Take inventory before installing another
Open the browser’s extension list and write down what you use each one for. If you cannot remember installing one or the problem it solves, check its listing and documentation. We recommend starting with what is already installed: adding another security tool does not replace that review.
Think in specific tasks, such as translating a page, saving a reference or changing a site’s appearance. Ask whether you need that feature every day and whether the application itself already provides it. The objective is not an ideal extension count; it is being able to explain why you keep each one.
Connect access to function
Chrome lets users manage site access for certain extensions through their details, including access when selected, on specific sites or on all sites. Google explains that these settings do not restrict certain lower-level access, such as VPN or proxy access. [1]
If you only use an extension on one website, check whether it can work with permission for that site. Then test your normal task. If it stops working, read the developer’s explanation before widening access. Broad permission is not proof of malware, but it should have an understandable connection to the feature you requested.
Assess trust with concrete questions
Check who publishes the extension, where it explains its data practices and which support channel it offers. Do not confuse a polished appearance or many ratings with an audit. Do not paste passwords or sensitive documents into a tool merely because somebody recommended it in a comment.
One practical approach is to review extensions affecting email, documents or signed-in pages first. For a work browser, follow your organization’s rules and consult the responsible person before installing alternatives or changing managed tools.
Remove with a small verification step
Before removing an extension, check whether it stores information you need to export. Temporarily disable it if the browser permits, verify that this does not interrupt an essential task and remove it using the official manager. Do not follow a pop-up telling you to download a supposed cleanup utility.
Afterwards, test your normal tasks and record the changes. Repeat the review when installing a new tool or when access requests change. This procedure reduces unnecessary permissions; it does not certify a risk-free browser or replace system updates.
Make one permission decision per extension
Open your extension list and create four columns: name, feature used, requested access and decision. A writing assistant may need page text; that does not automatically justify permanent access to every site when you use it on only one.
- Disable extensions you do not recognize or no longer need.
- Where supported, restrict access to required sites or manual activation.
- Test your usual feature after the change. If it fails, identify the necessary permission before granting everything again.
- Review again when a different permission request appears.
Example decisions: keep a screenshot tool used weekly, restrict a shopping extension to relevant sites and remove a converter installed for a single task. This is an illustrative classification, not an assessment of particular products or a security guarantee.
Sources and documentation
Sources consulted on October 8, 2026. Original documentation; linked sources may be in English.
