Browser Extensions: Keep Only the Ones You Actually Trust

Browser extensions can be useful. They block pop-ups, help with passwords, improve productivity, and add shortcuts people like using every day.

They can also see far more than most people realize.

An extension may be able to read what you do in the browser, change page content, access data on websites you visit, or request broad permissions that are easy to approve in a hurry. That matters because so much business now happens inside the browser: Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, online banking, payroll, customer portals, accounting systems, and supplier logins.

For most office users, the safe habit is not to avoid extensions entirely. It is to keep only the ones you truly need, install them carefully, and review their permissions from time to time.

Why extensions deserve a second look

Browsers are one of the most heavily used business tools, which also makes them a valuable target. Official guidance from CISA warns that web browsers collect a great deal of personal and business information and that extensions should be properly vetted before you add them. Google also warns users to approve only extensions they trust and to pay attention to the permissions those extensions request.

That warning is practical, not theoretical.

A risky extension does not have to look obviously malicious. It may simply ask for more access than it needs, get installed as part of another program, or remain in place long after nobody in the business remembers why it was added. Over time, an unnecessary extension becomes another piece of software with access to business data.

Simple checks before you install one

Before adding an extension to Chrome, Edge, or another browser, pause for a few seconds and ask:

Do I actually need this, or is it just convenient?
Do I know and trust the developer or vendor?
Does the extension ask for access that seems wider than its purpose?
Would I still be comfortable if this extension could read data from the websites I use for work?
Is there a safer built-in browser feature or company-approved tool that already does this job?

If the answers are unclear, do not install it yet.

What staff should do

Do:

Install browser extensions only from official browser stores or from tools your company has approved.
Read the permissions prompt before you click Add or Enable.
Prefer extensions with the narrowest site access possible instead of giving access on every site.
Remove extensions you no longer use, especially old coupon tools, PDF helpers, shopping plug-ins, or productivity add-ons you forgot about.
Keep your browser updated and restart it when updates require it.
Use your browser's security protections, such as Safe Browsing or organization-managed controls, where available.

Do not:

Add an extension just because a website, pop-up, or message says you need it to continue.
Approve broad permissions without understanding why they are needed.
Leave unnecessary extensions installed on work devices "just in case."
Install an extension bundled with another download unless you intentionally want it and trust it.
Assume an extension is safe simply because it looks popular or has a polished description.

A good rule for site permissions

If an extension can work on selected sites instead of every site, choose the narrower option.

Google's extension controls let users limit whether an extension can read and change data only when selected, on the current site, or on all sites. For business use, less access is usually the better starting point. An extension that only needs to help on one web app should not automatically have visibility into every tab you open.

If you are unsure

Ask before installing. Send the extension name, store link, and a screenshot of the permission prompt to your IT support team or manager. That small pause is far safer than cleaning up a bad install later.

If you already installed an extension and now feel unsure about it, remove or disable it, change any sensitive passwords you may have used in the browser if advised by IT, and report the concern. If the extension had access to business systems, it is worth checking sooner rather than later.

The practical takeaway is simple: treat browser extensions like software with real access, not harmless decorations. Keep the list short, review permissions carefully, and remove anything you do not genuinely trust.

Sources: CISA Project Upskill — Tips to Stay Safe while Surfing the Web, Part 1: Web Browser Settings; CISA Project Upskill — Vet Technologies Before Adding Them to Your Network; Google Chrome Web Store Help — Install and manage extensions.