Google Plans to Start Cracking Down on Apps That Silently Install Browser Extensions With Chrome 25

Chrome plans to add a feature so obvious, we wonder what took so long.

If you’ve ever downloaded a free app to use on your PC, it’s probably happened to you. The installation goes great, the program works as advertised (or doesn’t), but it isn’t until you open a browser window that the true cost of using that free app is realized.

Freeware tools love to install obnoxious tool bars, search engine replacements, and the most insidious ones install extensions with missions completely unknown to the user.

For applications like Skype this can add useful functionality such as click to dial, but more often than not, silently installed extensions do more harm than good. That’s why we were ecstatic to learn that Google is finally tackling the problem head on with Chrome 25, and will hopefully inspire the other major browser makers to take action as well.

In Chrome 25, users will be greeted with a new confirmation screen on any extensions installed without permission, and gives the user an opportunity to approve or trash it prior to executing. Google so far hasn’t made the decision to restrict extensions to the Chrome Web Store exclusively, however it’s not hard to imagine a future where this becomes the reality.

The Chrome team claims the move will help improve the functionality and performance of the browser, but it’s also a huge security bonus as well. The current stable release of Chrome is sitting at 23, but considering this increments every six weeks, expect to see this feature rolling out automatically to users early next year.

Chrome plans to add a feature so obvious, we wonder what took so long.

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