Mefi extensions all died June 15, 2014 6:04 PM Subscribe
Chrome suddenly has disallowed extensions if they don't come from the chrome web store, and you cannot re-enable them, and this includes all my metafilter ones (deleted posts, scroll tag). None of them appear to be in the chrome store. This appears to be a deliberate decision by Google -- is someone (I don't know who wrote them immediately, but I definitely lack the knowledge to do so) going to put them in the Chrome store? Or is there a workaround? Do I go back to Firefox?
Was just coming to say what pb said. Works like a charm.
posted by briank at 6:22 PM on June 15, 2014
posted by briank at 6:22 PM on June 15, 2014
After reading pb's post I installed tampermonkey... but it looks like userscripts is now down (maybe for good). After searching around, it seems like plenty of popular MeFi scripts were hosted there. Does anyone have any alternative sources for good MeFi scripts to install?
posted by Old Man McKay at 7:24 PM on June 15, 2014
posted by Old Man McKay at 7:24 PM on June 15, 2014
Cool, thanks, that has worked with some help from the wayback machine for userscripts.org.
posted by jeather at 7:25 PM on June 15, 2014
posted by jeather at 7:25 PM on June 15, 2014
Thanks jeather. I tried that, and found some success!
posted by Old Man McKay at 7:37 PM on June 15, 2014
posted by Old Man McKay at 7:37 PM on June 15, 2014
it looks like userscripts is now down (maybe for good). After searching around, it seems like plenty of popular MeFi scripts were hosted there. Does anyone have any alternative sources for good MeFi scripts to install?Userscripts still works on port 8080, but who knows how long for. Some people (me included) have migrated our MeFi scripts from Userscripts to Greasy Fork. Here's a MeTa thread about it, and here is a link to the scripts I've made.
posted by Flunkie at 7:41 PM on June 15, 2014 [7 favorites]
Does anyone have any alternative sources for good MeFi scripts to install?
If you're on Windows, the disabled scripts should be buried somewhere in this directory:
C:\Users\[YOUR USER NAME]\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions
There will be some number of subdirectories with gibberish names.
If you go to Settings > Extensions in Chrome, you can find the ID that it's using for each extension. That will correspond to the name of the sub directory.
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 8:22 PM on June 15, 2014
If you're on Windows, the disabled scripts should be buried somewhere in this directory:
C:\Users\[YOUR USER NAME]\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions
There will be some number of subdirectories with gibberish names.
If you go to Settings > Extensions in Chrome, you can find the ID that it's using for each extension. That will correspond to the name of the sub directory.
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 8:22 PM on June 15, 2014
Thanks for posting this. I was just swearing at Google via my monitor for this very reason.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 8:31 PM on June 15, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 8:31 PM on June 15, 2014 [1 favorite]
Looking for it, you can find the extension ID if you turn on developer mode.
Seriously google, what the hell? I didn't know it was going to do this.
posted by jeather at 8:44 PM on June 15, 2014
Seriously google, what the hell? I didn't know it was going to do this.
posted by jeather at 8:44 PM on June 15, 2014
Seriously google, what the hell? I didn't know it was going to do this.
Yeah, I was piiiiiissed when my Chrome updated itself and I got that alert.
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 8:56 PM on June 15, 2014
Yeah, I was piiiiiissed when my Chrome updated itself and I got that alert.
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 8:56 PM on June 15, 2014
Wait, Google Chrome just did this one day with a nightly update with like zero warning? That's nuts.
Or is this all an elaborate way to try and ban Ad Block Pro from Chrome? (or is ABP still available?)
posted by mathowie (staff) at 9:00 PM on June 15, 2014
Or is this all an elaborate way to try and ban Ad Block Pro from Chrome? (or is ABP still available?)
posted by mathowie (staff) at 9:00 PM on June 15, 2014
AdBlock and AdBlock Plus are both still available for Chrome, at least for now.
posted by neushoorn at 9:03 PM on June 15, 2014
posted by neushoorn at 9:03 PM on June 15, 2014
Oh man, I thought it was because I had to reinstall my browsers.
