Browser Extension Auto-Disable for Web Privacy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Users feel threatened by browser extensions that read their clicks and keystrokes on webpages, particularly on sensitive categories like banking or medical sites, leading to a need for improved management of these extensions to protect privacy.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows users to create a security list to restrict browser extensions' usage based on webpage categories and URLs, enabling automatic disabling on specified pages and learning from other users' preferences to suggest disablement for similar webpages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If browser extensions are allowed to operate on all webpages, then users can benefit from all extension capabilities, but users feel threatened and privacy is compromised on sensitive webpages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing browser extensions to operate with different permission states on different webpages. The system categorizes webpages (e.g., banking, medical, shopping) and automatically disables extensions on sensitive categories while allowing them on safe categories, giving each webpage location its appropriate security level rather than applying a uniform permission policy across all webpages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the web browsing environment into distinct categories based on sensitivity. By dividing webpages into categories such as banking, medical, shopping, and general sites, the system can apply different extension permission rules to each segment, enabling fine-grained control over where extensions are permitted to operate.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If users manually disable browser extensions on sensitive webpages, then privacy is protected, but user convenience is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by automatically detecting the category of the current webpage and autonomously disabling or enabling browser extensions based on that classification. The system monitors webpage content and characteristics, identifies sensitive categories, and automatically adjusts extension permissions without requiring user intervention, thereby protecting privacy while maintaining convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring security rules for different webpage categories. Before a user visits a sensitive webpage, the system has already established the appropriate extension disablement rules for that category, so when the user navigates to such a page, extensions are automatically disabled without requiring the user to manually configure anything.
3Adaptability or versatility
If browser extensions read every click and keystroke, then extension functionality is enhanced, but user security perception deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing extensions to perform their monitoring and reading functions only on webpages where they are permitted, while completely disabling them on sensitive webpages. This localized permission approach maintains extension functionality on safe sites (preserving versatility) while eliminating security concerns on sensitive sites (improving reliability perception).
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and devices for managing browser extensions may include receiving a security list for restricting usage of one or more browser extensions on webpages that includes at least one or more of a webpage category and a uniform resource locator (URL). The methods and devices may include receiving a navigation request to a webpage and providing a browser extension decision whether to allow the one or more browser extensions to operate on the webpage based at least upon the security list.