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    Safety & Privacy
    Intermediate
    2 min read 5 stepsApril 17, 2026Verified April 2026

    How to Install Browser Extensions Safely

    Extensions can block ads, save passwords, or take notes — but malicious ones can steal data. Here's how to pick safe ones and remove risky ones.

    In this guide (5 steps):

    1. 1.Install only from official stores
    2. 2.Check the number of users and reviews
    3. 3.Look at the permissions
    4. 4.Review your extensions regularly
    5. 5.Pick well-known alternatives
    1

    Install only from official stores

    ~15s
    For Chrome and Edge, go to the Chrome Web Store. For Firefox, go to addons.mozilla.org. Never install an extension from a pop-up, random website, or email link.
    2

    Check the number of users and reviews

    ~15s
    Extensions with millions of users and thousands of reviews are generally safer. Brand-new extensions with few users could be risky — wait a few months before trying them.
    3

    Look at the permissions

    ~15s
    When you click Add to Chrome, a box pops up listing what the extension can do. "Read and change all your data on all websites" is a big ask — only grant it to extensions from well-known developers like Google, 1Password, or Grammarly.
    4

    Review your extensions regularly

    ~15s
    In Chrome, click the puzzle-piece icon, then Manage Extensions. In Firefox, click the three lines, then Add-ons and Themes. Remove anything you no longer use or do not recognize.
    5

    Pick well-known alternatives

    ~15s
    Trusted ad blockers: uBlock Origin. Password managers: 1Password, Bitwarden, LastPass. Grammar: Grammarly. Stick with names that have been around for years and have huge user bases.

    You Did It!

    You've completed: How to Install Browser Extensions Safely

    Need more help? Get Expert Help from a TekSure Tech

    Browser extensions are small add-ons that give your browser new powers — ad blockers, password managers, grammar checkers. But a bad extension can read everything you type, including passwords and credit card numbers.

    Only install extensions from the official store (Chrome Web Store, Microsoft Edge Add-ons, Firefox Add-ons). Check reviews, developer name, and number of users before installing. Remove extensions you no longer use.

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    Official Resources

    FTC Consumer ProtectionCISA — Cybersecurity TipsAARP Fraud Watch Network

    Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

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    How to Install Browser Extensions Safely — Step-by-Step Guide | TekSure