If anyone has the FF unicorn/narwhal button Greasemonkey script they will be my rainbow-delight hero. :'(
posted by zennie at 9:09 PM on June 15, 2014
If anyone has the FF unicorn/narwhal button Greasemonkey script they will be my rainbow-delight hero. :'(
posted by zennie at 9:09 PM on June 15, 2014
My unicorn and narwhal are still working. Is there a way I can download the script and pass it to others?
posted by ocherdraco at 9:27 PM on June 15, 2014
posted by ocherdraco at 9:27 PM on June 15, 2014
Also, any way I can block all my scripts from dying?
This just feels like adding insult to injury, though I know intellectually that the Chrome team has nothing to do with downranking MeFi in search.
posted by ocherdraco at 9:28 PM on June 15, 2014
This just feels like adding insult to injury, though I know intellectually that the Chrome team has nothing to do with downranking MeFi in search.
posted by ocherdraco at 9:28 PM on June 15, 2014
If you want the scripts to work without all the hassle, you can switch to the Chrome Developer and Canary Channels. More info here.
posted by blue_beetle at 9:31 PM on June 15, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by blue_beetle at 9:31 PM on June 15, 2014 [1 favorite]
Wait, Google Chrome just did this one day with a nightly update with like zero warning? That's nuts.
Or is this all an elaborate way to try and ban Ad Block Pro from Chrome? (or is ABP still available?)
Yeah, one day my browser autoupdated and they'd blocked any extensions that hadn't come through the Chrome store. Supposedly there was a problem with users clicking "OK" to install extensions without realizing what they were doing, and malware on users' systems adding malicious extensions to Chrome.
Several links I've found about it have referenced January of this year, but I didn't get the update until sometime in the last few weeks; apparently they originally wanted to do it on January 1, but pushed it back to May.
Seems like they could have come up with a solution that was a little less aggressive... Let's all hope they don't kick Tampermonkey out of the store!
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 9:35 PM on June 15, 2014
Or is this all an elaborate way to try and ban Ad Block Pro from Chrome? (or is ABP still available?)
Yeah, one day my browser autoupdated and they'd blocked any extensions that hadn't come through the Chrome store. Supposedly there was a problem with users clicking "OK" to install extensions without realizing what they were doing, and malware on users' systems adding malicious extensions to Chrome.
Several links I've found about it have referenced January of this year, but I didn't get the update until sometime in the last few weeks; apparently they originally wanted to do it on January 1, but pushed it back to May.
Seems like they could have come up with a solution that was a little less aggressive... Let's all hope they don't kick Tampermonkey out of the store!
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 9:35 PM on June 15, 2014
Here's an easy set of directions for How to install Chrome extensions manually.
posted by scalefree at 9:44 PM on June 15, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by scalefree at 9:44 PM on June 15, 2014 [2 favorites]
> Wait, Google Chrome just did this one day with a nightly update with like zero warning? That's nuts.
This is the security lockdown against adware/malware Chrome extensions. This thread is relevant. Especially the first comment, from JHarris.
And yeah the zero warning part sucks, but Google has always released Chrome updates without notification and without change logs.
posted by ardgedee at 10:23 PM on June 15, 2014 [2 favorites]
This is the security lockdown against adware/malware Chrome extensions. This thread is relevant. Especially the first comment, from JHarris.
