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Web Extensions Security Checker

Automatically check the status of extensions in the Chrome Web Store.

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Sometimes the browser extensions we install can be acquired by people with ulterior motives and thus do evil. This extension is a lifesaver when Chrome Web Store alerts are not forthcoming. This extension will alert you when an installed extension has been taken down by the Chrome Web Store.

Current behavior

  • Background full scan runs on install, browser startup, and every 60 minutes.
  • Opening the popup no longer triggers a full scan.
  • Opening the popup now silently re-checks only extensions that are already flagged as risky.
  • Popup UI shows only unresolved risky extensions (high/medium/low), and supports dismissing an alert fingerprint.

Risk rules

  • High risk: Removed from Chrome Web Store.
  • High risk: Sensitive permissions include debugger or nativeMessaging.
  • High risk: Broad host access includes <all_urls>, *://*/*, http://*/*, https://*/*.
  • Medium risk: Sideloaded or unknown install source.
  • Medium risk: At least two medium-sensitive permissions detected.
  • Medium risk: New permissions or host permissions added compared with previous snapshot.
  • Low risk: Installed in developer mode.
  • Low risk: Version changed without higher-priority findings.

Popup refresh and dismiss semantics

  • Popup open performs silent refresh only for already-flagged extensions, to keep refresh fast and avoid full list flashing.
  • Dismiss is fingerprint-based: if the exact same reasons reappear, the alert stays dismissed.
  • Dismiss is fingerprint-based: if reasons change (fingerprint changes), the alert becomes visible again.
  • Badge and icon state are computed only in background logic.

Reliability notes

  • Extension status requests use retry with backoff.
  • If some status requests still fail due to network issues, popup shows a weak warning and keeps available results.

Development

  • Run regression tests: npm test

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Web Extensions Security Checker

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