If you are a Google Chrome user on a Windows machine, you’ll soon have to download all your Chrome extensions through the Chrome Web Store. In order to reduce Chrome malicious extensions, Google decided to block all extensions from external sources starting this January. Erik Kay, Google’s engineering Director, explained in a blog post that many Windows users were complaining that their settings were being altered without their approval. These problems are found when users download extensions hosted outside the Chrome Web Store.
Since Google has no control over those malicious extensions, it is impossible for Google to police the damage of how harmful they are to Chrome users. These malicious extensions go beyond just altering the user’s home page or other settings, they often mass collect and sell users’ data to marketing agencies.
Another way these extensions take advantage of users is by delivering users malicious ads.
To reduce the malicious extensions from end users, developers will be required to host all their extensions on the Chrome Web Store. Google recommends developers migrate all their extensions to its Web Store as soon as possible. This will only affect Windows users, this policy will not affect users using other OS other than Windows.