(answered) "This page wants to install a service handler"

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Bluelight Crew
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Stop resisting!
What is Bluelight trying to install on my computer? When I'm on BL, Chrome is showing two intercalated diamonds in the address bar. When I hover over them, it tells me, "This page wants to install a service handler."

For the record, I have never committed any crimes and I will not snitch on anyone.

:sus: :sus: :sus: :sus: :sus:
 
Apparently the mouse pointer disappears in screenshots, but it's in the upper right hand corner. This only appears through Bluelight, and it's on any BL page.

2qivhgx.jpg
 
oddly, if i open this page in chrome (with the setting at "Allow sites to ask to become default handlers for protocols (recommended)") i do not see the icon.

alasdair
 
It just *seems* like BL is trying to identify me to Google. Bluelight is the only site on the internet that is doing this.

I don't know much about these things, but if message boards share user data with search engines, who in turn share data with the federal government, that's not good.

Even then, other vBulletin message boards don't do it. I just logged into my account on a physics board and no such icon appears.
 
a little paranoia is healthy but that's not what service handlers do.

the easiest example is the mailto: link. the google service handler allows you to handle this link by opening your mail client.

alasdair
 
Thanks. I chose "No" and now it's gone, although I'm sure I just unwittingly agreed to have my entire BL career sent to the MDPD with my first and last name on it.
 
i'm sure that's not what's happening.

can you post a screenshot of what happens when you click the icon.

alasdair

That last bit was a joke. They already can look into anything they want thanks to the SOD program.

I can't post screens any more because the icon is gone now, but it asked me if I wanted gmail to handle my email links on this site. Sounds benign, but it's the first time I had ever seen that thing and it only was happening on Bluelight. I thought that BL was originating the request (not on purpose, but maybe as a security glitch).
 
that's odd as there's no mailto link on this page.

if it's bugging you, you can post on the google/chrome forum with this page url and ask them why chrome is doing it?

alasdair
 
Then that suggests, as Ali mentioned, that this is something setting-related at your end. Incognito should also disable any crap you have plugged into the browser.

Chrome installations are user-specific and cannot be installed side-by-side. Therefore, if you wish to test this, you could install a fresh version of chrome in another windows/Linux user account.

I'd probably start, however, by disabling any plugins one-by-one. If none of those are causing the problem, you may want to raise a query on the chrome boards about what setting could be causing this.

I don't use chrome, so can't give more specific advice.
 
Thanks. I'm sorry about my ignorance about handlers.

They should definitely word that differently. "This page wants to install" certainly makes it seem like the website is trying to put software into my browser, which seemed pretty creepy because it only happened on Bluelight.
 
there's usually a much more simple answer than a malevolent, planet-wide conspiracy to invade your privacy. of course, that's just what they want you to think...

alasdair
 
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