Chrome will boost the security and privacy for extensions by reimagining the way a number of powerful APIs work with its new Declarative Net Request API.
Instead of a user granting each extension access to all of their sensitive data, Google created a way for developers to request access to only the data needed to accomplish the same functionality, according to a June 12 blog post.
“With the current Web Request API, users grant permission for Chrome to pass all information about a network request - which can include things like emails, photos, or other private information - to the extension,” the blog said. “In contrast, the Declarative Net Request API allows extensions to block content without requiring the user to grant access to any sensitive information."
Google added that the move won't prevent the development of ad blockers or stopping users from blocking ads but instead will help them write extensions in a way that protects users’ privacy.
