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Extension developers monetizing their extensions by selling the data that they get from users is a big problem. It's the reason that I don't freely install use

Extension developers monetizing their extensions by selling the data that they get from users is a big problem. It's the reason that I don't freely install useful extensions that I find today. I have no way to distinguish those who sell my data from those who dont. I love that Google is starting to solve this problem, and from my perspective an extension that is sending and receiving SMS messages should not be requesting the ability to read and change all data on all websites that I access.

onefuncman 6y ago
They aren't solving this problem, they're killing off extensions. And I say this having received many unsolicited attempts to "purchase" Chrome extensions.
- andrewmutz 6y ago
  I disagree. I think this practice could be seen as anti-developer, but it is pro-consumer.
  - AmericanChopper 6y ago
    The bit that improves user’s privacy is pro-consumer. The bit that removes user’s access to products is anti-consumer.
    - danpalmer 6y ago
      It's obviously a balance, but you could use that argument to allow any plugin on the store. It gives more choice. I think it's important to remember that while PushBullet is known to many of us, is posting on Hacker News, is a valued part of "the community" in some respect, at Google scale this fact is not know. PushBullet is obviously good to _us_, and maybe just needs to tweak permissions a little, but to a reviewer at Google it probably looks very similar to the hundreds of extensions they may review a day, many of which may contain malware. They have to use certain metrics to sort the good from the bad, and abuse of the permission system – intentional or not – is a pretty good one when you care about the end user.
      - deleted 6y ago
        [deleted]
    - Drew_ 6y ago
      You can freely sideload any Chrome extension it doesn't have to be on the Chrome Web Store
      - deleted 6y ago
        [deleted]
  - karlicoss 6y ago
    I often wish for a separate browser for consumers that are also devs. I'd happily lift the permissions for some open source extensions I'm using if that means better functionality.
    - hckr_news 6y ago
      I've noticed more recently of software products having an opt-in option for data collection
codegladiator 6y ago
> I love that Google is starting to solve this problem They aren't solving the problem. They are making sure only they can get all the user information. I would rather give all my information to everyone rather than giving all my information to google.
Theory5 6y ago
"Solve the problem" ok, so you're starting that this selling only happens when a third party dev does it? Do You have an android phone? Do You use google for anything? Gmail? Google docs/drive? Youtube? Chrome? ChromeOS? Anything google owns? Then they're selling your data. Try reading all those fun TOS agreements that come with using any of the aformentioned products, or heck, visiting sites that use google analytics.that won't tell you how much or what data google gets from you, but it'll tell you that you agreed to it.

onefuncman 6y ago

They aren't solving this problem, they're killing off extensions. And I say this having received many unsolicited attempts to "purchase" Chrome extensions.

andrewmutz 6y ago
I disagree. I think this practice could be seen as anti-developer, but it is pro-consumer.
- AmericanChopper 6y ago
  The bit that improves user’s privacy is pro-consumer. The bit that removes user’s access to products is anti-consumer.
  - danpalmer 6y ago
    It's obviously a balance, but you could use that argument to allow any plugin on the store. It gives more choice. I think it's important to remember that while PushBullet is known to many of us, is posting on Hacker News, is a valued part of "the community" in some respect, at Google scale this fact is not know. PushBullet is obviously good to _us_, and maybe just needs to tweak permissions a little, but to a reviewer at Google it probably looks very similar to the hundreds of extensions they may review a day, many of which may contain malware. They have to use certain metrics to sort the good from the bad, and abuse of the permission system – intentional or not – is a pretty good one when you care about the end user.
    - deleted 6y ago
      [deleted]
  - Drew_ 6y ago
    You can freely sideload any Chrome extension it doesn't have to be on the Chrome Web Store
    - deleted 6y ago
      [deleted]
- karlicoss 6y ago
  I often wish for a separate browser for consumers that are also devs. I'd happily lift the permissions for some open source extensions I'm using if that means better functionality.
  - hckr_news 6y ago
    I've noticed more recently of software products having an opt-in option for data collection

codegladiator 6y ago

> I love that Google is starting to solve this problem They aren't solving the problem. They are making sure only they can get all the user information. I would rather give all my information to everyone rather than giving all my information to google.

Theory5 6y ago

"Solve the problem" ok, so you're starting that this selling only happens when a third party dev does it? Do You have an android phone? Do You use google for anything? Gmail? Google docs/drive? Youtube? Chrome? ChromeOS? Anything google owns? Then they're selling your data. Try reading all those fun TOS agreements that come with using any of the aformentioned products, or heck, visiting sites that use google analytics.that won't tell you how much or what data google gets from you, but it'll tell you that you agreed to it.