🕵️♂️ Real Story: A browser extension sold millions of users' data.
In 2020, popular Chrome extensions like "Hover Zoom" and "Data Saver" were caught collecting users' browsing activity — including URLs, search terms, and visits to private portals like banking dashboards.
This data was quietly sold to advertisers and analytics firms.
Many users had no idea — because the permissions looked harmless.
🔐 How to protect yourself:
• Only install extensions from trusted developers.
• Regularly audit and remove unused browser add-ons.
• Check permissions before installing — "Read and change data" = red flag.
• Use privacy-focused browsers like Brave or Firefox.
Your browser knows everything you do online.
Don't let it leak to someone else.
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Wild how something as small as a browser extension can quietly expose so much. Appreciate the heads up. Crazy that “read and change data” sounds so normal, but can mean full surveillance. Thanks for breaking it down clearly.
You're welcome!
thanks for sharing this - a valuable reminder to be mindful about the tools we engage with