(Credit: James Martin/PCMag)
Next time you open your favorite browser, ask yourself the following questions: Who can see what I’m doing? Is it a problem if someone else sees what I’m doing? The answer to the second question is up to you, but the first may give you pause. After all, you probably use a browser for tasks that involve personal and private information, like online banking, shopping, or submitting your tax forms. Here's the bad news: It's incredibly easy to leak your private information via shady browser extensions, and they're everywhere.
In a July 2025 report from the security company Malwarebytes, researchers identified 18 hijacked Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge browser extensions that were logging people’s browser activity. The extensions were installed more than two million times, so that's a lot of covert surveillance. This isn't a new problem, either: Malicious browser extensions have been an issue for years.
Below, I'll explain how criminals extract personal data using browser extensions, how to identify legitimate extensions, and how to manage the ones currently on your browser.
Why Are Some Browser Extensions Dangerous?
Browser add-ons and extensions are apps that run in the background while you browse. You probably downloaded them because they perform useful tasks to help you navigate the web, but depending on the browser you use and the permissions you've given to the extension, the company that owns the app can potentially see everything you see on a website, including the information you put in web forms, like your name, social security number, or bank account details. That information can be packaged up and sold on the dark web, used for blackmail, or to fuel social engineering scams.
Malicious extensions don't always start out that way. Over the past year, security researchers have noted many instances of good apps going bad, as in the Malwarebytes research linked above, or when researchers at Carnegie Mellon in December identified more than 30 malicious browser extensions in the Google Chrome Store.
Which Extensions Should You Keep?
I recommend only installing apps for services you already use from companies you trust. For example, Gmail has a browser extension. Privacy and security apps like authenticators, password managers, and VPNs are typically available as browser extensions. There are also helpful extensions with AI tie-ins, like Grammarly, a grammar and spelling-checking app. Adblocking software is almost exclusively offered as browser extensions.
All the major browsers support extensions on desktop, while Safari also supports them on iPhone and iPad, and Firefox allows them on Android devices. No matter which browser you choose, it's a good idea to periodically delete the extensions you rarely use and turn off extensions that don't need to always run in the background. Below are step-by-step instructions for adding and removing extensions for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari.
How to Add and Remove Chrome Extensions
(Credit: Google/PCMag)Chrome extensions can be added from the Chrome Web Store. There, you can scroll down the page to check out recommended extensions, search for a specific extension, or peruse different categories, such as Accessibility, News & Weather, Productivity, Search Tools, and Shopping.
(Credit: Google/PCMag)To add an extension, select a listing and click the Add to Chrome button. Then click Add extension. Depending on the extension, you may be prompted to configure the plug-in. If not, the extension will simply settle into Chrome.
(Credit: Google/PCMag)Most extensions will display an icon in the upper-right toolbar that you can click or right-click to control. But the icon doesn’t appear by default. To add the icon, click the Extensions button (the one that looks like a puzzle piece). Click the Pin icon, and the extension will then appear.
(Credit: Google/PCMag)In order to manage the extension, right-click on the icon. You can click Manage extension to configure any settings, select Unpin to remove it from sight on your browser, or choose Remove from Chrome to uninstall it completely.
(Credit: Google/PCMag)If you want to view all your extensions in Chrome, click the three-dot icon in the upper right, move to More tools, and select Extensions. Alternatively, click the Extensions button on the toolbar and select Manage extensions. This will take you to a page where you can manage all your installed extensions.
(Credit: Google/PCMag)You can click Details to view information on a specific extension. If you turn off an extension's switch, you can temporarily disable it. Otherwise, click Remove to uninstall the extension completely.
How to Add and Remove Microsoft Edge Extensions
(Credit: Microsoft/PCMag)Since the current version of Edge is based on Chromium, it can handle extensions from the Chrome Web Store. But Microsoft also offers its own Edge Add-ons in the Microsoft Store. You can check out popular, newest, and trending extensions, search for specific add-ons, or view a selection across different categories.
(Credit: Microsoft/PCMag)If you want to install an extension, select the listing and then click the Get button. Select the Add extension button from the browser pop-up. You may be prompted to configure or customize the extension.
(Credit: Microsoft/PCMag)To make the extension visible in the browser, click the Extensions button on the toolbar (the one that looks like a puzzle piece). For the extension you wish to see, click the Show in toolbar button (which resembles an eye).
(Credit: Microsoft/PCMag)To control the extension from the toolbar, right-click on its icon. Select Manage extension to change any associated settings. Click Hide from toolbar to remove it from the toolbar. Choose Remove from Microsoft Edge to completely uninstall the program from Edge.
