Security researchers have discovered more than 300 Chrome extensions that leak browser data, spy on their users, or outright steal users’ data.
Research focused on the analysis of network traffic generated by Chrome extensions has uncovered 287 applications transmitting the user’s browsing history or search engine results pages (SERP).
Some of them, security researcher Q Continuum explains, would essentially expose the data to unsecured networks, while others would send it to collection servers, either due to intended functionality, for monetization purposes, or with malicious intent.
The extensions have over 37.4 million users, the researcher says. Of these, roughly 27.2 million users installed 153 extensions that were confirmed to leak browser history upon installation.
Couldn’t be happier for having dumped Chrome for Vivaldi.
Good for you! I got fed up with Chrystler and I’m never buying from them again. From now on I’m only buying Dodge!
/s
Genuinely asking: what’s the alternative?
Firefox and hardened forks, possibly Cromite. All you can do is harden your defenses as much as possible and try not to go “oooooo shiny” when looking at extensions.
I do use Firefox as my secondary browser. I may have been under an inaccurate impression that Vivaldi was more private and secure (with a built-in ad blocker)
It’s literally just chrome with a pre installed set of add-ons. It’s no different then just using chrome. That’s the fundamental problem with all the shitty chrome based browsers.
Vivaldi is a bit more unique than just yet; but at the end of the day it is still Chromium, and will therefore never be my main browser.
It’s more that Vivaldi is just Chrome under the hood.