Force Install the Gopher Buddy Extension to All Devices

The Install Chrome Extension tab of the Setup Panel contains the installation steps. 

Note: You must copy the extension ID from this tab into the Admin console, so keep it open.

We recommend installing the extension on either the root organization or an organization encompassing all students.

To force-install the extension for users:

1. In the Admin console, navigate to Apps & extensions.
   Devices > Chrome > Apps & extensions
2. Click on the Users & browsers tab.
3. Hover on + (Add) and then click Add Chrome app or extension by ID.
   
4. Go to the Gopher Buddy Service - Setup Panel, Install Chrome Extension tab and copy the extension ID:  
   becdplfalooflanipjoblcmpaekkbbhe.
5. Return to the Admin console, and paste the extension ID in the Add Chrome app or extension by ID pop-up.
   
6. Leave From the Chrome Web Store selected from the drop-down.
7. Click Save.
8. In the apps list, click on Gopher Buddy for Gopher for Chrome Premium to open the app panel.
   
9. In the panel, change the Installation policy drop-down to Force install.
   
10. In the Allowed hosts field, add https://gopher-buddy-prod.appspot.com.
    
11. Under Permissions and URL access, select Allow all permissions.
    
12. Click Save.

Note: The Gopher Buddy requires the following Chrome scopes: Alarms, Enterprise device attributes, Detect idle (NEW), Identity, Notifications, Storage, Web requests (specifically to gopher-buddy-prod.appsot.com).

Recording Session Data

Gopher Buddy does not use the Admin console for its data but relies on having access to the base URL for the Gopher Buddy API, https://gopher-buddy-prod.appspot.com, to report user data and retrieve license information. Session data does not record if the content filter or firewall blocks this website. 

Note: This endpoint does not display anything if visited in a browser. It is only used by the extension.

Gopher Buddy also only records user activity when they are on a managed Chromebook. It will not report user sessions on unmanaged devices.

Updating URL Blocklists

Many organizations use the URL Blocklist in the User Settings section of the Google Admin console to prevent users from changing settings or accessing unauthorized external sites or local pages.

Blocking the Help Center

To prevent students from accessing the CDW Amplified for Education Help Center, which contains an AI assistant, we recommend adding amplifiedlabs.zendesk.com to your organization's URL blocklist. Once the block is correctly configured in the Admin console, students who attempt to click the help links in the Gopher Buddy extension will see a restricted-access page.

What the student sees:

ChromeOS Settings Restrictions

In addition to site blocking, many admins use the chrome://* entry in the URL Blocklist to restrict local system pages.

Due to updates in how ChromeOS displays the Settings page, Admins can no longer allow-list specific portions of the Settings panel without granting full access to the entire settings frame. If opening the Settings page for your users is not an option, we recommend disabling update notifications, as Gopher Buddy prompts them to navigate to chrome://help and chrome://settings/help.