Are your Chrome extensions safe?

Plus: Optimize your PC's storage in seconds  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Windows Intelligence](#) [Windows Intelligence](#) Brought to you by: [HubSpot logo]()​ We PC users are proud of backwards compatibility — and rightfully so. You can take an application from twenty years ago and keep using it on a modern PC. Good luck doing that on today's Macs! That's why Google's latest Chrome changes feel so jarring. Google is tightening the screws and restricting what browser extensions can do. Some beloved browser extensions won't make it. Chrome is leaving them behind. The full uBlock Origin adblocker is the most popular extension affected, but it's far from the only extension Chrome is about to cut. But there's good news: It's not happening overnight. And Mozilla Firefox isn't going along with the crowd. Maybe a lot of us will be using Firefox after this is all over. Scroll down to this week's Things to Try section to see what's going on. [Chris Hoffman, AUthor] Chris Today's read: ⌚ 3 Things to Know: 1 minute ⌚ 3 Things to Try: 2 minutes ⌚ Top Thurrott Thoughts: 30 seconds ⌚ Just for Fun: 30 seconds ​ [] [3 Things to Know This Week] ​ 1. Chrome is getting Google Lens and other AI features ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Google Chrome is getting some new features, which are slowly rolling out — if you don't have them yet, you may see them soon. 🔎 KNOW MORE: You'll be able to use Google Lens right from the address bar to use visual search, right from a web page. Chrome will also soon use AI to compare products you have open in different tabs, aiding online shopping. Plus, you'll be able to use plain-text search to ask questions about your browser history. 📌 READ MORE: Check out [the new features in Chrome's latest update](. --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. The Arc browser now runs on Windows 10 ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Arc is a trendy new browser with a unique way of managing tabs for you. Arc was previously available on Windows 11, but it now also runs on Windows 10 PCs. 🔎 KNOW MORE: You can install this free browser on your Windows 10 PC and see what the fuss is about. Who knows — this might be your new favorite web browser. 📌 READ MORE: You can [download Arc for Windows]( from the project's website to try it out. Or, check out [my review of Arc from earlier this year](. --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Microsoft promises it's getting serious about security ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Microsoft says security is now a top priority for everyone. The company sent out an internal memo saying it would judge all employees on security in their performance reviews. 🔎 KNOW MORE: "When faced with a tradeoff, the answer is clear and simple: security above all else," Microsoft wrote to its employees. The company is making a lot of noise about security after some major enterprise security failures, and it's looking to regain trust. 📌 READ MORE: Here's [the full text of Microsoft's memo to employees](). SPONSORED MESSAGE ChatGPT at work: Cheating, or genius? 🤫 The old saying goes “work smarter, not harder,” and that’s what millions of professionals are doing with ChatGPT! [Kid in sunglasses singing while working on a computer]()​ Emails, article summaries, data analysis… ChatGPT can be used in nearly every field to save time + boost productivity. Want to learn how? [Download HubSpot’s free guide How to use ChatGPT at Work](): 🧠Learn the what’s, why’s, and how’s of ChatGPT’s capabilities ✂️ [100 copy ‘n’ paste ChatGPT prompts]() you can use today ⚙️ Automations for email, content creation, customer support, and more ➜ [Download the free ChatGPT guide and cut hours from your workday!]() [ACCESS 100 TIME-SAVING CHATGPT PROMPTS​ ➜]() ​ [] [3 Things to Try This Week] 1. See whether Chrome is about to axe your extensions If you're like most Windows PC users, you browse the web with Chrome. If you have any browser extensions installed, there's a good chance Chrome is about to axe some of them. You'll need to find alternatives — or maybe even switch to a new browser, like Firefox. ➜ It's all part of a big extension migration Google Chrome is going through. And, since most modern web browsers are based on Chromium, it's going to eventually affect most modern browsers — except Firefox. ⌚ Checking your extensions will take you about 5 seconds. 💻 This applies to both Windows 10 and Windows 11 — and Google Chrome on Chromebooks, Linux PCs, and Macs as well. 👀 You can check whether you have any browser extensions that aren't long for this world by clicking the menu button in Chrome and selecting Extensions > Manage Extensions. Look for a warning message at the top of this page. 