And yeah the zero warning part sucks, but Google has always released Chrome updates without notification and without change logs.
posted by ardgedee at 10:23 PM on June 15, 2014 [2 favorites]
Google has made jokes about a 'new overlord' unfunny.
posted by Cranberry at 11:22 PM on June 15, 2014 [5 favorites]
posted by Cranberry at 11:22 PM on June 15, 2014 [5 favorites]
Yeah, this was what drove me to Firefox last week after years of bouncing off it. The new version looks and feels like Chrome. Fuck Chrome, ain't never going back.
posted by tavegyl at 2:25 AM on June 16, 2014
posted by tavegyl at 2:25 AM on June 16, 2014
I started using Chrome because it has better developer tools, which is what I do for a living, but God damn if it doesn't piss me off in a million little ways.
posted by double block and bleed at 2:34 AM on June 16, 2014
posted by double block and bleed at 2:34 AM on June 16, 2014
Meanwhile any suggestions on how to find the Deleted Posts or Scrolltag greasemonkey scripts now that userscripts is dead?
posted by tavegyl at 2:53 AM on June 16, 2014
posted by tavegyl at 2:53 AM on June 16, 2014
Direct links to Firefox Greasemonkey scripts:
Scroll tag
Deleted posts
posted by tavegyl at 3:09 AM on June 16, 2014 [5 favorites]
Scroll tag
Deleted posts
posted by tavegyl at 3:09 AM on June 16, 2014 [5 favorites]
Wait, Google Chrome just did this one day with a nightly update with like zero warning? That's nuts.
Yep, did a great job of blocking my 1Password extension. Thanks Google. :(
posted by smackfu at 6:27 AM on June 16, 2014
Yep, did a great job of blocking my 1Password extension. Thanks Google. :(
posted by smackfu at 6:27 AM on June 16, 2014
Wait, Google Chrome just did this one day with a nightly update with like zero warning? That's nuts.
Depending on Google for anything mission-critical may be a mistake at this point. While a walled-garden approach can work to weed out trojans and Day 0 sploits, abruptly changing course to implement a walled garden, leaving users relying on an open browser extension infrastructure high and dry, is not the way to do it.
I know a few folks who moved their organization's mail and calendaring to Google, and they've been whistling past the graveyard and keeping alternate vendors on speed-dial lately.
Also, search has gotten worse rather than better since it became a well known issue a few weeks back. Whatever course they decided to take that's been sinking small site content, they seem to have doubled down on it now that everyone knows. I think this will be the week I move back to Safari from Iron (which is now unable to access the Chrome store), and set DDG as my default search engine.
posted by Slap*Happy at 6:32 AM on June 16, 2014 [4 favorites]
Depending on Google for anything mission-critical may be a mistake at this point. While a walled-garden approach can work to weed out trojans and Day 0 sploits, abruptly changing course to implement a walled garden, leaving users relying on an open browser extension infrastructure high and dry, is not the way to do it.
I know a few folks who moved their organization's mail and calendaring to Google, and they've been whistling past the graveyard and keeping alternate vendors on speed-dial lately.
Also, search has gotten worse rather than better since it became a well known issue a few weeks back. Whatever course they decided to take that's been sinking small site content, they seem to have doubled down on it now that everyone knows. I think this will be the week I move back to Safari from Iron (which is now unable to access the Chrome store), and set DDG as my default search engine.
posted by Slap*Happy at 6:32 AM on June 16, 2014 [4 favorites]
Wait, Google Chrome just did this one day with a nightly update with like zero warning? That's nuts.
I remember being informed of this months ago. I can't remember how though, but I knew this was coming.
posted by juiceCake at 7:22 AM on June 16, 2014 [1 favorite]
I remember being informed of this months ago. I can't remember how though, but I knew this was coming.
posted by juiceCake at 7:22 AM on June 16, 2014 [1 favorite]
zero warning
Oh there was warning. Plenty of warning:
"But Mr Dent, the plans have been available in the local planning office for the last nine months."
"Oh yes, well as soon as I heard I went straight round to see them, yesterday afternoon. You hadn't exactly gone out of your way to call attention to them, had you? I mean, like actually telling anybody or anything."
"But the plans were on display ..."
"On display? I eventually had to go down to the cellar to find them."
"That's the display department."
"With a flashlight."
"Ah, well the lights had probably gone."
"So had the stairs."
"But look, you found the notice didn't you?"
