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Why has FF installed 7 Google extensions under "Chrome" when I have not installed Chrome and how can I get rid of those extensions?

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On my windows 7 laptop, I have discovered 7 Google extensions installed under "Chrome" when I select "browser extensions." I do not want Chrome on my computer, but someone has installed those extensions in that category even though I have not downloaded or installed Chrome. When I tried to delete or disable those extensions, I find that FF blocks me from doing that. Why? Did FF install those extensions from Chrome on my Windows 7 laptop? They are not on my Windows 10 desktop, so I cannot imagine why they would be necessary.

Please tell me how to get rid of that "Chrome" category and how to delete those Google extensions. I really do hate Google; that is why I have always used FF instead.

On my windows 7 laptop, I have discovered 7 Google extensions installed under "Chrome" when I select "browser extensions." I do not want Chrome on my computer, but someone has installed those extensions in that category even though I have not downloaded or installed Chrome. When I tried to delete or disable those extensions, I find that FF blocks me from doing that. Why? Did FF install those extensions from Chrome on my Windows 7 laptop? They are not on my Windows 10 desktop, so I cannot imagine why they would be necessary. Please tell me how to get rid of that "Chrome" category and how to delete those Google extensions. I really do hate Google; that is why I have always used FF instead.

All Replies (4)

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In the Firefox the "chrome" is any visible aspect aside from the webpages themselves (e.g., toolbars, menu bar, tabs) - the User Interface / UI. Firefox uses the "chrome://" URI protocol to access internal files and uses "chrome" in other cases like userChrome.css and userContent.css files which can be used to modify the UI.

Not to be confused with the Google Chrome web browser. Google hired a few Mozilla developers early on in their development of the open-source Chromium project for use as their new web browser and they decided to use "Chrome" for the Google branded version of Chromium. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromium_%28web_browser%29

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While I do appreciate a response to my questions, I do not understand that response. Can you give clear answers to the following questions?

a) Did Firefox install those extension on my Windows 7 laptop? If FF did that, then WHY was that done without my knowledge or permission? If FF did not install those "Chrome" extensions, can anyone explain who did install them and why?

b) Why does my FF browser prevent me from deleting or disabling those extensions?

c) How can those extensions be necessary to the proper operation of my Windows 7 laptop, when it always worked fine before those were installed?

d) Why are they not found on my Windows 10 Desktop, if they are somehow necessary?

Thank you for any additional information you might be able to supply.

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While I do appreciate a response to my questions, I do not understand that response. Can you give clear answers to the following questions?

a) Did Firefox install those extension on my Windows 7 laptop? If FF did that, then WHY was that done without my knowledge or permission? If FF did not install those "Chrome" extensions, can anyone explain who did install them and why?

b) Why does my FF browser prevent me from deleting or disabling those extensions?

c) How can those extensions be necessary to the proper operation of my Windows 7 laptop, when it always worked fine before those were installed?

d) Why are they not found on my Windows 10 Desktop, if they are somehow necessary?

Thank you for any additional information you might be able to supply.

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bobjames93 said

On my windows 7 laptop, I have discovered 7 Google extensions installed under "Chrome" when I select "browser extensions."

Where do you see those extensions? This is somewhere in Firefox, or in a third party scanning tool looking around other parts of your system?


Firefox automatically installs some extensions for features of the browser. You can find them listed on the Troubleshooting Information page in the "Features" list. To call that up, either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > "?" Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter

Then scroll down to the Firefox Features heading.

I assume these are not the ones being flagged as Chrome extensions, but please compare with your list. They are physically stored here:

C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\browser\features