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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

#271

Post by ppf »

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…

It wasn't popular on here last time I said it, but Google has won the web. Time to move on.

Also - Google is the natural result of the Silicon Valley business model. You got what you wanted!

Re: Google Removed ClearURLs Extension from Chrome Web Store

#272

Post by simias »

cookiecaper wrote: post #244
m-p-3 wrote: post #234

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They did lose a bit of focus in the past, but I believe they're getting it back with some privacy-oriented side-projects like Firefox Relay. Hopefully they don't go under :(

The layoffs last summer tell us all we need to know about the direction Mozilla's headed. I think they're toast. Brave and -- dare I say it? -- even Edge have brighter prospects.

They're all based on chromium though. That gives Google a lot of leverage because every time these projects decide to do something different from upstream it adds to the maintenance burden.

If Google decides to make some fundamental changes to their core engine that would make, say, ad blocking a lot more difficult, would the other chromium-based browsers deep-fork the entire codebase to keep ad blockers working while at the same time integrating the new features as fast as possible in order to remain competitive with Chrome?

Microsoft has the resources to do it, but they may not care. Brave and Vivaldi would almost certainly care, but they may not have the resources to do it.

I could spend all day criticizing Mozilla but I'll use Firefox to the bitter end because of this. In the end there are only three engines in widespread use these days: Chrom(e|ium), WebKit/Safari and Gecko. As far as I know Safari is irrelevant outside of Mac world, so losing Gecko would be terrible for the open web.

Re: Google Removed ClearURLs Extension from Chrome Web Store

#273

Post by antihero »

userbinator wrote: post #266
dessant wrote: post #37

I'd love to use ClearURLs, though last I checked it had a major flaw: it allows arbitrary code execution by the provider of the filter list. Among other things, it can redirect script URLs to arbitrary sources, and the filter list is periodically updated from a GitLab page, which enables the filter list provider to perform a targeted attack by serving a malicious filter list to a specific device. The only filter list…

Security paranoia is ruining the independent Internet and putting more power in the hands of companies like Google.

I mean, you say paranoia, but I think back to the time I had to spend hours and hours unliking instagram posts made by a bot that had harvested our cookies by buying Nano Adblocker.

Re: Google Removed ClearURLs Extension from Chrome Web Store

#274

Post by noisy_boy »

I don't get it. Most non-tech people I know are entrenched into the Google echo system and belong to one of these groups:

a) don't know the extent of Google's digital invasiveness

b) know but don't care

c) care but either not enough to leave it or don't have a choice really

I don't know anyone from these groups that are aware of ClearURLs or what is solves - they probably would have never installed it.

On the other hand, tech folks who know and care about what Google is doing, are perfectly capable of installing Firefox/Opera etc and get around it. Removing this extension doesn't do anything to affect these people.

What does such dick moves actually achieve? Its just makes most people either be indifferent or hate them more.

Re: Google Removed ClearURLs Extension from Chrome Web Store

#275

Post by yjftsjthsd-h »

achairapart wrote: post #143

Just to add my own data point: I have some extensions in the Chrome Web Store and, from time to time, Google send me a notice that they violate privacy policies (but they don't collect any data) or some permissions are not used (but yes, they are). So, after explaining and linking to the source code, they usually reply with another canned response: Thank you for reaching out to us. We took a closer look at your item…

Sufficient incompetence is indistinguishable from malice, and should be treated similarly (at least when dealing with companies). In my opinion, a company that regularly flags things that are complaint with the rules is Bad regardless of motives.

Re: Google Removed ClearURLs Extension from Chrome Web Store

#276

Post by cookiecaper »

simias wrote: post #272
cookiecaper wrote: post #244

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The layoffs last summer tell us all we need to know about the direction Mozilla's headed. I think they're toast. Brave and -- dare I say it? -- even Edge have brighter prospects.

They're all based on chromium though. That gives Google a lot of leverage because every time these projects decide to do something different from upstream it adds to the maintenance burden. If Google decides to make some fundamental changes to their core engine that would make, say, ad blocking a lot more difficult, would the other chromium-based browsers deep-fork the entire codebase to keep ad blockers working whil…

Gecko is already effectively lost -- the groups doing cutting-edge work were cut back in August. We're just watching the implosion.

I switched from Firefox to Brave in October and suggest others do the same. Personally, I believe Brave would indeed "deep-fork" the Chromium codebase if necessary, and I'd guess there's a significant chance that other Chromium-based browsers would use it in preference to a submarined upstream.

Re: Google Removed ClearURLs Extension from Chrome Web Store

#277

Post by wubbert »

madspindel wrote: post #84
llampx wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Could you elaborate on how Chrome has better security?

Not OP, but Chrome has end-to-end encryption option for Chrome Sync.

Doesn't Firefox do the same? IIRC Firefox encrypts your data client side and it doesn't get decrypted on their servers.

Re: Google Removed ClearURLs Extension from Chrome Web Store

#278

Post by yjftsjthsd-h »

madeofpalk wrote: post #160
varispeed wrote: post #157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Let's Encrypt has de facto monopoly. I think we could have added HTTPS if we had dozens of projects like Let's Encrypt otherwise this is just handing over too much control to one organisation.

> Let's Encrypt has de facto monopoly. Is that even remotely true? There are alternatives to Lets Encrypt - AWS has an equivalent project where they issue free SSL certs for AWS resources.

And zerossl exists for non-aws

Re: Google Removed ClearURLs Extension from Chrome Web Store

#279

Post by happymellon »

foepys wrote: post #124
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 agree with you except for the HTTPS part. In some nations it's not unheard of for ISPs to inject ads and tracking into webpages. This also opens the door for malware. Let's Encrypt's with its certbot made it easy enough to get a cert and every major webserver supports HTTPS out of the box with good documentation.

Not unheard of? Pretty sure Comcast at least used to do this. They are a pretty big player in a well know country that most people here would know of.
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