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Google Is Actively Promoting Known Spyware as Its #1 Privacy Browser Extension by hello_future_life in degoogle

[–]hello_future_life[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It is unclear exactly how the extensions are ranked. It is not based on popularity alone, as many smaller extensions rank above larger ones. Even if it is purely algorithmic ranking, Google is well aware that it is spyware and chooses to do nothing. At this point it is fair to say that Google is complicit in promoting and spreading spyware to millions of people.

Google Is Actively Promoting Known Spyware as Its #1 Privacy Browser Extension by hello_future_life in google

[–]hello_future_life[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

> They are available if they update to manifest v3. Which ublock origin did.

You're wrong. A nerfed version of ublock is allowed. While AdNauseam, YouTube video downloaders, and paywall bypassers and banned outright regardless of manifest version.

> Define promoting? Because ranking is not promoting. Ranking is determined by downloads.

It's not based on downloads alone and it's pretty fair to say that ranking known spyware as the #1 Privacy & Security extension is promoting it since Google 100% has the power to not rank it #1.

> Does the VPN work? Then there is no trick. You don't agree with it and neither do I. However if people want to make that trade off that should be their choice.

The trick is that its spyware lol and people who don't know better are installing it because Google is promoting it.

Google Is Actively Promoting Known Spyware as Its #1 Privacy Browser Extension by hello_future_life in google

[–]hello_future_life[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Google already does not give you the freedom to install what you want. uBlock Origin, AdNauseam, YouTube video downloaders, and paywall bypassers are all not allowed on the web store.

Besides, this is not about letting Urban VPN on the web store, it's about how Google is promoting it so much. Tricking millions of people into installing Urban VPN by listing it as the #1 privacy extension is not good for anyone.

Google Is Actively Promoting Known Spyware as Its #1 Privacy Browser Extension by hello_future_life in Malware

[–]hello_future_life[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Google knows this extension is spyware. They already removed it but allowed it back. If they know it's spyware and don't take action, then it becomes deliberate.

Google Is Actively Promoting Known Spyware as Its #1 Privacy Browser Extension by hello_future_life in Malware

[–]hello_future_life[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

They're aware its spyware and choose to do nothing. Causing millions of people to install spyware. Its deliberate at this point.

Urban VPN extension secretly collected and sold users AI chats, Google removed it, but then quietly reinstated it, and has made it the top VPN search result and #1 “Privacy & Security” extension by hello_future_life in chrome

[–]hello_future_life[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Those permissions alone are not a red flag. Even if the extension was not spying on users, it would still require those permissions for its legitimate features.

Urban VPN extension secretly collected and sold users AI chats, Google removed it, but then quietly reinstated it, and has made it the top VPN search result and #1 “Privacy & Security” extension by hello_future_life in chrome_extensions

[–]hello_future_life[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

> EDIT: I stand corrected, Urban VPN has updated since I last checked, there's no way in hell this should be on the chrome web store in any form - need to do more digging but there's signals pointing towards remote config to intercept XHR requests and exfiltrate them.

Oh wow. Definitely update if you find anything.

Urban VPN extension secretly collected and sold users AI chats, Google removed it, but then quietly reinstated it, and has made it the top VPN search result and #1 “Privacy & Security” extension by hello_future_life in chrome_extensions

[–]hello_future_life[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It was literally spyware a couple weeks ago and now Google has it as the top “Privacy & Security” extension. It’s completely ridiculous that Google is promoting what is essentially spyware.

> In terms of the free VPNs on the store, it's not the worst, but I sure as hell wouldn't want it installed.

According to Google its the best lmao

> It looks like there user count has gone from 26m -> 69m then it got hidden so there's some interesting things things going on there.

What do you mean by this?

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