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.
AI-generated. Findings may contain errors. Those marked Verified have been manually reviewed.
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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.
What it can do
Permissions this extension asks for, as declared in version 1.0.1. Asking for a permission is not a finding on its own - it is what the extension can do if it chooses to.
Store data in your browser
storage