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Modern for Wikipedia

Version 1.41 View in Chrome Web Store

Last scanned: about 6 hours ago

Extension Details

Developer: modernwiki.app

Rating: 4.6 ★ (184 ratings)

Users: 20,000

Context-Aware Verdict

HIGH

Overall Risk

Trust Factors:

The extension has a solid user base of 20,000 users and maintains a strong 4.6-star rating from 184 reviews, indicating general user satisfaction. The specific focus on Wikipedia modernization suggests a legitimate purpose, and the developer appears to maintain the extension with version 1.41 showing ongoing development.

Concerns:

The tabs permission is excessive for a Wikipedia styling extension, as modifying Wikipedia's appearance should only require content script access to Wikipedia pages. This permission allows the extension to monitor and manipulate all browser tabs, creating privacy risks. While the host permissions are appropriately scoped to Wikipedia domains only (which is positive), the combination with tabs permission raises security concerns. The storage permission, while lower risk, allows data collection that may not be necessary for basic styling modifications.

Recommendations:

Consider running this extension in a separate Chrome profile if you frequently handle sensitive information in other tabs. The tabs permission creates unnecessary exposure to your browsing activity beyond Wikipedia. Monitor the extension's behavior and consider alternatives that achieve similar Wikipedia styling improvements with more limited permissions. Before installation, verify that the visual improvements justify the elevated permissions, particularly the ability to access information about all your browser tabs.

Findings

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.

HIGH

High-Risk Permission: tabs

This extension has the tabs permission. Can access browser tab information and manipulate tabs. This could potentially be used maliciously to compromise security or privacy.

MEDIUM

Medium-Risk Permission: storage

This extension has the storage permission. Can store data locally.

Raw Manifest

{
  "name": "Modern for Wikipedia",
  "icons": {
    "16": "images/icon_16.png",
    "48": "images/icon_48.png",
    "96": "images/icon_96.png",
    "128": "images/icon_128.png",
    "256": "images/icon_256.png"
  },
  "action": {
    "default_icon": {
      "16": "images/icon_16.png",
      "48": "images/icon_48.png",
      "96": "images/icon_96.png",
      "128": "images/icon_128.png",
      "256": "images/icon_256.png"
    },
    "default_popup": "popup.html",
    "default_title": "Modern for Wikipedia"
  },
  "version": "1.41",
  "short_name": "Modern for Wikipedia",
  "update_url": "https://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crx",
  "description": "Wikipedia gets a beautiful, clean, modern interface.",
  "permissions": [
    "storage",
    "tabs"
  ],
  "content_scripts": [
    {
      "js": [
        "content_start.js"
      ],
      "run_at": "document_start",
      "matches": [
        "*://*.wikipedia.org/*"
      ]
    },
    {
      "js": [
        "jquery-3.5.1.min.js",
        "content.js"
      ],
      "run_at": "document_end",
      "matches": [
        "*://*.wikipedia.org/*"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "host_permissions": [
    "*://*.wikipedia.org/*"
  ],
  "manifest_version": 3,
  "web_accessible_resources": [
    {
      "matches": [
        "*://*.wikipedia.org/*"
      ],
      "resources": [
        "images/*",
        "content.css"
      ]
    }
  ]
}

by ✦ Astarte

Modern for Wikipedia

Extension Details

Context-Aware Verdict

Findings

Security Analysis Details

Required Permissions:

Host Permissions:

Embedded URLs (1 total):

Raw Manifest

Detections

Manifest Findings