Chrome - need extension to manage history/settings

Discussion in 'other software & services' started by mattdocs12345, Apr 26, 2014.

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  1. mattdocs12345

    mattdocs12345 Registered Member

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    So I started using chrome very recently. A couple of problems here and there but one that has been really annoying is the new tab page history. Basically it shows recently visited pages. How do I get rid of those?

    So far I tried the following methods but non have worked:
    • clear history on exist in chrome settings
    • click & clean extension
     
  2. SirDrexl

    SirDrexl Registered Member

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    I use an extension called "New Tab Redirect" which allows you to set your own page instead. Although I don't know if that actually keeps it from saving visited pages.

    If it's for the Windows version and you can use Group Policy, there is a setting in its administrative template to disable saving history altogether.
     
  3. wat0114

    wat0114 Registered Member

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    I use this as well, along with click & Clean, the latter set to Delete private data when Chrome closes.
     
  4. mattdocs12345

    mattdocs12345 Registered Member

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    Click&Clean doesnt work
    New tab redirect will hide my bookmarks.
     
  5. Minimalist

    Minimalist Registered Member

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    I use CCleaner to clean my Chrome history/cookies... It will also clean recently visited pages.
     
  6. mattdocs12345

    mattdocs12345 Registered Member

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    I don't use Windows and I don't want to use BleachCleaner in Linux as it can cause problems.

    I need an extension that will clear ALL history on exist because google chrome settings don't seem to do that.
     
  7. HAN

    HAN Registered Member

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    Where is this setting??


    As for Click&Clean... it looks to me like a different privacy issue. Unless I am missing something, it looks like it may be talking to hotcleaner.com a lot. Plus, as part of its permissions, it has access to your entire computer, not just browsing related stuff. I tried it and after a few minutes decided it wasn't for me.

    I have 2 things I can use to clear Chrome history:

    First, a bookmark to
    chrome://settings/clearBrowserData
    This is the same as doing a Ctrl+H plus one more click. And it makes it accessible by a mouse click.

    I also have the Clear Cache extension.
     
  8. moontan

    moontan Registered Member

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    I would NEVER install such an addon that has access to the entire computer.
    I also looked at Click and Clean in the past but refused to install it when I saw that. :thumbd:
    it only takes one time for this addon/plugin to get compromised for whatever reason and there goes the ballgame. :ninja:

    I never had one problem with BleachBit in either Linux or Windows.
     
  9. jdd58

    jdd58 Registered Member

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    Maybe Privacy Manager will work for you.

    -https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/privacy-manager/giccehglhacakcfemddmfhdkahamfcmd
     
  10. mattdocs12345

    mattdocs12345 Registered Member

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    Okay the following failed to delete new page history:
    • clearing history on exit in chrome settings
    • click & clean
    • clear cache
    • privacy manager
    Every time I click new tab, I still have history from 2 website that I don't want others to see.

    I have no idea what im doing wrong. It seems to be a popular problem on the internet.
    I looked up OMG Chrome and they offered a solution to turn off ‘Instant Extended API’ but I cannot find this setting.
     
  11. Page42

    Page42 Registered Member

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    It was removed a couple of months ago.
     
  12. AutoCascade

    AutoCascade Registered Member

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    I use an extension called 'no history'. It's like incognito all the time. If you clear your history after installing this the only thing that will show up is 'welcome to google chrome' and the web store link.

    https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/no-history/ljamgkbcojbnmcaonjokopmcblmmpfch

    There are all kinds of 'new tab' extensions though that will put whatever you want on the new tab page like new tab clock.

    https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/new-tab-clock/ljpapphpgkmigobbbakmnfoohclifanm

    http://www.addictivetips.com/web/great-new-tab-page-extensions-for-google-chrome/
     
  13. AutoCascade

    AutoCascade Registered Member

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    I think 'click and clean' is an app really a lot more is getting installed than an extension.
     
  14. gorhill

    gorhill Guest

    Click & Clean is an extension. It cannot access the whole computer. I was wrong, it can.

    I didn't look at the code, but from the feature list it is pretty clear it is using the chrome.browsingData API, which purpose is to remove browser data the same way a user can do it using the browser's setting page. The extension makes it just more convenient, at the tip of the mouse.

    I am not vouching for the extension as I didn't look at the code, so I don't know whether there are privacy concerns with it, but for sure there is no such thing as "access to the entire computer".
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 27, 2014
  15. HAN

    HAN Registered Member

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    I'm just going by their own admission via the permissions that the extension says it uses. All of the extensions I use do not go this far... Click&Clean Screen Capture.png
     
  16. gorhill

    gorhill Guest

    I stand corrected.

    I had no idea an extension could install plugins (those are the ones which can access the whole computer I am guessing), and this is what I see in the manifest file:

    "plugins": [ {
    "path": "plugin/npccch32.dll",
    "public": false
    }, {
    "path": "plugin/npqscan.dll",
    "public": true
    } ],
    "requirements": {

    "plugins": {
    "npapi": false
    }
    },
     
  17. wat0114

    wat0114 Registered Member

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    The npccch32.dll, at least. runs at medium integrity level, so I doubt it or anything else that might exploit the plugin could write to protected directories. One could use a HIPS application to monitor the plugin's directory path at "C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ghgabhipcejejjmhhchfonmamedcbeod\*" Actually, you'd probably want to be monitoring more than that, anyway. But I digress.
     

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  18. elapsed

    elapsed Registered Member

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    I have no idea what the plugin is for, I disable it and the extension runs fine.

    I also don't install the "app" which it asks you to install when you install the extension. All I have is the bare bones extension running.

    The whole extension is a bloated, chaotic mess and I do find some of the things it does suspicious. Unfortunately there's no alternative to my knowledge that will actually delete your cache on exit.

    Why doesn't Chrome allow you to purge on exit? Probably yet another feature to try make Chrome "faster" than the competition by force keeping the cache.
     
  19. TairikuOkami

    TairikuOkami Registered Member

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    If you use Chrome synchronization, make sure, that you do not have Opened Tabs and History synchronized as well.
     
  20. gorhill

    gorhill Guest

    Well there is there is Settings > Privacy > Content settings... > Cookies > Keep local data until you quit your browser

    My understanding is that it clears a lot on exit, including plugin data.

    If there is no extensions out there which strictly stick to providing a quick and easy way for the user to clear all the data referenced by the chrome.browsingData API, I will just go ahead and make one, keep it simple, narrowly purposed, as a companion for HTTPSB.
     
  21. gorhill

    gorhill Guest

    I think the ability to install plugin which can access all the data on the computer is creepy, and weird given the whole security model of chromium browser. It's more than just writing to protected directory, it's the ability to read everything on your machine and reporting back to some servers.
     
  22. moontan

    moontan Registered Member

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    exactly.
    I try to install as few plugins/addons/extensions as possible.
    none at all preferably.
    today, your favorite addon might be ok but there's no guarantee it won't get compromised later on for whatever reasons.

    if your browser gets compromised, and possibly your whole computer in the process, you might as well give out the password to your bank account.
     
  23. wat0114

    wat0114 Registered Member

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    This is why I keep no private or personal data on my machine, unless it's encrypted. That said, I may just remove Click & play based on principle and even an element of paranoia :eek:
     
  24. jdd58

    jdd58 Registered Member

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    It would be nice if the extension would have the option to set the new tab page to blank also.
     
  25. mattdocs12345

    mattdocs12345 Registered Member

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    But there is an extension already that hides your new tab the problem is that it also hides your bookmarks.
     
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