Comment on Google Chrome ships a default, hidden extension that allows code on *.google.com access to private APIs, including your current CPU usage
This is not a typical extension and it cannot be removed. It doesn’t even show up in the list of installed extensions.
Maybe recompiling? But I suspect that Chrome as it is, is closed source?
Chromium is open source. Google Chrome is not open source.
github.com/ungoogled-software/ungoogled-chromium
…github.io/ungoogled-chromium-binaries/
Seems like a great option. Can anyone more familiar with the code confirm this removes the aforementioned CPU-fingerprinting plugin?
It does. You can even try it out yourself. Install Ungoogled Chromium, go to google.com and paste the following code in the Developer console (which you can bring up by pressing F12 and clicking on ‘Console’ at the top of the DevTools interface):
chrome.runtime.sendMessage( "nkeimhogjdpnpccoofpliimaahmaaome", { method: "cpu.getInfo" }, (response) => { console.log(JSON.stringify(response, null, 2)); }, );
If it returns nothing or an error, you’re good. If it returns something like this:
{ "value": { "archName": "arm64", "features": [], "modelName": "Apple M2 Max", "numOfProcessors": 12, "processors": [ { "usage": { "idle": 26890137, "kernel": 5271531, "total": 42525857, "user": 10364189 } }, ...
it means that the hidden extension is present, and *.google.com sites have special access in your browser.
Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 months ago
Maybe recompiling? But I suspect that Chrome as it is, is closed source?
JackbyDev@programming.dev 4 months ago
Chromium is open source. Google Chrome is not open source.
ABasilPlant@lemmy.world 4 months ago
github.com/ungoogled-software/ungoogled-chromium
…github.io/ungoogled-chromium-binaries/
Katana314@lemmy.world 4 months ago
Seems like a great option. Can anyone more familiar with the code confirm this removes the aforementioned CPU-fingerprinting plugin?
Andromxda@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 months ago
It does. You can even try it out yourself. Install Ungoogled Chromium, go to google.com and paste the following code in the Developer console (which you can bring up by pressing F12 and clicking on ‘Console’ at the top of the DevTools interface):
If it returns nothing or an error, you’re good. If it returns something like this:
it means that the hidden extension is present, and *.google.com sites have special access in your browser.