Question 1

How do I check if a browser extension is safe?

Accepted Answer

Check its permissions first — go to chrome://extensions, click Details on any extension, and review its permissions. Then use TrustScan's Extension Security Auditor to understand what each permission means and get a risk score. Look for extensions that request the minimum permissions needed for their function.

Question 2

What browser extension permissions are dangerous?

Accepted Answer

The most dangerous permissions are: 'Access all websites' (can see everything you do online), 'Debugger access' (can intercept HTTPS traffic), 'Native messaging' (can communicate with programs on your computer), and 'Proxy settings' (can route all traffic through a third-party server). Extensions requesting these should be treated with extreme caution.

Question 3

Can browser extensions steal my data?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Extensions with permissions like 'Access all websites', 'Read cookies', and 'Read clipboard' can access passwords, session tokens, and sensitive data. In 2025, malicious extensions stole data from over 2.3 million users, including extensions with Featured badges and millions of downloads.

Question 4

Is this extension auditor tool free?

Accepted Answer

Yes, completely free with no account required. The tool runs 100% in your browser — no data is sent to any server. You can audit as many extensions as you want with no usage limits.

Question 5

What does the security score mean?

Accepted Answer

The security score ranges from 0-100. Scores above 80 are Low Risk (minimal permissions), 50-79 is Medium Risk, 20-49 is High Risk, and below 20 is Critical Risk. The score decreases based on the number and severity of permissions requested. Critical permissions like 'Access all websites' have the heaviest impact.

Question 6

How do I find an extension's permissions?

Accepted Answer

In Chrome: go to chrome://extensions, click 'Details' on any extension, and scroll to 'Permissions'. In Firefox: go to about:addons, click an extension, and check 'Permissions'. You can also see permissions on the Chrome Web Store or Firefox Add-ons page before installing.

Extension Security Auditor

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📋How to find an extension's permissions

Frequently Asked Questions