Security News > 2021 > March > Cockup or conspiracy? Popular privacy extension ClearURLs removed from Chrome web store
The Chrome browser extension ClearURLs has been removed from the Chrome Web Store, for reasons its developer describes as "Ridiculous."
Google's Chrome team emailed ClearURLs developer Kevin Roebert yesterday to tell him: "Your item had to be removed from the Chrome Web Store," citing three violations of its terms.
In typical Google fashion, it appears that although the extension has been available for a long time, the discovery of these violations meant that it was instantly removed and its page now returns a 404 "Not found" error.
Roebert said: "The reasons for this are ridiculous and probably only pretended because ClearURLs damages Google's business model. ClearURLs has made it to its mission to prevent tracking via URLs and that's how Google makes money."
Using the Inspect Element context menu option shows that without the extension, a Google search result targets a redirect service on Google's server, including various arguments alongside the destination URL, whereas with ClearURLs installed, the link is direct.
Google's developer terms for its Chrome Web Store states that "Google retains the right to refuse to include a Product on the Web Store."