Browser extension developers targeted with schemes and scams
They're being asked to sell, or modify, their code – and trust in your favourite add-ons could be a casualty
creator of a browser extension called "I don't care about cookies" that suppresses EU cookie popup menus, sold his extension code to Avast – a security firm that subsequently merged with NortonLifeLock (which later rebranded as "Gen Digital").
The deal has not been well received by some users of the extension
These speculators may want to purchase an existing extension and its installed base of users, or partner with the extension developer to add third-party functionality.
Developer Armin Sebastian wrote about receiving such messages back in 2019
https://armin.dev/blog/2019/08/supporting-browser-extension-developers/
Simeon Vincent, who until recently served as developer advocate for Chrome extensions at Google and now consults on the subject, revisited the issue in a Tuesday blog post discussing efforts to have developers integrate third-party code into their extensions
https://dotproto.com/2023/06/06/a-warning-about.html
His concern is that developers should avoid doing deals that will get them and others banned from extension-marts.
The Gen Digital Global Privacy Statement [PDF] describes various ways in which the business uses data and the conditions under which it shares data with partners.
(PDF URL)