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Cloaq - Location Guard & Locale Switcher

Version 1.2.2 View in Chrome Web Store

Last scanned: about 14 hours ago

Extension Details

Developer: cloaq.org
Rating: 4.5 ★ (75 ratings)
Users: 20,000

Context-Aware Verdict

HIGH
Overall Risk
Trust Factors: The extension has a solid 4.5-star rating from 75 users and 20,000 total users, suggesting legitimate functionality. The developer domain (cloaq.org) appears purpose-built for this privacy tool. The extension's stated purpose of location guarding and locale switching aligns with privacy-focused users' needs.
Concerns: The permission set raises significant red flags for a location/locale tool. The debugger permission is particularly concerning as it allows deep system access to manipulate other extensions and browser processes - far beyond what's needed for location spoofing. The webNavigation permission enables comprehensive tracking of all browsing activity, which contradicts the privacy-focused nature of the extension. While storage permission is reasonable for saving settings, the combination of all three permissions creates a powerful surveillance capability.

The debugger permission especially stands out as unnecessary for the extension's stated functionality. Location spoofing and locale switching can typically be accomplished through less invasive APIs.

Recommendations: Consider running this extension in a separate Chrome profile to isolate potential risks. Monitor your browser's performance and other extensions for unusual behavior. Review what data the extension actually needs to store and whether the privacy benefits outweigh the extensive permissions granted. Alternative location spoofing extensions with more limited permissions may provide similar functionality with reduced risk exposure.

Findings

HIGH
High-Risk Permission: debugger
This extension has the debugger permission. Can debug and manipulate other extensions/apps. This could potentially be used maliciously to compromise security or privacy.
HIGH
High-Risk Permission: webNavigation
This extension has the webNavigation permission. Can track your web navigation. 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.