(Credit: Microsoft/PCMag)You can view all your extensions by right-clicking the Extensions button on the toolbar and selecting Manage extensions. Any extensions from the Chrome Web Store will be listed on this screen under the From other sources section. You manage all extensions the same way.
Click the Details link to view information on an extension. You can temporarily disable an extension by turning off its associated switch. If you want to uninstall an extension, click the Remove link.
How to Add and Remove Firefox Extensions
(Credit: Mozilla/PCMag)In Firefox, you can get extensions from the Firefox Browser Add-Ons site. Scroll down the page to view recommended, top-rated, and trending extensions, search for specific extensions, or select one of the categories at the top, such as Appearance, Bookmarks, Privacy & Security, Search Tools, and Tabs.
(Credit: Mozilla/PCMag)To install an extension, select it and then click the Add to Firefox button. Click Add and then choose whether you want the extension to run in a private window. Click Okay, and the extension automatically appears on the toolbar.
(Credit: Mozilla/PCMag)You can manage an extension by right-clicking on its toolbar icon. From the pop-up menu, select Manage Extension to change any associated settings. You can click Remove from Toolbar to remove it from view, but keep it installed. Click Remove Extension to uninstall it from Firefox entirely.
(Credit: Mozilla/PCMag)To view all your extensions, click the hamburger icon in the upper right and select Add-ons and themes. To disable an extension, turn off its switch. To run other commands, click the ellipsis icon for an extension. You can now manage it, configure its various options, or remove it entirely.
(Credit: Mozilla/PCMag)Android users can't typically use extensions on the go, but a small number are available if you're using the mobile version of Firefox. You can view them if you open the browser and go to the Firefox Add-ons for Android site. You will see a selection of recommended extensions; tap the See more recommended extensions link at the bottom to see more.
(Credit: Mozilla/PCMag)Tap an extension that interests you to access its details and ratings. Tap the Add to Firefox button to install it. Choose whether you want to use the extension in private browsing mode. You may now need to configure and customize the extension, after which it will take effect.
(Credit: Mozilla/PCMag)To check or further tweak a specific extension in the Firefox app, tap the three-dot icon at the top of the browser and select Add-ons. Choose the name of the extension, and you should see a screen where you can view its status and configure its settings.
(Credit: Mozilla/PCMag)You can manage your extensions in the app by clicking the three-dot icon and selecting Add-ons > Add-ons Manager. Select the extension, then turn off the switch to disable it. You can also tap the Remove button to uninstall it from Firefox.
How to Add and Remove Safari Extensions
(Credit: Apple/PCMag)To install extensions in Safari on macOS, open the browser and click Safari > Safari Extensions. Alternatively, open the Mac App Store app, select Categories, and then choose Safari Extensions. You can scroll down the screen to view the different categories and extensions or search for one directly.
(Credit: Apple/PCMag)You can install a specific extension by selecting the listing, clicking the Get button, and then choosing Install. You may be prompted to customize the extension or allow certain permissions for it to work with Safari.
(Credit: Apple/PCMag)To view and manage your extensions, click Safari > Preferences, and then select the Extensions tab. Uncheck a listing to temporarily disable an extension. If you want to uninstall an extension, select it and then click the Uninstall button. You will also need to delete its underlying applications to fully uninstall the extension; a message should appear prompting you to do this.
(Credit: Apple/PCMag)Support for extensions on iPhone and iPad is extremely limited. While Apple allows you to install extensions for Safari, you won't be able to do the same for Chrome, Edge, or Firefox on your device. To install an extension in the Safari mobile app, go to Settings > Safari > Extensions and tap the More Extensions link.
(Credit: Apple/PCMag)At the Safari Extensions page, you can now view the different extensions available. Select a specific extension that interests you to learn more about it. Tap the Get button to download and install the extension. You can then open the extension’s app to set up the service or configure its settings.
(Credit: Apple/PCMag)Now open Safari, tap the AA icon on the left, and select Manage Extensions to see all your installed add-ons. Turn on the switch for the extension you want to enable, then tap Done. The extension should now be in effect.
(Credit: Apple/PCMag)If you want to disable an extension, open the AA icon again and select Manage Extensions. You can then toggle the switch next to an extension to disable it. To uninstall an extension entirely, you will need to delete its app from your home screen.
Use Smart Internet Hygiene
Managing browser extensions is a task you can add to your household's cybersecurity checklist. While you're focusing on security, take a look at your browser's privacy settings, too. There may be some features or tools you can enable or disable to exercise more control over access to your personal data. For a roundup of PCMag's recommended online safety apps, check out the privacy and security toolkit.