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NoScript Might Come To Google Chrome: Eventually

If you search the Internet, e.g. on Google Search or Bing, for requested extensions for the Google Browser you notice that NoScript next to an effective ad blocker tops those listings most of the times. NoScript is a Firefox extension that can block all scripts by default from being loaded when the page is requested. It is then up to the user to keep it that way or enable (whitelist) some scripts for the session or even permanently (so that they are always loaded when the page is accessed).

NoScript is primarily a security add-on but it also provides other benefits like ad blocking since most advertisements on the Internet are using either JavaScript or Flash.

Google Chrome has made leaps forward with Chrome 4 stable being released to the public and Chrome 5 in the workings. Extensions are now supported out of the box in Chrome 4 and users are asking (again) why NoScript has not been ported or copied yet.

The developer of NoScript, Giorgio Maone, gives us the answer on December 10, 2009.

Chrome is still lacking the required infrastructure for selective script disablement and object blocking. Maybe Google plans to implement the missing stuff later, maybe they’re still trying to figure out whether it can be done without enabling effective ad blocking, but in the meanwhile the pale AdBlock and FlashBlock imitations which have been hacked together by overwhelming popular demand, are forced to use a very fragile CSS-based hiding approach, ridiculously easy to circumvent.

The developer posted an update on January 28, 2010 in the Informaction forum:

It means the the technology infrastructure to make it possible is not there yet (so “now be possible” does not makes much sense), but I’m in talks with good will Google people who say they want it to happen.

Talks are underway which is good to hear although Google had contacted the developer previously (as early as April 2009) and nothing seemed to have changed since then.

Google Chrome 5 on the other hand might deliver exactly the functions needed to port NoScript to Google Chrome. If you remember yesterday’s review you know that JavaScript and Plugin blocking with whitelisting resources was shown in the new Content Settings menu. It would be interesting to hear what the NoScript developer thinks of this development.

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Related Articles:

NotScript Brings NoScript Functionality To Google Chrome
Google Chrome Content Settings
Safy, Run Links With JavaScript, Plugins Disabled In Google Chrome
ScriptNo, Another NoScript Extension For Chrome
Google Chrome Adblocker



About the Author:Martin Brinkmann is a journalist from Germany who founded Ghacks Technology News Back in 2005. He is passionate about all things tech and knows the Internet and computers like the back of his hand. You can follow Martin on Facebook or Twitter.

Author: , Sunday January 31, 2010 -
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Responses so far:

  1. Ste_95 says:

    Yeah, great idea, so even Chrome will be spoiled by a such awful idea…

  2. NoScript is an excellent firefox add-on but I really don’t hold out much hope when Google doesn’t even getit’s own plugins, like the toolbar and PageSpeed, to work with Chrome.

  3. @Martin

    There is a typo error in Post title.
    If I am right, “NoSript” should be “NoScript”

  4. ken says:

    think Google should put this as top priority task.

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