Google Tests New Chrome Extension Menu Style Allowing Users to Precisely Control Site Access for Extensions

Chrome browser extensions currently have the ability to control access to visited websites, but the existing options are buried in the extension settings page, a detail many users may overlook.

However, a new style for the extension menu is soon to be tested. The main advantage of the new style is the direct control it offers in the menu over which sites an extension can access.

By default, extensions cannot directly access websites. Instead, a prompt appears asking users to choose whether to ask each time or allow direct access to all sites, essentially a move to enhance security.

Take the commonly used ad-blocking extension, uBlock Origin, as an example. This extension needs permission to always access all websites to help users block ads on each site.

Similarly, for an extension that formats JSON, since not all websites provide JSON data, users only need to grant access to sites that offer JSON data, eliminating the need to allow access to all sites.

The main difference between the new and old styles is the simplification of the user's setting path. Previously, multiple clicks were required, but with the new version, operations can be directly performed in the menu, significantly reducing the difficulty of settings for users.

The current setting for an extension's website permissions is located at: Chrome, menu, extensions, click on the details of a specific extension, and in site access, choose to allow all or click to ask.

For developers, adjustments are also necessary. Google has designed a new API to accommodate these changes. Developers need to update their extensions to call this API to re-prompt for permission in cases where users have previously denied access (though this reminder only appears in the menu options, and won't be seen unless the user clicks on the menu).

For more details on these changes, please refer to the Google Chrome developers blog: https://developer.chrome.com/blog/new-extensions-menu-testing?hl=zh_cn