browser-enhancements data-privacy data-leakage chrome-security

Chrome extensions spying on users' browsing data

Spying Chrome Extensions: 287 Extensions spying on 37M users

qcontinuum.substack.com

February 11, 2026

11 min read

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67/100

Summary

An automated scanning pipeline identified 287 Chrome extensions that exfiltrate browsing history, collectively installed on approximately 37.4 million devices. This represents around 1% of the global Chrome user base.

Key Takeaways

An automated scanning pipeline identified 287 Chrome extensions that exfiltrate browsing history, collectively installed on approximately 37.4 million devices.
The extensions flagged for data leakage are linked to various actors, including Similarweb, Curly Doggo, and Chinese data brokers.
The methodology used for detection involved monitoring outbound traffic and correlating it with URL lengths to identify potential data leaks.
The findings highlight ongoing concerns about privacy and data exfiltration through seemingly innocuous browser extensions.

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Analysis ready

Community Sentiment

Negative

Positives

Using open source extensions like uBlock Origin allows users to audit the code, enhancing trust and security in their browsing experience.
The ability to research and monitor updates for extensions can help users protect themselves from potential data exfiltration.

Concerns

The Chrome Web Store's lack of regulation enables bad actors to purchase legitimate extensions and exploit user data.
There is a growing concern that even trustworthy extensions can become malware after being bought out, eroding user trust.