Windscribe is a popular VPN solution thanks to its free version, privacy features, and interesting build a plan feature. Windscribe users may install the official extension to integrate the VPN better into Google Chrome and other Chromium-based browsers, and get several privacy features on top.
The extension adds features such as ad blocking, webRTC blocking, cookie-banner hiding, and much more.
This just happened: The developers confirmed on X that Google is blocking the latest extension update from its Chrome Web Store.
The provided screenshot shows that Google claims that the extension does not comply with the “Single Use” policy for Chrome extensions.
Good to know: The Single Purpose Policy requires that extensions focus on one specific function or theme. Google says that this improves the user experience.
The posted screenshot of the Google email shows that Google claims that the “extension is providing multiple unrelated functionalities”, such as “masking physical location”, “circumventing censorship”, and “blocking ads and trackers”.
Google is asking the developers of the extension to modify it, so that it offers a “narrowly-focused single functionality”.
Windscribe appealed Google’s objection to no avail. As it stands, Windscribe is blocked from updating its extension on the Chrome Web Store.
Tip: you can check out the Windscribe extension for Firefox, which does not have any of these issues.
This is not the first time that legitimate popular extensions have issues with the update process on the Chrome Web Store. Google’s Store is the default location for most Chromium-based browsers when it comes to extensions.
Several browsers, including Brave, do not operate their own extensions store. While some do, Microsoft with Edge or Opera with its Opera Web Browser, the majority relies on extensions from the Chrome Web Store. Even the two mentioned browsers have limited extensions listed in their respective stores.
As for Windscribe, it will be interesting to see how this works out for the company. Usually, public attention is required to get Google to look deeper into the matter and change its stance on a violation.
When Google opposes such arguments to refuse an extension it is relevant of the extension’s quality.
I had tried some time ago Windscribe, only as its Firefox extension: valuable privacy-security environment, fast. Removed it because I didn’t use it, or not sufficiently to consider keeping it, added to a global awareness of VPNs in general, especially free ones. Google’s arguments soften my awareness. I may very well install it again, here on Firefox, free of Google’s censorship.
No longer available because it removes, blocks, and limits the ability of google to collect data on you.
Easy enough to install the desktop version; there may be more options with the desktop.
Proton VPN is still available–both are equal for privacy, performance, reliability.
Google–doesn’t makes sense because all the VPN extension descriptions include similar wording: “the “extension masks physical location,“circumvents censorship, and blocks ads and trackers.”
Here’s what really doesn’t make sense: Google Fi VPN on my phone blocks nearly everything on Chrome! Talk about an “ad-free” experience.
Bye, bye to all VPN extensions? Maybe that’s the idea. Google can then provide a VPN like Edge or Epic or Opera.
Since Windscribe is a Canadian company and because Canada is introducing closer links to the EU and may well join at sometime in the future, they could conceivably adopt the EU’s DMA and use it to persuade Google that it’s not in their interest to continue down the path it has chosen. https://www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/international_relations-relations_internationales/eu-ue/index.aspx?lang=eng
It’s a bit far fetched I know, but if you don’t speculate you can’t accumulate.
A mobile device is my last choice for browsing, like if there’s no other option at the moment and I don’t want to wait until I get home.
That said, I do use an advanced mobile file manager and there are several plugins available to add functionality to it.
Perhaps Windscribe could go this route and break the app up into little peices that each have a specific function?