Google tries to persuade Edge users to use Chrome
Microsoft's new Chromium-based Edge browser offers several advantages over the classic Edge browser. Since it is based on the same core as Google Chrome, one of these advantages is the ability to head over to the Chrome Web Store to install pretty much any extension offered there.
The feature is not unique to the new Microsoft Edge browser as other Chromium-based web browsers, Opera and Vivaldi being two, support the same functionality.
The Chrome Web Store hosts thousands of browser extension which is massive compared to Microsoft's own extensions store for the new Edge browser which sits at around 100 extensions at the time of writing.
While it is a good idea to check Microsoft's own store first before you pay a visit to the Chrome Web Store, there is nothing wrong with downloading and installing extensions from that store.
Google is probably not that happy about that option. If you visit the Chrome Web Store using the new Chromium-based Edge browser, you get a notification at the top by Google that more or less states that extensions may only be used securely if Chrome is used.
Google recommends switching to Chrome to use extensions securely.
A download link is placed prominently as well. A click on the x-icon closes the notification for the active page but it is displayed again when you reload or load a different page on the site.
Google does not provide an explanation for the claim that it makes and it is targeting only the new Microsoft Edge browser and not other Chromium-based browsers that supported the installation of extensions from the Chrome Web Store for years.
Google and Microsoft have been trying various strategies to get users to use their browsers. Microsoft displays a notification in the Windows 10 Start Menu recently to some Firefox users suggesting they should try the new Edge browser. Google is known for limiting access to certain features to Chrome initially. Both companies use their widely popular services and applications to push their browsers.
Closing Words
If there is indeed a security issue involved when running Chrome extensions in other Chromium-based browsers, it would be appreciated by many if Google would provide details on the issue at hand. For now, it seems more like an attempt to scare Edge users into switching to Chrome.
Now You: What is your take on this?
Well, that’s what you get when you try to use other stores as your own store because you suck to create a decent one for yourself. That’s life so I am not surprised.
The Store is the Achilles’ heel of all Chromium-based browsers. (The poor user interface, too.)
It allows Google to censor your extensions (no YouTube download, for a start, which is totally childish), it is full of shareware and, to cap it all off, if you use Edge instead of Chrome, your browser will probably ping Google all the time to check for extension updates.
I assume that claim is based purely on Google’s idea of security, which means that it’s safe when Google has total control. It’s probably also an attempt to build a legal shield, if Google Store extensions cause trouble on a third-party browser.
Go to the store, don’t mind any distraction, install uBlockOrigin and uMatrix, close the tab and never go back. They’re the only two extensions worth installing anyway. Everything else is superfluous garbage.
@Yuliya
>They’re the only two extensions worth installing anyway. Everything else is superfluous garbage.
This is the dumbest comment I have read this year, congratulations. It is always funny when an Idiot is instructing others what to do.
>This is the dumbest comment I have read this year, congratulations. It is always funny when an *** [Editor: please be polite] is instructing others what to do.
Talking about idiotic opinions & dumbest comments…
@Yuliya
“Everything else is superfluous garbage”
Hmm.
That’s a very extreme perspective. Perhaps you’re a delusional megalomaniac who has issues with empathizing with other people’s needs?
That said, I like you. We should hook-up sometime.
Is Google trying to imply they never had an unsafe extension sitting in it’s store?
@Anonymous
Are you trying to imply that Google is trying to imply that hey never had an unsafe extension sitting in their store?
If so, then I find that rather silly.
If not, then I find you rather crazy.
I used Edge DEV as my default browser for several months, but switched back to Chrome beta as it has unique features like thumbnail tab images and a faster incorporation of Chromium security levels. Either browser might be my more permanent default in the future as they both improve over time. With either browser I feel it is important to run with the minimum number of extensions you can possibly tolerate. Customizing each browser with its available options is important to get the most satisfaction from either browser.
Use Chrome with your add-ons for more security, use Chrome’s process-isolation-whatever-stuff instead of Firefox for more security, use Gmail webmail instead of Thunderbird for more security, use Google’s webextension manifest v3 for more security, avoid private forks of our browsers for more security, tell us what you browse and download for more security, let Chrome scan your other installed programs for more security…
What about my security against the Google beast ?
I think Google needs to STFU.
If Google was more detailed in detailing the risk I would give them a pass. But since I don’t see this with Brave or other Chrome clone’s. I am skeptical that Edge is any more at risk than any other browser that can install Google extensions.
. . . an attempt to scare Edge users into switching to Chrome . . .
And it may very well be some type of attempt to coerce Chrome users to remain with Chrome and Edge users to not attempt a change.
