Browser extensions are applets within a browser that add functionality. Commonly used extensions are, for example, Adblockers, Colorpickers, CRM integrations, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint editing in your browser), password managers, screenshot creators, and translators. They add functionality with one or two clicks. The extensions are very useful but… if the developers have bad intentions or the extensions fall into the wrong hands, it is also very dangerous.
What these browser extensions can do
The problems and security risks with this extensions seem to be increasing. The concerns are not unjustified. The security controls around browser extensions just haven’t been good enough for years. Browser extension web stores now contain malicious extensions. Extensions that do not comply with the policies.
The extensions that work statically and do not connect to external servers are generally safe. Extensions that need to connect to a server to retrieve data are more confidential because they can also be unwittingly targeted by cybercriminals.
Most extensions will be safe. It is a small number of extensions that have the wrong intention and use malicious code. Safety is in the numbers, that’s the best advice we can give. The extensions that are extremely popular and have thousands of reviews and millions of users are safe to use so try to avoid unknown pages not only because of these extensions but because of the other risks that we can find.
If you do not need these extensions, the safest option is not to use them at all and ignore them completely as it is best to avoid these risks.
See also:
Browsers – Promising (and dedicated to) privacy
Vivaldi – How it is and what this Browser has to offer
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