Why there isn't a Firefox or Chrome addon to automate social networks?

nino59 · Mar 21, 2024

I searched for some add-ons for Social Network automation tasks like Autofollow, auto-like, auto-comment, and scraping. etc.. for Instagram, TikTok, Linkedin, and Facebook.
I was surprised it was almost nonexistent, just a few add-ons.

Why there isn't a Firefox or Chrome addon to automate social networks?

I have the project to develop a Firefox and Chrome addon for one of these tasks. But if these kinds of extensions are very rare, it is because maybe it is not allowed, or are there any other reasons?
What do you think? If you know some add-ons that do this kind of task, please comment on this post.
Do you think it is worth it to code this kind of extension?

Nabil Sikder · Mar 21, 2024

as far as i know it's because manifest leak by extension

nino59 · Mar 21, 2024

Nabil Sikder said:
as far as i know it's because manifest leak by extension

Thanks, but I don't understand. Can you explain, please?

BassTrackerBoats · Mar 21, 2024

I think that would be nice to have but for sure it would have to be updated on a regular basis due to the adjustments the SM platforms make quite often.

Nabil Sikder · Mar 21, 2024

nino59 said:
Thanks, but I don't understand. Can you explain, please?

It’s possible for websites to see which browser extension user installed, so they can flag based on it also, saw this practise before. but there can be more reason like not updating extension frequently.

nino59 · Mar 22, 2024

Nabil Sikder said:
It’s possible for websites to see which browser extension user installed, so they can flag based on it also, saw this practise before. but there can be more reason like not updating extension frequently.

Thank you. Interesting. I asked chatGPT:
Websites have limited capabilities to detect which browser extensions a user has installed, primarily due to web browser security and privacy measures designed to protect user information. However, there are indirect methods that websites might use to infer the presence of certain extensions:

1. Content Modification Detection:
Some extensions modify webpage content (e.g., ad blockers removing ads, or video downloaders altering video pages). Websites can detect these modifications by checking for discrepancies between expected and actual webpage content. For example, if a script expects an advertisement to be visible and it's not, it might infer the presence of an ad blocker.

2. Web Requests Monitoring:
Extensions often make web requests to function. For instance, a price comparison tool might fetch pricing data from its servers. Websites could potentially detect these requests through JavaScript by monitoring AJAX calls or using web sockets, although this method is more about detecting the extension's activity rather than its presence.

3. Specific JavaScript Object Detection:
Some extensions inject specific JavaScript objects or modify the global JavaScript environment in a recognizable way. Websites can detect these changes by checking for the presence of these objects or modifications.

4. CSS Changes Detection:
Extensions that apply custom styles to web pages (e.g., themes or content blockers) might be detectable by websites that check for unexpected CSS rules or styles.

Privacy Considerations:
Browsers are designed with user privacy in mind, and direct enumeration of installed extensions is generally blocked to prevent fingerprinting—a technique used to track and identify users uniquely based on their browser and system configuration. Modern browsers like Firefox and Chrome have been working to limit the ways in which extensions can be detected to enhance user privacy.

Conclusion:
While direct detection of browser extensions is restricted, indirect methods may offer some clues about the presence of certain types of extensions. Browser vendors continuously work to close these gaps and enhance user privacy, making it increasingly difficult for websites to detect extensions accurately. Users concerned about privacy and security should keep their browsers and extensions up to date, review extension permissions, and use reputable extensions from trusted developers.

So yes websites can detect browser addon if it modify the page or make some specific request to the server. Otherwise, the website doesn't have access to the list of add-ons of the visitor. It is the user's privacy.

So for my add-on project, I think I will create an external "exe" that will do the job. The addon will be useful to pass the URL of the target page.
Let me explain: this kind of bot needs a target (which accounts to follow, to unfollow, which post to like, etc...). So for instance, if the user wants to follow the follower of @JohnDoe Instagram account, he will:

Visit the URL https://instagram/johndoe
Click on addon
fill out the add-on form (daily limit, hourly limit, etc...) to configure the task
Click on "Go" to run the autofollow.exe (previously downloaded while installing the addon).
autofollow.exe receives the URL and other parameters through parameters (ex: autofollow.exe -url https://instagram/johndoe -daily_limit 50 -hourly_limit 10), opens the web page in a browser, and does the job of following the followers of Jon Doe

Growth hackers's feedback and Points of view are important to me. Thanks again for your help.

1. Visit a

Nabil Sikder · Mar 22, 2024

nino59 said:
So yes websites can detect browser addon if it modify the page or make some specific request to the server. Otherwise, the website doesn't have access to the list of add-ons of the visitor. It is the user's privacy.

actually website can detect extension by checking presence of `web_accessible_resources` assets from manifest.json, you can bypass that by simply modifying extension folder/id. but it's not possible for official chrome webstore extensions to modify dynamically it's id/folder, you have to do it manually.

whatever you are trying to do with extension i don't think it's required anymore to go through this hassle. you can use readymade solution but you have learn it.

Try to learn automa/goless and more, all are based on joining blocks.

vuvanthuan170696 · Mar 22, 2024

Thank you for sharing but I don't quite understand. Can you explain it to me?

Daddy4U · Mar 24, 2024

Same here, I searched for auto-group poster extension, but non of them exist.
And not that many groups, maybe 15-20 posts but automated so I dont have to manually post in all of them, but didnt find anything for free or cheap. Everything I found is expensive and created for hundreds of groups or posts etc.

Why there isn't a Firefox or Chrome addon to automate social networks?

nino59

Newbie

Nabil Sikder

Registered Member

nino59

Newbie

BassTrackerBoats

Support Admin

Nabil Sikder

Registered Member

nino59

Newbie

1. Content Modification Detection:

2. Web Requests Monitoring:

3. Specific JavaScript Object Detection:

4. CSS Changes Detection:

Privacy Considerations:

Conclusion:

Nabil Sikder

Registered Member

vuvanthuan170696

Junior Member

Daddy4U

Junior Member

Main Menu

Marketplace

Making Money

BlackHatWorld

Other

Why there isn't a Firefox or Chrome addon to automate social networks?

Newbie

Registered Member

Newbie

Support Admin

Registered Member

Newbie

1. Content Modification Detection:​

2. Web Requests Monitoring:​

3. Specific JavaScript Object Detection:​

4. CSS Changes Detection:​

Privacy Considerations:​

Conclusion:​

Registered Member

Junior Member

Junior Member

Main Menu

Marketplace

Making Money

BlackHatWorld

Other

1. Content Modification Detection:

2. Web Requests Monitoring:

3. Specific JavaScript Object Detection:

4. CSS Changes Detection:

Privacy Considerations:

Conclusion: