Tamper-proof setup

Make Vidward impossible to remove

A one-time setup on your child’s computer locks the extension with Chrome’s own administrator policies. No disable toggle, no remove button.

Do this on your child’s computer, not yours.

You need an administrator account on that computer, and your child should use a non-administrator account (or on a Mac). That combination is what makes this stick: without admin rights, the lock can’t be undone. This setup locks Google Chrome only.

What it does

Vidward uses the same policy system schools and companies use to manage Chrome. After the setup, Chrome itself enforces four things:

  • Vidward becomes “Installed by your administrator”: the disable toggle and remove button disappear from chrome://extensions. If the extension is missing, Chrome installs it automatically (you still link it with the activation code).
  • Incognito is switched off: extensions don’t run in Incognito, so it would be an easy way around the rules.
  • Guest mode is switched off: guest windows start without any extensions.
  • Adding new Chrome profiles is blocked: a fresh profile would start without Vidward.

Set it up

  1. 1
    Download the setup file.
    Download for Windows

    Chrome may warn about this file type. Choose Keep. It’s a plain text file of Chrome settings, and you can read it in Notepad.

  2. 2
    Double-click vidward-tamper-proof-setup.reg in your Downloads folder. Windows asks for administrator permission: choose Yes.
  3. 3
    Registry Editor asks to confirm the change: choose Yes.
  4. 4
    Quit Chrome completely and open it again.

Check that it worked

  • Open chrome://policy and click Reload policies. You should see ExtensionInstallForcelist, IncognitoModeAvailability, BrowserGuestModeEnabled and BrowserAddPersonEnabled. Each should have status OK and level Mandatory.
  • Open chrome://extensions: Vidward shows “Installed by your administrator” and has no remove option.
  • Chrome’s menu now says “Managed by your organization”. That’s expected: the organization is you.

Undo it later

Removing the lock needs the same administrator rights, so your child can’t do it from their account.

Download removal file

Run it the same way as the setup file, then restart Chrome.

The honest fine print

  • If your child has an administrator account, they can undo this. Giving them a standard (non-admin) account is the part that makes it stick.
  • This locks Google Chrome only. If other browsers are installed, consider removing them or setting them up separately.
  • The settings apply to every Chrome profile on that computer, including yours if you share it. Incognito will be off for everyone.

Questions? See the FAQ or contact support.