Google is getting ready to step up security in its Chrome web browser by preventing most Windows users from installing browser extensions unless they’re downloaded from the Chrome Web Store.

We already knew the change was coming, but Google is going one step further and actually disabling extensions you’ve already installed if they’re not hosted in the Web Store.

Google Chrome extensions

Google says the move will help protect users from installing malware — and if the browser automatically disables any of your plugins after you upgrade to Chrome 33, you’ll see a “Suspcious Extensions Disabled” notification.

Folks who really want to be able to install extensions that aren’t available in the official store will still be able to do so. They’ll just have to enable developer mode or install extensions using enterprise policy.

That’ll let businesses deploy custom plugins to a group of devices or allow developers to test their apps before uploading them to the Chrome Web Store. But it also provides a way for users who value freedom of choice over Google’s offer to protect them from malware to install apps from outside the walled garden.

The change won’t affect folks who use OS X or Linux.

via TNW

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6 replies on “Google Chrome 33 will disable extensions from outside the Web Store (Windows)”

  1. So I use developer mode to load an extension, but every time Chrome closes and reopens the extension is disable again. Is it possible to permanently enable the extension in developer mode so Chrome doesn’t disable it every dang time?

  3. stupid! if i wanted google to control my computer i would post it to them. read stories of google disabling AV extensions! There isnt even an option to ‘ignore’ or ‘skip this extension’ … it just disables all non chrome web store extensions en-masse.

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