Google is planning a new Chrome extension privacy update for 2021.
Their plan is to add a new section where developers are able to disclose what’s the exact data they’ll collect from users, as well as what they’ll do with this information.
When will this update be coming in?
Let’s find out.
What We Know About Chrome Extension Privacy Update
This new section will make its way into effect right after January 18 of 2021. Just when that happens, it will also appear as a “privacy practices” button of the Web Store listing.
Google itself explains further details about what the 2021 Privacy Update will be:
- “Ensuring the use or transfer of user data is for the primary benefit of the user and in accordance with the stated purpose of the extension.
- Reiterating that the sale of user data is never allowed. Google does not sell user data and extension developers may not do this either.
- Prohibiting the use or transfer of user data for personalized advertising.
- Prohibiting the use or transfer of user data for creditworthiness or any form of lending qualification and to data brokers or other information resellers.”
We also learned at the WWDC 2020 developer conference (celebrated in June) that Google’s new “data disclosure” policy isn’t something completely unique. Apples have also announced a “privacy prompt (label)” requirement.
In fact, this got released on December 8 and it lists in detail which is data points the app collects from users (and if some are used to track across them).
Do you know what extensions are? In short terms: they’re independent upgrades created by third-party companies that plan to improve the experience of modern browsing.
While Google Chrome it’s not the first or only one to implement this system, it’s the best known for doing so. For the same reason, it has grown so much, that there are entire communities of providers and users who live and breathe extensions.
But as you can imagine by the headline, extensions (regardless of the platform) can result harmful to your data and privacy.
So it might be good news for you, that now devs are starting to update their privacy information before the privacy update goes live in mid-January. This is mostly because if they don’t add it now, they’ll start to receive warnings from the platform.
A fun fact: Microsoft Edge users will also benefit from this change and will notice soon in the browser’s privacy information section. Let’s not forget that this one runs under the same engine as Google Chrome.
Microsoft Edge comes as the default browser for Windows 10, but it has expanded after the Chromium migration, which lets it open for many more to come.
For the moment, Windows 7, 8, 8.1, Linux, and macOS users can run it, with the support of extensions from the Chrome Web Store.
Although Microsoft has made its moves to drive more and more users over time into their own add-on store… So do not underestimate it, because it also contains a long list of high-quality extensions.
Opera and Vivaldi are other Chromium browsers capable of installing extensions from the Web Store.
Which web browser are you using right now, and why have you chosen that one in particular? Please, let me know in the comments!
While they seem to do the exact same set of actions, they’re internally different from each other. And today’s news enlightens our future need for privacy and security.
But… Who has the patience to wait so long? Your business can’t!
Get in contact now with our team of cybersecurity experts if you’re worried about your personal information and business assets. You never know who’s watching.