Check Which Browser Extensions Can Access Your Business Data

Browser extensions can read and change the content of websites you visit, so regularly reviewing and removing unused extensions in Chrome or Microsoft Edge is a quick way to reduce the risk of unnecessary access to email, documents and other business information viewed in your browser.

Why This Matters

Browser extensions are small add-ons that provide useful features such as password managers, AI assistants, grammar checkers or screenshot tools.

To work properly, many extensions request permission to read and change the data on websites you visit. This can include pages in services such as Outlook, Gmail, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, CRM systems or internal company tools.

Most extensions are legitimate. The problem is that people often install them, forget about them and leave them running for years.

Security researchers regularly highlight cases where browser extensions are sold to new developers, updated with malicious code, or granted far broader permissions than users realise.

Reviewing extensions periodically helps reduce unnecessary access to sensitive business data.

How To Check Extensions In Google Chrome

– Open Chrome.

– Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.

– Select Extensions.

– Click Manage Extensions.

You will now see a list of all installed extensions.

For each extension you can:

– Turn it off using the toggle switch.

– Click Remove to uninstall it.

– Select Details to see what permissions it has, including whether it can read data on websites you visit.

If you do not recognise an extension or no longer use it, removing it is usually the safest option.

How To Check Extensions In Microsoft Edge

– Open Microsoft Edge.

– Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.

– Select Extensions.

– Choose Manage extensions.

You will see all installed extensions.

From here you can:

– Disable extensions using the toggle switch.

– Click Remove to uninstall them.

– Select Details to view the permissions each extension has.

Edge also shows which extensions are allowed to read and change site data, helping you decide whether they should remain installed.

What To Look For

When reviewing extensions, pay particular attention to:

– Tools you installed once but no longer use.

– Old productivity or AI tools you were testing.

– Screenshot or PDF utilities you forgot about.

– Extensions you do not recognise.

– Anything with permission to read and change all website data.

Removing unnecessary extensions reduces the number of third-party tools that can interact with the information displayed in your browser.

A Practical Approach

Set a reminder every few months to review your browser extensions.

Most business users discover several extensions they no longer need. Removing them is a simple way to improve security and keep your browser running efficiently.