Two Chrome add-ons Chrome had to remove Google from its Chrome Web Store. The extensions had changed their functionality through the automatic update function and had mutated into a kind of advertising trojan. Tens of thousands of users of the previously trustworthy Apps “Add to Feedly” and “Tweet This Page” were thus involuntarily strained for the spread of advertising. The developers had sold their programs and added the unwanted additional features to the new owners.
It was not only about the visual display of advertising banners, but links were also converted into partner links, with which the new owners of the programs could make a cash register.
It is not clear if and how thoroughly Google checks the updates of the programs on the Chrome Web Store - with the vast amount of offers this is relatively expensive. There are also very few possibilities for an automatic check, since the manipulation and processing of websites and addresses belong to the legitimate basic function of addons.
Reading tip: Chrome vs. Firefox
Since similar add-ons are possible with add-ons not only for Chrome, but also for Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari, the basic problem should also concern the other browser manufacturers.
For example, the Chrome user can learn about these issues through the review features in the app store. It also makes sense to display when a plugin is updating. For Chrome, the Extensions Update Notifier extension can provide this information.
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