The hidden risks of browser extensions – and how to stay safe

What would we do without the web browser? For most of us, it’s our gateway to the digital world. But browsers are such a familiar tool today that we’re in danger of giving them a free ride. In fact, there are plenty of rogue extensions masquerading as legitimate ad blockers, AI assistants, or even security tools that are designed to steal our data, send us to malicious sites and flood our screen with popups. For example, earlier this year, a malicious campaign was uncovered that may have impacted dozens of extensions and compromised nearly three million users.

Next time you’re thinking about downloading a web browser add-on, think through the following risks.

Why extensions matter

Browser extensions are an increasingly popular vehicle for threat actors. They give attackers access to a vast amount of sensitive information, with people often trusting these add-ons, especially if they’re downloaded ...