"Yes," said Arthur, "yes I did. It was on display in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying 'Beware of the Leopard'."
posted by blue_beetle at 7:28 AM on June 16, 2014 [15 favorites]
Oh there was warning. Plenty of warning:
"But Mr Dent, the plans have been available in the local planning office for the last nine months."
"Oh yes, well as soon as I heard I went straight round to see them, yesterday afternoon. You hadn't exactly gone out of your way to call attention to them, had you? I mean, like actually telling anybody or anything."
"But the plans were on display ..."
"On display? I eventually had to go down to the cellar to find them."
"That's the display department."
"With a flashlight."
"Ah, well the lights had probably gone."
"So had the stairs."
"But look, you found the notice didn't you?"
"Yes," said Arthur, "yes I did. It was on display in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying 'Beware of the Leopard'."
posted by blue_beetle at 7:28 AM on June 16, 2014 [15 favorites]
this was what drove me to Firefox last week after years of bouncing off it. The new version looks and feels like Chrome.
Just one more thing to be pissed off at Google for, in my book. Mozilla's cultural cringe makes me embarrassed for them.
Unfuck Firefox extensions for others who agree: Classic Theme Restorer, Status-4-Evar. They work fine together and so far I've found them trouble-free.
posted by flabdablet at 9:08 AM on June 16, 2014 [8 favorites]
Just one more thing to be pissed off at Google for, in my book. Mozilla's cultural cringe makes me embarrassed for them.
Unfuck Firefox extensions for others who agree: Classic Theme Restorer, Status-4-Evar. They work fine together and so far I've found them trouble-free.
posted by flabdablet at 9:08 AM on June 16, 2014 [8 favorites]
While we're doing browsery and extensiony things: does anybody here know how to add more filter lists to the relatively new Adblock Plus for IE? I have yet to find anything like a proper options UI and abp: links don't seem to work with it.
posted by flabdablet at 9:11 AM on June 16, 2014
posted by flabdablet at 9:11 AM on June 16, 2014
Let's make a list
- This thread's Chrome pain-in-the-ass.
- The loss of MeFi ad revenue from the algorithm changes.
- Search results getting worse (this has been my experience).
- Stuff like this.
Like Slap says above, "Depending on Google for anything mission-critical may be a mistake at this point." We're all realizing it's time to start looking around for alternatives. Or, to put it in meme-friendly terms:
Google - DTMFA
posted by benito.strauss at 11:40 AM on June 16, 2014 [1 favorite]
- This thread's Chrome pain-in-the-ass.
- The loss of MeFi ad revenue from the algorithm changes.
- Search results getting worse (this has been my experience).
- Stuff like this.
Like Slap says above, "Depending on Google for anything mission-critical may be a mistake at this point." We're all realizing it's time to start looking around for alternatives. Or, to put it in meme-friendly terms:
Google - DTMFA
posted by benito.strauss at 11:40 AM on June 16, 2014 [1 favorite]
there was a problem with users clicking "OK" to install extensions without realizing what they were doing, and malware on users' systems adding malicious extensions to Chrome.
I've had to clean up the mess on a couple of computers in the past few weeks. Nothing theoretical about the threats.
posted by bonehead at 12:56 PM on June 16, 2014 [1 favorite]
I've had to clean up the mess on a couple of computers in the past few weeks. Nothing theoretical about the threats.
posted by bonehead at 12:56 PM on June 16, 2014 [1 favorite]
Why not just make the extensions available on the Chrome store?
I know it's a bit of a pain, but it's amazing how much malware these days is caused by applications installing hidden chrome extensions. Often as part of what seems like a legit application install (or actually what really IS a legit app install for an app that should be less scammy that, I'm looking at YOU java updater) that takes over your browser and by extension most of your computer experience. Chrome is in one of those damned if you do, damned if you don't situations.
