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    Safety & Privacy
    Beginner
    3 min read 4 stepsJuly 15, 2026Verified July 2026

    Are Browser Extensions Safe? How to Check Before You Install One

    Browser extensions can be helpful or risky. Here's how to tell if one is safe before you add it to Chrome, Edge, or Safari.

    At a Glance

    Category
    Safety & Privacy
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Read Time
    3 min read
    Steps
    4
    Topics covered
    browser extensions
    chrome
    safari
    malware

    In this guide (4 steps):

    1. 1.Check the developer name and reviews before installing
    2. 2.Read what permissions it's asking for
    3. 3.Review your currently installed extensions
    4. 4.Keep extensions updated or remove them
    1

    Check the developer name and reviews before installing

    ~15s
    On the extension's store page, look for a verified developer name (not just "Developer") and read a handful of recent reviews. Be cautious of extensions with very few reviews or a flood of generic 5-star reviews posted the same week.
    2

    Read what permissions it's asking for

    ~21s
    Before installing, your browser will show what the extension can access — for example, "Read and change all your data on the websites you visit." Ask yourself if that level of access makes sense for what the extension claims to do.

    Quick Tip

    Quick Tip: A simple tool like a screenshot capture extension needing access to every website you visit is worth a second look.

    3

    Review your currently installed extensions

    ~15s
    In Chrome, go to the three-dot menu > Extensions > Manage Extensions. In Safari, go to Safari > Settings > Extensions. Remove anything you don't recognize or no longer use.
    4

    Keep extensions updated or remove them

    ~15s
    Most browsers update extensions automatically, but if you see one flagged as outdated or no longer maintained by its developer, it's safer to remove it than to keep using it.

    You Did It!

    You've finished reading: Are Browser Extensions Safe? How to Check Before You Install One

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    A browser extension (sometimes called an add-on or plug-in) is a small program that adds features to your web browser, like an ad blocker, a coupon finder, or a grammar checker. Most are safe, but because extensions can see and change what you do in your browser, a malicious one can steal passwords, redirect searches, or track everything you type.

    The biggest warning signs are: an extension asking for far more permission than it needs (a simple calculator extension asking to "read and change all your data on every website" is a red flag), very few reviews or downloads, no clear developer name, or reviews mentioning ads that suddenly appear everywhere. Extensions from well-known companies (Google, Microsoft, LastPass, Grammarly) are generally trustworthy. Extensions from unknown developers with vague descriptions deserve extra scrutiny.

    It's also good practice to periodically review the extensions already installed in your browser and remove ones you no longer use, since old, abandoned extensions can be bought by bad actors and updated to include tracking or malware. Source: support.google.com/chrome/answer/2664769 (Chrome Web Store safety) and support.apple.com/guide/safari/websites-extensions-ibrw1039/mac (Safari extensions).

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    browser extensions
    chrome
    safari
    malware

    Official Resources

    FTC Consumer ProtectionCISA — Cybersecurity TipsAARP Fraud Watch Network

    Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

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