Block JavaScript in Google Chrome. NoScript’s features in Chrome!
If you have just migrated to Chrome from Firefox, you may have noticed that there is no Chrome version of NoScript – the popular Firefox add-on to block JavaScript on web pages. NoScript blocks JavaScript, Java, Flash, Silverlight and several other executable contents by default and gives users a choice to allow these content from trusted sources only. Hence, it makes browsing faster and safer. I can’t imagine web browsing without NoScript, and this is one of the many reasons to stick with Firefox.
If you miss NoScript in Chrome, I have good news for you: Google Chrome will have similar content filter options soon. The latest Dev channel v5.0.317.0 for Windows has an option to selectively control cookies, images, JavaScript, plug-ins and pop-ups. Users can either block this content or opt to allow only certain trusted sources.
How to block JavaScript and other contents in Chrome?
If you are using Dev channel of Chrome on Windows, you can access these features by updating it to latest release. Move to Options->Under the Hood->Content settings. This setting window provides better management of images, JavaScript, plug-ins, and pop-ups.
The recommended option is to block all JavaScript and add trusted hosts as Exceptions. Although, blocking JavaScript may result into unusual rendering of web pages. You can set options for cookies, images, popups and plug-ins similarly.
You can also control your content settings from the address bar. If there is any blocked item on the current web page, a small icon will appear in the address bar, and users can manage settings by clicking on it. This feature is similar to NoScript, where you can control settings from the status bar icon.
I hope to see this feature in stable version of Chrome soon. :)
Abhishek S.
February 7th, 2010 at 1:14 am #
Nice work reporting this, Arpit/Techie Buzz. Even ZDNET has picked it up from here –
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Google/?p=1714
Anyway, this should be a reason to be happy but I am really concerned about Google Chrome taking the shine away from Firefox in the near future. Google are really coming up with features after features and the higher version numbers too do justice to the meat that they have been adding to their browser. I just hope Firefox does not get relegated, it being the first and truly successful open-source project…
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Cebu Tech Blogger
February 8th, 2010 at 6:59 pm #
I don’t see enough reason for Firefox to be relegated. Firefox is still at its best. The only thing is that this great “NoScript” add-on on FF will also be made available for Chrome. But it doesn’t guarantee everything that made FF to the top can be experienced also on Chrome.
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Thomas Jespersen
February 9th, 2010 at 12:47 pm #
I just tried it. I don’t like the fact then when you allow javascript you are allowing any javascript on the page including other domains requesting access.
Example: with NoScript I need to allow both youtube.com and ytimg.com to see anything. With Chromium it seems anything is allowed as soon as I allow youtube.com.
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Geralt
May 2nd, 2010 at 7:45 am #
As Thomas has pointed out already this Chrome feature is not nearly as powerful and useful as NoScript is. Also I’m missing NoScript’s “allow temporarily” which enables JS just for this one browser session.
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kn
May 24th, 2010 at 6:52 am #
Not quite the same :( Noscript isn’t just filtering javascript, but also protection against XSS and ABE attacks and a few more … really hope that noscript’s authors rethink they’re decision to not publish on chrome!
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Neuromancer
June 20th, 2010 at 7:30 pm #
Better but, the new js script blocking in Chrome only blocks on a per website basis, not on a domain basis…does it? This doesn’t provide the granularity that NoScript has for Firefox.
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Justin L
July 11th, 2010 at 3:24 pm #
too bad chrome’s extension system is handicapped and is easily compromised
chrome is broken by design, it will never have meaningful popup, script, or plugin controls that truly put you in control of even the most aggressive advertisers
for example, i’ve been using the latest chrome for weeks, i have popup blocking enabled, no exceptions added, and i still get maybe 10-20 popups per day. not to mention many flash ads that randomly play unwanted sound, which i can do nothing about because the chrome “flashblock” extensions are easily bypassed.
but sadly, only chrome has sandboxed plugins right now, so it’s either live with forced invasive advertising (popups, flash sound) per google’s exemption policies, or be hacked through firefox’s anything-goes plugin system
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