Chrome Experiment warns some extensions can slow down & see browsing activity

This may be a coincidence or intentional after row over Google removing some malicious Chrome extensions, there is now an ‘Extensions Checkup’ experiment in Chrome stable, which when enabled, warns users that some extensions can affect users’ privacy and Chrome performance.

Despite Google policing extensions on Chrome Web Store, somehow, malicious extensions skip its radar and collect sensitive information from users when installed, this has been recently reported by awake Security firm, google removed the extensions after receiving the details.

If you’re using Chrome 83 stable version, you can see Google prepared an experiment on flags page to bring awareness about extensions to users.

To turn on the experiment,

1. Visit chrome://flags page, search for “extensions checkup’

2. You can see various options in the drop-down

• Default
• Enabled
• Enabled on Startup – Performance-Focused message
• Enabled on Startup- Privacy-Focused message
• Enabled on Startup- Neutral Focused message

When you enable the second and five options, the Chrome extensions page doesn’t convey any specific message to the user, it does when you turn on 3 and 4.

The NTP promo messages also show the same performance and privacy-focused messages when enabled.

Here is the performance-focused message Chrome extensions page gives to users when you select option 3.

A healthier, happier Chrome

Some extensions can slow you down – especially ones you didn’t mean to install.

If you don’t recognize an extension, or if your browser isn’t working as expected, you can turn off or customize extensions here

Here is the privacy-focused message on extensions page you notice when you select option 4

Check your extensions

Some extensions can see your browsing activity – including personal information.

If you don’t recognize an extension, or if your browser isn’t working as expected, you can turn off or customize extensions here.

We’re expecting Google to enable this experiment for a certain number of users to educate about the performance and privacy implications certain extensions can cause.

Related articles:

Chrome’s new Safety Check scans for bad extensions and compromised passwords

Know All Permissions Given to Installed Chrome Extensions

Microsoft removes malicious Extensions from Edge Add-ons Store

Chrome Extension Better History is Malicious, Remove It Immediately