Browser Extensions With 8 Million Users Collect Extended AI Conversations (arstechnica.com)
- Reference: 0180412193
- News link: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/12/17/198250/browser-extensions-with-8-million-users-collect-extended-ai-conversations
- Source link: https://arstechnica.com/security/2025/12/browser-extensions-with-8-million-users-collect-extended-ai-conversations/
> Browser extensions with more than 8 million installs are [1]harvesting complete and extended conversations from users' AI conversations and selling them for marketing purposes, according to data collected from the Google and Microsoft pages hosting them.
>
> Security firm Koi discovered the eight extensions, which as of late Tuesday night remained available in both Google's and Microsoft's extension stores. Seven of them carry "Featured" badges, which are endorsements meant to signal that the companies have determined the extensions meet their quality standards. The free extensions provide functions such as VPN routing to safeguard online privacy and ad blocking for ad-free browsing. All provide assurances that user data remains anonymous and isnâ(TM)t shared for purposes other than their described use.
[1] https://arstechnica.com/security/2025/12/browser-extensions-with-8-million-users-collect-extended-ai-conversations/
Cagey summary. (Score:5, Informative)
They are:
Chrome Store
Urban VPN Proxy: 6 million users
1ClickVPN Proxy: 600,000 users
Urban Browser Guard: 40,000 users
Urban Ad Blocker: 10,000 users
Edge Add-ons:
Urban VPN Proxy: 1,32 million users
1ClickVPN Proxy: 36,459 users
Urban Browser Guard – 12,624 users
Urban Ad Blocker – 6,476 users
Re:Cagey summary. (Score:4, Insightful)
Seriously. Why talk about 8 browser extensions that are doing shady shit, and not actually NAME THEM.
What the hell has happened to this once-great site...
all these tech companies that datamine (Score:2)
There should be a class action against them all for theft of data and theft of internet bandwidth because they are stealing both from users, and internet bandwidth angers me because that stuff is NOT free
Re: (Score:2)
An you can bet the terms of service have a "Predispute Arbitration Clause" which prevents you from the benefits of a jury trial, or bringing a class action lawsuit against them even if you are compelled to arbitrate. This is the latest thing they put in these click-wrap contracts.
Don't add extensions to Chrome or Edge (Score:2)
Both these browsers are sticky snare traps. Use them only to access websites which won't work with a mozilla-based browser engine.
So Google and Microsoft are Malware vendors! (Score:3)
"Google's and Microsoft's extension stores" Seems these two entities have an internal vetting problem of their own.