Is Great Start - Homepage safe?
Great Start is medium risk. Every new tab search redirects to greatstartapp.com/serp.php before reaching the chosen engine. Requests carry the query, a persistent install ID (chrome.runtime.id), version, and provider, enabling tracking, undisclosed in the listing.
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Findings
Search queries routed through greatstartapp.com with persistent install ID
Every new tab search redirects to greatstartapp.com/serp.php before reaching the chosen engine.
Requests carry the query, a persistent install ID (chrome.runtime.id), version, and provider, enabling tracking, undisclosed in the listing.
You type a search and press Enter on the new tab page.
The new tab page replaces the browser default and provides a search bar.
The extension intercepts the submission and redirects your browser to greatstartapp.com, sending your search query along with a persistent identifier unique to your installation.
No consent prompt is shown. The redirect fires unconditionally on every search.
| Field | Value | Why it matters | |
|---|---|---|---|
Your search query | symptoms of flu vs covid | The exact text you typed into the search bar. | |
Your installation ID | goabeeekdabpokgoieonknlecpaoejon | A permanent identifier unique to your install. Unchanged between sessions, so it links all your searches together over time. | |
Extension version | 1.0.1 | Which version of the extension you have installed. | |
Selected search provider | yahoo | Which search engine you have chosen (e.g. Yahoo, Bing). |
The submit handler in bookmarks.js that builds and fires the redirect:
// Fires on every search form submission from the new tab page.
// el.preventDefault() stops any direct navigation; the extension
// takes full control and redirects through greatstartapp.com.
document.querySelector('form.search').addEventListener('submit', function (el) {
const form = new FormData(el.target);
const provider = form.get('provider'); // e.g. 'yahoo'
const searchterm = form.get('searchterm'); // the user's query
el.preventDefault(); // intercept before any navigation
let manifestData = chrome.runtime.getManifest();
// Redirect to greatstartapp.com with all parameters.
// chrome.runtime.id is persistent for the lifetime of the installation.
window.location.href =
'https://greatstartapp.com' +
'/serp.php?v=' + encodeURIComponent(manifestData.version) +
'&id=' + encodeURIComponent(chrome.runtime.id) +
'&q=' + encodeURIComponent(searchterm) +
'&provider=' + encodeURIComponent(provider);
});- greatstartapp.com
Receives every search query, the persistent install ID, extension version, and selected provider. Not referenced in the store listing's disclosures.