Platinax Internet >> Platinax Internet News

Platinax Internet News Internet and business news for the UK online

« Queen's Speech on business | Main | Europe tackles aviation tax issue »

May 17, 2005

Greasemonkey plays havoc with web

Greasemonkey, a Firefox extension which allows users to load custom scripts that modify a specific website anytime they visit it, is allowing Firefox users to tamper with the web. Users have added a delete button and search folders to Gmail and have even removed Reuters stories on the Michael Jackson trial from online newsreader Bloglines.

Greasemonkey was written by Aaron Boodman in December 2004. Users have submitted scripts for over 115 websites and 60 scripts that work across the web. Many of the scripts block ads, but more advanced scripts can link websites, eg adding links on a Yahoo Maps page to Google Maps. One script targets Amazon pages and tells you if a book is available in your local library.

A potential problem for Greasemonkey users is that they could reveal passwords if they install scripts from untrustworthy sources. The increasing use of Greasemonkey could also lead to some companies trying to disable it on their sites, or to sue users or scriptwriters.

Posted by at May 17, 2005 10:29 PM

> Discuss this in the Platinax Internet business forums

---

May 2005

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30	31

News Archives:

• Apple
• Ask Jeeves
• Browsers
• Firefox
• Business
• Companies
• Employment
• Legal
• E-commerce
• Economy
• Finance Markets
• Housing Market
• Interest rates
• General
• Google
• Google Adwords & AdSense
• Google Desktop search
• Google Sandbox
• Google educational
• Google legal
• Google metrics
• Google miscellaneous
• Google security issues
• Google web search
• Google: company & staff
• Google: financial
• IBM
• Internet
• Internet TV
• Marketing
• PPC
• Microsoft
• Mobile devices
• Programming
• Linux
• Sun
• Unix
• Search Engines
• Security
• Phishing
• Technology
• Open Source
• Web Development
• Webhosting
• Webmaster
• Yahoo!