Extension Details
Developer:
Google
Rating:
4.2 ★
(5.2K ratings)
Users:
600,000
Context-Aware Verdict
This section provides a Claude-based AI analysis that applies additional context to the risk. Results are not guaranteed to be accurate.
LOW
Overall Risk
Trust Factors: This extension is developed by Google, which provides significant credibility and trustworthiness. With 600,000 users and a solid 4.2-star rating from over 5,000 reviews, it demonstrates good user satisfaction and widespread adoption. The extension's purpose is clearly defined - displaying beautiful Earth imagery from Google Earth as new tab backgrounds.
Concerns: The security analysis flagged "broad host permissions," but this appears to be a false positive. The extension only requests access to "https://www.gstatic.com/prettyearth/*" which is Google's own content delivery network specifically for Earth imagery - this is precisely what you'd expect for an extension that displays Google Earth photos. The storage permission is appropriate for saving user preferences and caching images. The manifest version 3 compliance indicates modern security standards.
Recommendations: This extension presents minimal actual risk despite the automated security findings. The "broad host permissions" concern is misleading since it only accesses Google's own image servers. Given Google's authorship, large user base, and limited, appropriate permissions, this extension is safe for regular use. No special precautions like separate Chrome profiles are necessary. The automated analysis appears to have misclassified the specific Google domain access as overly broad when it's actually quite targeted and necessary for functionality.
Findings
This section provides a detailed analysis of the extension's security posture, without broader context. Assumes worst-case impact.
HIGH
Broad Host Permissions
This extension has broad host permissions allowing it to access many or all websites. This could potentially be used to steal sensitive data or track browsing activity.
MEDIUM
Medium-Risk Permission: storage
This extension has the storage permission. Can store data locally.
Security Analysis Details
Required Permissions:
- storage
Host Permissions:
- https://www.gstatic.com/prettyearth/*
Content Security Policy:
- extension_pages: script-src 'self'; object-src 'self'
Embedded URLs (13 total):
| http://www.w3.org/2000/svg | http://earth.google.com | |
| https://www.google-analytics.com/debug/mp/collect | https://www.google-analytics.com/mp/collect | |
| https://earth.google.com/web/@ | https://www.google.com/maps/@ | |
| https://www.gstatic.com/prettyearth/assets/data/v3/ | http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml | |
| http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink | http://www.w3.org/XML/1998/namespace | |
| http://www.w3.org/2000/xmlns/ | https://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crx | |
| https://www.gstatic.com/prettyearth/ |
Raw Manifest
{ "name": "Earth View from Google Earth", "icons": { "16": "icons/icon-16.png", "48": "icons/icon-48.png", "128": "icons/icon-128.png" }, "version": "3.1.1", "background": { "type": "module", "service_worker": "service-worker.js" }, "update_url": "https://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crx", "description": "Experience a beautiful image from Google Earth every time you open a new tab.", "permissions": [ "storage" ], "host_permissions": [ "https://www.gstatic.com/prettyearth/*" ], "manifest_version": 3, "chrome_url_overrides": { "newtab": "index.html" }, "content_security_policy": { "extension_pages": "script-src 'self'; object-src 'self'" } }
ⓘ CRXaminer has partnered with our friends at Secure Annex to provide additional findings unique to their platform.
Secure Annex also analyzes extensions from other browsers, IDEs, and can continuously monitor.
Loading Secure Annex data...
Unable to load Secure Annex data.
This extension may not yet be analyzed by Secure Annex.
Detections
0Critical
0
High
0
Medium
0
Low
0
Has Verdicts
Yes
Manifest Findings
0Critical
0
High
0
Medium
0
Low
0
Secure Annex analyzed version: -