Web Store for containing malware
This afternoon, Google has delisted the popular extension The Great Suspender for containing malware and is proactively disabling the extension for those who have it.
Expand Expanding CloseApple’s iCloud Passwords extension for Chrome on Windows is now available
Besides iTunes, Apple’s biggest offering on Microsoft’s operating system is the iCloud sync client for files, photos, and mail. Apple is now extending its presence on Windows with an iCloud Passwords Chrome extension.
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Apple planning to release ‘iCloud Passwords’ Chrome extension for Windows
Over the years, Apple has made available a handful of application for Microsoft platforms to mostly serve iPhone owners using Windows. One of primary apps today is an iCloud sync client, and Apple looks to soon be releasing an iCloud Passwords Chrome extension.
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Google sunsetting Password Checkup extension now that it’s integrated with Chrome
Early in 2019, Google introduced Password Checkup to warn of breached third-party logins. Originally a Chrome extension, the tool was integrated into its online password manager and later the browser itself. Next month, Google will sunset the dedicated Password Checkup Chrome extension.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle releases ‘Link to Text Fragment’ Chrome extension
Google has released a new Chrome extension, called Link to Text Fragment, that allows you to easily create and share a link to a particular portion of a page.
Kiwi Browser and Samsung working to bring extensions support to Chromium for Android
Right now, the only way to use Chrome extensions on Android is to use an alternative browser like Kiwi Browser, which is based on the same Chromium browser engine. The developer responsible for Kiwi Browser is working with Google and Samsung to bring Kiwi’s extensions support “upstream” to Chromium for other Chromium-based browsers to use freely.
Google imposes new restrictions on Chrome extensions to help prevent spam
Since the Chrome Web Store has become the sole source of Chrome extensions, as well as a begrudging secondary provider for Microsoft Edge extensions, safety and security is of the utmost importance. To that end, Google has announced a new set of restrictions on Chrome extensions that should help cut back on spam.
You can now install extensions like Zoom, Hangouts onto Chromebooks for kids [Updated]
With everyone — including students of all ages — working from home, video conferencing apps like Zoom have become essential parts of daily life. However, the Chromebooks that many students have handy were hindered by not being able to install the Chrome extension for either Zoom or Hangouts, but that has just changed.
Update 4/22: Even more extensions are coming soon to Chromebooks with Family Link.
Chrome extension gives Google Tasks a full-screen UI
One of Google’s simpler services is Google Tasks, which offers traditional to-do lists that are synced across your devices with your Google Account. However, while Google Tasks has a convenient app for Android and iOS, the only way to access it from the web is from the sidebar of other Google apps like Gmail. A third-party developer has created an alternative way to access Google Tasks in full-screen on your laptop, desktop or Chromebook.
Google enforcing stricter privacy rules for Chrome extensions this October
With Project Strobe, Google is conducting a “root-and-branch review” of third-party developer access to personal data. In May, the company announced that the initiative would look at Chrome Extensions, with new policies coming into effect this October.
New Chrome extension hides your Netflix binging as Hangouts Meet call
It’s the Monday after a long weekend and you might not want to get back to work just yet. Thanks to a new Chrome extension you can procrastinate a while longer and finish up Stranger Things 3 or any other Netflix show while on your important, do not disturb “Hangouts Meet” call.
Google mandating Chrome extensions request less data, stop deceptive installs
Just before last year’s October 9th event, Google announced Project Strobe to review third-party access in all services, including Android. This initiative is now cracking down on Chrome extensions and requiring them to use less data, as well as to stop deceptive install practices.
