Browser extensions – are they safe and how to remove them

[tarekma7]

I. What are browser extensions and what are they commonly used for:

Browser extensions (also called add-ons or plugins) are small handy tools that add extra functionality to a web browser. Why would you want to use browser extensions?

There are thousand and thousand more extensions out there that have a variety of functionalities. Think of them as small apps that operate inside of a web browser, albeit with various restrictions imposed on them by said web browsers. If you ever want to add some additional functionality to your browser, there is a pretty good chance that there is a browser extension that can provide what you need.

Here are some examples how a browser extension can be useful to you:

1. Ad-blocking – this type of add-on enables content filtering, and blocks annoying pop-up ads, video ads, and many more.

2. Sessions Managers – these help you by saving your browsers tabs from time to time so you do not lose them.

3. Adding additional features to your browser – the Merge Windows plug-in allows you to merge tabs from multiple windows into a single one.

II. Are browser extensions secure and can they be potentially dangerous?

The problem with browser extensions being secure is a topic that gets bigger and bigger. The security check that is done to a new browser extension is something that Google, Mozilla, and Microsoft can improve on. Every browser plug-in store will at some point probably contain an extension that does not comply to the store’s policies, or is downright malicious.

Browser extensions that do not connect to external servers are in most cases safe. Add-ons that try to connect to a server and retrieve data are the ones that can be used for malicious purposes by cybercriminals. The servers that the extensions communicate with can be seized by criminals, and sensitive user data can be used in a harmful way.

A lot of security software keeps a watch over the browser extensions, but it is pretty difficult for them to offer complete protection. Browser extensions operating inside the browser presents a challenge to security programs, as the browser itself is a trusted entity that also performs many other normal tasks (reading and writing data on the PC, sending and receiving data to and from Internet servers, etc.). Discerning and blocking malicious or suspicious behavior amidst the entirety of the web browser activity can be difficult, and not always guaranteed to succeed.

Most browser extensions are created to be helpful, but in some cases they can harm our browser, slow down our browsing experience and they can be the reason for our PCs’ security to be compromised. These are some of the reasons why you would want to remove your browser extensions. In the rows below you can discover what are the methods to perform this task. Let’s start!

III. How to uninstall/remove browser extensions?

Uninstalling browser extensions is pretty easy, and most browser vendors have their own guides that will help you along the way:

How to remove browser extensions Microsoft Edge

How to remove browser extensions Google Chrome

How to remove browser extensions Mozilla Firefox

Although the solutions mentioned above usually (but not all the time) work, let us introduce you to an easier and more comprehensive method that combines all of them together:

Removing browser extensions with Revo Uninstaller Pro 4 is a solution that combines all of the methods mentioned above. The Browser Extensions module displays in a convenient list all extensions that you have currently installed across all browsers on your PC. Browser extensions are shown in groups, based on the browser. Currently, Revo Uninstaller Pro 4 supports Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Internet Explorer, and Microsoft Edge.




Removing browser extensions with Revo Uninstaller Pro is pretty simple and straight forward: for Microsoft Edge you have to select the extension you want to remove, and click Uninstall. Selecting a Microsoft Edge extension and pressing the Uninstall button starts a Windows App uninstallation process because all Edge extensions are installed as apps. For the other browsers it is the same process, but the difference is that you have to click Remove. Selecting an extension of another browser and clicking the Remove button starts the extension removal process.

Continue reading HERE

[Mike]

Thanks for the post never realized Revo had this.

[Jeanjean]

Extensions of Waterfox are not detected, the same (obviously) for portable versions!

[clyde]

Great thread,Tarek