Chrome - Disable Page Thumbnails in New Tabs

The Google Chrome browser has a feature enabled by default that shows thumbnail images of websites you have visited in the past when you open a new tab. I'm not sure about the specifics of the algorithm that determines what is displayed, but it seems to prioritize pages that you visit often. Of course there is also a link to Google's primary money making source, their search service. Why are there two search boxes needed?

Most of the sites I browse with chrome are on private nets...

It's all very convenient, except for when it's not... I think anyone who has spent any amount of time on the internet has clicked a link and seen something they didn't intend on seeing. And of course Chrome, trying to be helpful, decides to show that web page again when you open a new tab or a new browser session.

Enter the "Empty New Tab Page" Chrome app. https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/empty-new-tab-page/dpjamkmjmigaoobjbekmfgabipmfilij

Once installed, you get a whole lot of nothing when opening a new tab. The only flaw (if you want to call it that) is the new tab will have an unknown character square in the title of the tab until you navigate somewhere.

Happy browsing!