Seriously, you install something that's legit and the last step in the long flow looks just like another ok dialog but HAHA! We just installed something that takes over your browser and sends all your browsing behavior to ScamsRUs and servers you popup ads on every page you visit! And maybe you won't notice, or if you do we can make the extension really really good and preventing you from uninstalling it.
posted by aspo at 1:51 PM on June 16, 2014 [2 favorites]
I know it's a bit of a pain, but it's amazing how much malware these days is caused by applications installing hidden chrome extensions. Often as part of what seems like a legit application install (or actually what really IS a legit app install for an app that should be less scammy that, I'm looking at YOU java updater) that takes over your browser and by extension most of your computer experience. Chrome is in one of those damned if you do, damned if you don't situations.
Seriously, you install something that's legit and the last step in the long flow looks just like another ok dialog but HAHA! We just installed something that takes over your browser and sends all your browsing behavior to ScamsRUs and servers you popup ads on every page you visit! And maybe you won't notice, or if you do we can make the extension really really good and preventing you from uninstalling it.
posted by aspo at 1:51 PM on June 16, 2014 [2 favorites]
Chrome is in one of those damned if you do, damned if you don't situations.
...as any of we grizzled old greybeards could have told those crazy young kids they would be, as soon as they'd repeated Mozilla's error of designing something that absolutely needs to execute code from inside folders that the user (as opposed to the system administrator) has write access to.
This particular antipattern has been well understood since before the appearance of the first Word macro virus in the mid-eighties. But when have kids ever listened?
posted by flabdablet at 7:03 PM on June 16, 2014 [3 favorites]
...as any of we grizzled old greybeards could have told those crazy young kids they would be, as soon as they'd repeated Mozilla's error of designing something that absolutely needs to execute code from inside folders that the user (as opposed to the system administrator) has write access to.
This particular antipattern has been well understood since before the appearance of the first Word macro virus in the mid-eighties. But when have kids ever listened?
posted by flabdablet at 7:03 PM on June 16, 2014 [3 favorites]
Here are foistware-free updaters for Java and Flash.
The vast majority of foistware can be avoided by browsing with Adblock Plus installed, because most of it comes via dodgy download sites whose banner advertising is carefully crafted to mimic the real Download buttons on the real download sites where those advertisements appear.
posted by flabdablet at 11:08 PM on June 16, 2014
The vast majority of foistware can be avoided by browsing with Adblock Plus installed, because most of it comes via dodgy download sites whose banner advertising is carefully crafted to mimic the real Download buttons on the real download sites where those advertisements appear.
posted by flabdablet at 11:08 PM on June 16, 2014
I'm using that Classic Theme Restorer with Firefox, it is pretty nice on OSX. I really dislike the L&F of the most recent Firefox release, personally.
posted by cj_ at 9:08 PM on June 17, 2014
posted by cj_ at 9:08 PM on June 17, 2014
Heh. I contract for Google. There's a special extension required for one of our projects.
They disabled it. An extension they wrote. That they explicitly require. For use on their platform. For their project. And they can't understand why that part of the project is not getting done.
Bless their hearts.
posted by MissySedai at 10:15 PM on June 17, 2014 [5 favorites]
They disabled it. An extension they wrote. That they explicitly require. For use on their platform. For their project. And they can't understand why that part of the project is not getting done.
Bless their hearts.
posted by MissySedai at 10:15 PM on June 17, 2014 [5 favorites]
I wouldn't mind them putting up 3 warnings with flashing lights AFTER they remove a foreign plugin, but it's this fucking dictating what I can and cannot do with the browser on my own fucking machine that pisses me off. I actually got mefinavigator & deleted post extensions into chrome again (yay) only for them to each be removed after about 2 or 3 chrome restarts. Buggered if I can work out how to make them load via tampermonkey, but that's probably me. FU Google. Again.
posted by peacay at 10:21 PM on June 17, 2014
posted by peacay at 10:21 PM on June 17, 2014
From Through the Looking-Glass:
"The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master—that's all."posted by benito.strauss at 9:00 AM on June 18, 2014
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So the rough process would be: install Tampermonkey, find new copies of the scripts you want, save them locally, and then add them to Tampermonkey.
posted by pb (staff) at 6:20 PM on June 15, 2014 [10 favorites]