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Google Removed ClearURLs Extension from Chrome Web Store

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Re: Google Removed ClearURLs Extension from Chrome Web Store

#211

Post by rjmunro »

Hendrikto wrote: post #8

> The reasons for this are ridiculous and probably only pretended because ClearURLs damages Google's business model. […] > Among other things, it was claimed that the description of the addon is too detailed and thus violates the Chrome Web Store rules. The mention of all the people who helped to develop and translate ClearURLs is against Google's rules because it could "confuse" the user. Ridiculous. > Also, Google…

Google reject plugin saying description is too long and wordy, and doesn't cover points that it should.

So either Google must be trying to block a plugin for evil business reasons or Google is trying to improve the Chrome Web Store, making it less confusing for users and easier to search.

Improving the description will probably make more people install it, not less.

Re: Google Removed ClearURLs Extension from Chrome Web Store

#212

Post by Const-me »

aj3 wrote: post #204
Const-me wrote: post #195

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My web site has no comments or other user-generated content, runs no CMS, uses no cookies, collects no data except standard web server logs, hosts no executables, and has no secret nor security sensitive content.

Without encryption active attacker could redirect users to different website, which would collect more data than your website does normally. They could also inject ads and javascript into users' sessions through your website.

If an active attacker has sufficient motivation, hacking user's computer is way more profitable than messing with their home router in the middle.

Re: Google Removed ClearURLs Extension from Chrome Web Store

#213

Post by luckylion »

bb101 wrote: post #166
elktea wrote: post #2

anyone using this site that still uses chrome, why?

Firefox's default scrolling behaviour didn't feel as responsive as Chrome. I changed a few settings below in about:config and now Firefox is a pleasure to use again. With the uBlock Origin, Cookie Autodelete and ClearURLs add-ons, it's better for privacy too. general.smoothScroll: false mousewheel.default.delta_multiplier_y: 300

I really wish someone at Mozilla would take the time to document the settings related to scrolling or make a GUI to simulate the behavior you're setting up. Getting it to work "close enough" to how well it works on chrome took a bit of time and was basically looking through forums where people mentioned what had worked for them.

It's not the most central thing a browser has to do, but every user does it so often and it's a constant annoyance when it doesn't work the way you like/expect it to.

Re: Google Removed ClearURLs Extension from Chrome Web Store

#214

Post by WesolyKubeczek »

solarengineer wrote: post #182
lmilcin wrote: post #151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I second that. The whole problem is that Google is supplying a trojan horse that they use to prevent people from developing solutions from protecting their privacy and in fact they use it to gather even more data about people -- something that ensures unfair advantage over competition.

Even more reason to help push Mozilla Firefox. Having typed that, I sure hope there are people at Mozilla who would help ensure that Mozilla does no evil :(

Unfortunately, from the look of it it seems like Mozilla overflows with people determined to make Firefox irrelevant.

Re: Google Removed ClearURLs Extension from Chrome Web Store

#215

Post by prepend »

tough wrote: post #203
b112 wrote: post #180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bear in mind, that many subconsciously are unhappy with their workplace's policies and effects on the world, but at the same time have linked their personal esteem and identity with work. By threatening their self esteem, their very identity, by validating what the know deep inside them, that they work to do evil, without wanting to, they must strongly reject/defy such claims to reassert and restore their veiled view…

“It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.”

That quote isn’t specific to capitalism and would apply to any economic system where people have salaries.

Re: Google Removed ClearURLs Extension from Chrome Web Store

#216

Post by ppf »

TeMPOraL wrote: post #122
ppf wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I thought the accepted solution to these problems was "disrupt!", not regulation. Edit: It seems that not even Silicon Valley likes the monsters it has created.

The general solution is to do a little of both. The job of the regulators isn't to just kill off specific companies that got too powerful - it's to create conditions where disruption is possible. An important way to do this is to prevent big players from abusing their power to make themselves nearly-impossible to disrupt.

But that's the whole point of the SV business model! Strangle any competition by initially offering your products for free (and funded by huge amounts of VC), and then raise prices at your leisure once you're the last one standing.

Re: Google Removed ClearURLs Extension from Chrome Web Store

#217

Post by ppf »

varispeed wrote: post #171
ppf wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I thought the accepted solution to these problems was "disrupt!", not regulation. Edit: It seems that not even Silicon Valley likes the monsters it has created.

At some point some companies have become too big to disrupt. I think the best way is to partition companies that grew too big, that could be called disruption if you will. I'd like to see Alphabet holding to be dismantled and all products moved into separate independent companies.

But that's the whole point of the SV business model! Strangle any competition by initially offering your products for free (and funded by huge amounts of VC), and then raise prices at your leisure once you're the last one standing.

Re: Google Removed ClearURLs Extension from Chrome Web Store

#218

Post by methodsignature »

solarengineer wrote: post #182
lmilcin wrote: post #151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I second that. The whole problem is that Google is supplying a trojan horse that they use to prevent people from developing solutions from protecting their privacy and in fact they use it to gather even more data about people -- something that ensures unfair advantage over competition.

Even more reason to help push Mozilla Firefox. Having typed that, I sure hope there are people at Mozilla who would help ensure that Mozilla does no evil :(

They may have noble intent, but they also have conflict of interest given Google basically signs their paychecks. [I do use Firefox regardless]

Re: Google Removed ClearURLs Extension from Chrome Web Store

#219

Post by nova22033 »

ulrikrasmussen wrote: post #45

What I don't get is why Google is allowed to provide a browser and be a major content provider at the same time. If this is allowed to continue then it seems inevitable than an unhealthy monopoly will form where Chrome and its derivatives are the only browsers that can consume the modern web, and where opting out of tracking is not a possibility for anyone but the most technically inclined (although that's almost alr…

What I don't get is why Google is allowed to provide a browser and be a major content provider at the same time.

For the same reason you are allowed to make this comment or I am allowed to reply. There is no explicit law prohibiting them from providing a free browser while also being dominant in the content space.

Re: Google Removed ClearURLs Extension from Chrome Web Store

#220

Post by BunsanSpace »

deallocator wrote: post #130
echelon wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

More fuel for the Google antitrust / breakup fire. Google should not be allowed to develop Chrome or have any say in web standards. Every play they make favors themselves - unsemantic HTML5, AMP, crippled and removed extensions, progressive removal of the URL bar, https everywhere (no more self-hosted blogs unless you understand cert signing and automated renewal - why did the web stop being easy?), cookie standards…

I don't disagree with what you're saying, but I feel HTTPS everywhere does not belong in that list. Secure by default doesn't sound evil to me, and Let's Encrypt made it easy enough to get free HTTPS certificates (and for non technical people, almost all hosting services I've seen offer it out of the box)

A static blog that takes no user input/data doesn't need HTTPS.

Here's a good lecture about why HTTPS everywhere isn't as important as people think. http://n-gate.com/software/2017/07/12/0/

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