From business point of view, I would make sure “my store” did not support another browser–signing of some sort, etc.
So the big, big mistake here is Google not locking down or using some type of patent on its vast accumulation of add-ons that should be and are rightfully Google’s property.
If other Chromium based browsers want to use Chrome add-ons, they can have add-on developers submit add-ons to their own stores which will require them to accept any legal ramifications that may result from an add-on working improperly or stealing information or whatever else Google must accept when allowing an add-on in their store.
Hope that makes sense!
In short, all these new Chromium based browsers popping up and cannabalizing another corporation’s work is ethically and, I would think, legally bogus.
If all the browsers we’re talking about have as their base underlying open-source code called Chromium, then I don’t see that Google has anything to complain about. If Google wants to and can proprietize some add-ons, extensions, whatever, so be it. If “legally bogus” is what’s going on here, I would think lawsuits would be flying.
> and cannabalizing another corporation’s work is ethically and, I would think, legally bogus.
… cannabalizing Google?
In nuce:
The corporation once started as search company and now their fingerprints just seem to be in every domain of human activity. They’re in smart home devices, they’re in wearables and biological devices, they’re in retail, they’re in financial transactions — all of these apparently different lines of business are the same business: the datafication of human experience for the purposes of production and sales.
That’s cannibalism!
“…ethically and, I would think, legally bogus.”
Sure, except your wrong.
Google want as many users as they can to use their store.
Less persuade, more coerce.
No sympathy for Microsoft here, they crossed the line when they started putting ads on the lock screen and in the start menu, when the end user isn’t even browsing the Internet! I hope Google pulls out all the anti-competitive stops that the non-existent regulators in the USA will let them get away with.
The thing is that a distinction must be made between my personal computer, and a website on the Internet. If a website wants to show me ads while I’m visiting, that’s their choice, because I have no right to actually be there. But when ads start invading my desktop, my personal space, on something that I paid for while I’m not even online and just trying to get work done, that’s when they’ve gone too far.
> But when ads start invading my desktop, my personal space, on something that I paid for…
I understand what you mean and agree 100%. But bear in mind, you did in fact pay for exactly that. Just like when you upload pictures to any social media you forfeit ownership over those pictures, you are allowing Microsoft to remotely control your machine by default.
I am expecting the day Google buys Microsoft. :)
Nope, MSFT 1.3TN (up), GOOG 978BN (down), at Feb 2020.
Microsoft may buy Google… oh, crap.
Microsoft is doing the same now. They check your default browser and if it’s not Edge, the new windows 10 start Menu suggests to stop using it and to use Edge. “Still using Firefox? Microsoft Edge is here.” Microsoft can go to hell, they get what they deserve
How does it feel, microsoft…
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Microsoft stopped me from using their Edge browser the minute that I read that they were using Chrome as a base. Why not just stick with the original. It’s working well for me.
@Gino
Why not just stick with the original (Chrome)?
Because we like the Chrome clones better. For example, you can find YouTube related extensions on the Edge and Opera store that are banned on the Chrome store.
And what’s wrong with using Chrome as a base?
Unless you’re some crazy snob, I see no issues with that.
>Now You: What is your take on this?
@Martin Brinkmann I agree with your assessment! Surprise!!
If there are actual tangible security concerns Google should indeed disclose them, but I suspect this warning is more about Google has not audited every 3rd party Chromium based browsers code and as such it is unlikely and without proper auditing, Google cant for sure say that these 3rd party Chromium based browsers implementations are causing the possibility of security issues.
That said, Google can do several things without this audit.
1) Implement secure and well documented API’s to their store and addons that require the 3rd party code implementations to follow Googles policies to a T.
2) Block access to store to 3rd party Chromium based browsers (unlikely for two reasons)
2a) Easily bypassed by using a user-agent modifier or method of tricking the store into accepting browser as the official G Chrome browser.
2b) Google would not have the opportunity of converting users and that’s the most likely reason for allowing all 3rd party Chromium browsers.
So failing all that work for little return, my view on these messages is ignore them, any user should take responsibility for their browser choices and decisions to install addons from any site they choose.
Spreading a little FUD as a marketing tool, shows just how low ANY companies will go for your patronage to their products and yet users dont seem to do much about it but complain.
Me I just dont use their products.
I no longer get that warning from Google.
But now I get this banner on every page of the Chrome store:
“You can now add extensions from the Chrome Web Store to Microsoft Edge – Click on Add to Chrome”
I close it, but it always comes back.
Is that coming from Google or Edge?
Either way, it’s 100% dumb!