📌 To learn more — and discover what you can do — check out [my latest Computerworld column](). Cast your vote... ​[Is Chrome about to disable any browser extensions you use?](=)​ --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Use Ctrl+W to close tabs and windows in a flash The Ctrl+W keyboard shortcut is one I find myself using all day long. It works in nearly any application, closing tabs, documents, and windows in the blink of an eye. ➜ Forgive me if you're familiar with this one: I want everyone to know about it. ⌚ You can try this shortcut in just 2 seconds. 💻 This works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. Just hold the Ctrl key and tap the W key to close tabs, documents, or windows. It's that simple. This works in web browsers like Chrome, Office apps like Word, file managers, and so many other applications. If it doesn't work to close a window, try pressing Alt+F4 instead — this will usually close the current window. Bonus: In a web browser, you can press Ctrl+Shift+T to "undo" this and reopen the tab you just closed. --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Optimize your computer's storage — automatically Remember defragmenting your PC's hard drive? It was critical for performance — and it took a while. There's an important way to optimize performance with a modern solid-state drive, too. ➜ But there's some good news: This tool is fast, and you can have Windows run it automatically. It plays an important role in keeping your PC's storage functioning in tip-top shape. ⌚ You can optimize a drive in about 5 seconds — and set it to work automatically in another 5 seconds. 💻 This works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. 📌 Learn how to optimize your SSD or mechanical hard drive — and how to put it on autopilot — in [my latest quick guide](. ​ [] [Top Thurrott Thoughts] Some standout links and expert analysis from our friends at Thurrott, who have been covering Windows since 1994: - ​[Google Loses U.S. Antitrust Case, Search is Illegal Monopoly](=)​ - This may go to the Supreme Court. - ​[Microsoft the Legal Precedent, Microsoft the … Victim? (Premium)]()​ - Thoughtful analysis you won't find anywhere else. - ​[Google TV Streamer is Official, Will Replace The Now-Discontinued Chromecast Devices]() - Say goodbye to Chromecast. - ​[Intel Expands Core Processor Warranty Extension to Retail Purchases](​ - Good news if you were affected. - ​[WordStar 7 for MS-DOS is Now Available for Free in Complete Archive](=)​ - Word processors before Word. ​ SPONSORED MESSAGE [Cartoon dog reading newspaper]() Looking for more great content? Learn about everything from tech to finance, careers to health, and everything in between in these great newsletters! [SIGN ME UP!]() ​ [And Just for Funsies...] The "blue screen of death" is famous on Windows. If you see this screen, you'll have to reboot your computer — Windows has crashed. But there's a whole rainbow of differently colored screens of death. Microsoft's The Old New Thing blog published a post about [the origin of the various blue screens recently](=), pointing out that there was a "black screen of death" in the Windows 3.1 days. Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer wrote the text on this screen. But that's not all. Insider Program versions of Windows have a "[green screen of death](" — it's the same sort of error screen, but it's green. That functions as an easy way to tell a particular error occurred on an unstable version of Windows. The [Wikipedia article about "screens of death"]( has more odd bits of trivia, like how early versions of Windows Vista had a "red screen of death" and preview versions of Windows 11 used a "black screen of death" instead of a blue one. Until next time... That's it for this week! Have an awesome weekend, and I'll be back in your inbox next week. Take care! --------------------------------------------------------------- 📊 Last week's poll results: 54% of people who responded have a touchscreen they use on their PC. 25% don't have a PC with a touchscreen, while 21% have touchscreen PC and don't use the touchscreen. Be sure to vote in this week's poll if you haven't already done so: [Is Chrome about to disable any browser add-ons you use?](=)​ 🤚 Wait! Before you go: What'd you think of this issue? [Thumbs Up]( [Thumbs Down]() Hit the thumbs-up or thumbs-down to cast your vote and let me know. Want less email? [Update your reading preferences](=) to opt out of any individual publications or unsubscribe entirely. New here and not yet subscribed? Take two seconds to [sign up for our newsletters](): Windows Intelligence, Android Intelligence, or Cool Tools (or all three!). Hungry for even more? 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