Google updates Chrome Web Store policy to block extension spam

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Google today updated the Chrome Web Store's spam policy to block extension spam so that users can have a real chance to avoid potentially malicious extensions while sifting through 200,000 add-ons available in the store.

Chrome extensions delivering similar functionality to others already published to the store, extensions with misleading information, extensions used only for launching apps, webpages, or other similar resources, and extensions abusing notifications for malicious or annoying purposes will be removed or blocked on submission starting with August 27, 2020.

Google says that "the increase in adoption of the extension platform has also attracted spammers and fraudsters introducing low-quality and misleading extensions in an attempt to deceive and trick our users into installing them to make a quick profit."

"We want to ensure that the path of a user discovering an extension from the Chrome Web Store is clear and informative and not muddled with copycats, misleading functionalities or fake reviews and ratings," the company added.

Developers are also forbidden from attempting to manipulate their extensions placement in the Chrome Web Store, which means that inflating their ratings, download, counts, or posting fake reviews will get them kicked out of the store.

This is the full list of spam policy updates designed with the quality of Chrome extensions in mind:
• Developers or their affiliates should not publish multiple extensions that provide duplicate experiences or functionality on the Chrome Web Store.
• Extensions should not have misleading, improperly formatted, non-descriptive, irrelevant, excessive, or inappropriate metadata, including but not limited to the extension’s description, developer name, title, icon, screenshots, and promotional images. Developers must provide a clear and well-written description. Unattributed or anonymous user testimonials in the app's description are also not allowed.
• Developers must not attempt to manipulate the placement of any extensions in the Chrome Web Store. This includes, but is not limited to, inflating product ratings, reviews, or install counts by illegitimate means, such as fraudulent or incentivized downloads, reviews and ratings.
• Extensions with a single purpose of installing or launching another app, theme, webpage, or extension are not allowed.
• Extensions that abuse, or are associated with the abuse of, notifications by sending spam, ads, promotions, phishing attempts, or unwanted messages that harm the user’s browsing experience are not allowed. Extensions that send messages on behalf of the user without giving the user the ability to confirm the content and intended recipients are also not allowed.
The new Chrome Web Store spam policy can be found within Google's Developer Program Policies.

More information about today's changes and how they apply to Chrome extensions are available on the Spam policy FAQ page.
 

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