Are Your Browser Extensions Are Spying On You ? (1 Viewer)

[scotjimland]

Apparently they are.. you decide ..

I checked a few on the list and some have been removed..

https://discuss.howtogeek.com/t/warning-your-browser-extensions-are-spying-on-you/12394

 

[Reallyretired]

Mainly Google again. I only use Firefox and none of the listed extensions.

 

[Tootles]

How do they 'spy' on you?? I don't have any, but interested to know what info they are gleaning. I take it that maybe they are watching what sites or products you use? A bit like Sky TV maybe, when they insist you keep your phone line connected to the SKY box for twelve months? If so, it's been going on for years.......

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[scotjimland]

How do they 'spy' on you??

• Browser add-ons for Chrome, Firefox, and probably other browsers are tracking every single page you visit and sending that data back to a third-party company that pays them for your information.
• Some of these add-ons are also injecting ads into the pages that you visit, and Google specifically allows this for some reason as long as it is “clearly disclosed”.
• Millions of people are being tracked this way and they don’t have a clue.

more on the link http://www.howtogeek.com/180175/warning-your-browser-extensions-are-spying-on-you/

 

[Tootles]

• Browser add-ons for Chrome, Firefox, and probably other browsers are tracking every single page you visit and sending that data back to a third-party company that pays them for your information.
• Some of these add-ons are also injecting ads into the pages that you visit, and Google specifically allows this for some reason as long as it is “clearly disclosed”.
• Millions of people are being tracked this way and they don’t have a clue.

more on the link http://www.howtogeek.com/180175/warning-your-browser-extensions-are-spying-on-you/

Thanks Jim.

 

[DBK]

I don't really care if they are spying on me, assuming it isn't anything malicious in the sense of harvesting passwords etc, for which I have security software to protect the PC. It is is slightly spooky when you look for an item on say Amazon and then start getting adverts for it appearing on this site, spooky, but not worrying.

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[Puddleduck]

I pity anyone spying on me...... it must be the most boring job in the universe. Mind I've been told machines don't get bored.

 

[DBK]

If you have Chrome just enter "chrome://extensions/" in the address bar and it will list what you have. Mine has nothing sinister, just a few about Google docs, which I use sometimes, and the site advisor from the PC security software. I swapped over to Chrome from IE as it was very easy when using it to copy the URL of an image stored in what was at the time Picassa but which has now become part of Google+. It was more long-winded in IE but in Chrome it is a simple right click and copy.

 

[Puddleduck]

As I guessed I am boring..... I have nothing enabled. I'm obviously a dead loss as far as interesting watching is concerned. I suppose watching a duck swim from one end of a puddle to the other and back again all day isn't exactly porn star tv...........

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[Chockswahay]

I love Safari.......plain and simple and safe

 

[mitzimad]

thats how the internet works for you, you search for inflatable canoes and google brings you related adds its not malicious and designed to help you for me its not a problem

 

[scotjimland]

assuming it isn't anything malicious in the sense of harvesting passwords etc,

thats how the internet works for you, you search for inflatable canoes and google brings you related adds its not malicious and designed to help you for me its not a problem

I don't profess to be a computer security guru .. Karl @Gromett is the resident expert.. ... but I would assume nothing .. who knows what information is being harvested.. and it's not just what type of canoe you are interested in..

Would you allow a total stranger to sit and look over your shoulder while you browse and log into your banking website .. or while you are buying on-line and entering card details, log all your personal details then sell it to the highest bidder down the pub ? I rather think not..

Forewarned is forearmed.. I think it naive to assume that it's harmless and not malicious.

the example given on the link ..

An add-on that can
* access all data on website you visit
*read and modify your browsing history
*access your tabs and browsing activity ..

This extension is asking for way too many permissions. Deny!

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