Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for providing recommendations for an add-on to a base program operating on a computing device, thus allowing a user to make a more informed decision as to whether to allow the add-on to be installed or not. To make the recommendation, collection software is queried for information about an add-on when installation or instantiation of the add-on is detected on the computing device. Information about the add-on is collected by the collection software, which comprises one or more add-on detection programs. A recommendation for applying the add-on (or not) is generated using the collected information, where the recommendation comprises a ranking based on detection program prioritization.

Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for providing recommendations for an add-on to a base program operating on a computing device, thus allowing a user to make a more informed decision as to whether to allow the add-on to be installed or not. To make the recommendation, collection software is queried for information about an add-on when installation or instantiation of the add-on is detected on the computing device. Information about the add-on is collected by the collection software, which comprises one or more add-on detection programs. A recommendation for applying the add-on (or not) is generated using the collected information, where the recommendation comprises a ranking based on detection program prioritization.

Abstract: Retrieval software and add-on collection software are integrated to provide a computer user information on add-ons attempting to instantiate, or alternatively, install, on the user's computer system. The retrieval software, i.e., software for locating and retrieving information from networked information services, uses information from data the collection software, i.e., software capable of collecting information about add-ons that exist via the World Wide Web, can retrieve on an add-on to create a record of status information on the add-on. The retrieval software displays this record of status information to the computer user. The retrieval software can also use information collected on an add-on to generate a recommendation identification for the add-on. The recommendation identification is an indication of what the retrieval software suggests the computer user should do with the add-on, e.g., allow its instantiation or deny its instantiation, or, alternatively, allow or block its installation.