FortiClient Web Filter Extension Anomaly on Chrome – Random Extension Disappearance

Hello acorniola, 

Thank you for using the Community Forum. I will seek to get you an answer or help. We will reply to this thread with an update as soon as possible. 

Hello,

We are still looking for an answer to your question.

We will come back to you ASAP.

Hello again acorniola,

I found this solution, can you tell us if it helps, please?

To address the issue of the FortiClient Web Filter extension randomly disappearing from Google Chrome, follow these steps to diagnose and potentially resolve the problem:

1. Verify Extension Installation Mode

Ensure that the FortiClient Web Filter extension is force-installed via FortiClient EMS or Group Policy. This can prevent the extension from being removed unintentionally.

• Registry Check for Chrome:
  • Open the Registry Editor and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome\ExtensionSettings.
  • Check if the FortiClient Web Filter extension ID (mbdegapampkgaclohepfibppdhongjgh) is listed with the "installation_mode":"force_installed" setting.

2. Check EMS Configuration

Ensure that the EMS profile is correctly configured to manage the extension:

• Go to Endpoint Profiles > Manage Profiles in EMS.
• Under the Web Filter tab, ensure that Enable Web Browser Plugin for HTTPS Web Filtering is enabled.
• Verify that the profile is correctly assigned to the endpoint.

3. Investigate Chrome Policies

Check if there are any conflicting policies or third-party software that might be affecting Chrome extensions:

• Enter chrome://policy in the Chrome address bar to view all active policies.
• Look for any policies that might interfere with extension management.

4. Review System Logs

Check system and application logs for any events that might indicate why the extension is being removed: Use Windows Event Viewer to look for any errors or warnings related to Chrome or FortiClient.

5. Update and Reinstall

Ensure that both Chrome and FortiClient are updated to their latest versions. If the issue persists, consider reinstalling the FortiClient application:

• Uninstall FortiClient from the endpoint.
• Reboot the system.
• Reinstall FortiClient and ensure it is properly registered with EMS.

6. Disable Prefetching in Chrome

As a precaution, disable prefetching in Chrome to prevent any unintended behavior:

• Open Chrome and enter chrome://settings/?search=preload.
• Disable the Preload pages option.

Follow-ups and Clarification Questions

• Have you checked if any third-party software or security applications are interfering with Chrome extensions?
• Is the issue occurring on multiple endpoints or isolated to a single machine?
• Have you observed any patterns or specific actions that trigger the extension's disappearance?

If the problem persists after these steps, consider reaching out to Fortinet Support for further assistance.