Recently, GOM Player pushed out an update, and I noticed I'd been caught up in its fallout too. Before I knew it, unfamiliar sites—shopping sites like Temu and Agora—had been added to my Chrome bookmarks on their own. I suspect a lot of people have no idea why this is happening. Honestly, at first I was startled too: "Why is this stuff here?" So this time I'd like to share what causes this problem and how to solve it.
GOM Player and the Bookmarks That Multiply on Their Own
GOM Player is an incredibly handy media player, but a recent update quietly started installing a program called "Tab Service." This service is the culprit: it adds bookmarks to browsers like Chrome without your permission. It really caught me off guard. Why would a free app do something like this? Because monetization is difficult, more and more of these apps bundle in third-party advertising deals as part of the install.
At first I thought, "Is this really GOM Player's doing?" but when I looked into it, I found that many users have had the same experience. Maybe this is just the reality of apps these days, but as a user it's a real headache.
How to Deal With the Bookmarks That Get Added on Their Own
Now, what you're probably wondering is, "So how do I fix this?" There are a few methods, so please give them a try.
First, it's a good idea to uninstall GOM Player once. This removes Tab Service as well, so bookmarks will stop being added without your consent. Of course, if you still need GOM Player, you can reinstall it—just don't forget to choose "Custom Install" and uncheck the unnecessary options.
Next, it's also important to check your browser settings. In Chrome's settings, look at "Bookmarks" and delete anything you don't need, and while you're at it, review your extensions as well. If there's an extension you don't recognize, I'd recommend going ahead and disabling it.
Prevention and the Right Mindset
Personally, I've become more careful about recent updates and installations. Especially when installing free apps, I've come to feel how important it is to carefully check what options come bundled along. I hope you'll do the same and review the details before you install.
It's also necessary to review your browser settings regularly. By staying aware of the state of the apps and browser you use day to day, you can head off unexpected trouble before it happens.
In Closing
As you can see, the problem of unwanted bookmarks caused by GOM Player updates turns out to be something you can fix with a little effort. I'd like to take this as an opportunity to rethink how I use my apps and browser, and aim for a more comfortable online life.
I hope you, the reader, will use this information to tidy up your own digital environment. If you're dealing with the same problem, I'd recommend addressing it sooner rather than later. Let's keep enjoying a comfortable internet life together!
