.png)
Why you need to control Browser Extensions
- Brady Woudstra
- Mar 13
- 2 min read
Web browser extensions can be incredibly useful. Password managers, grammar tools, and productivity add-ons can save time and improve workflows.
The problem is that many extensions request access to far more data than users realize. Some can read everything on a webpage, access browsing history, or interact with corporate applications like email, CRMs, or financial systems.
Without oversight, employees can unknowingly install extensions that introduce security risks to your organization.
With a few simple settings, you can help lower the risk by limiting which browser extensions can be installed and remove unnecessary ones.
Why Browser Extensions Can Be Risky
When someone installs an extension in Chrome, Edge, or FireFox, they are often granting that software permission to interact with data inside the browser.
Depending on the extension, this could include access to:
Email content
Documents in Google Workspace or Microsoft 365
Login sessions and authentication tokens
Browsing activity
Data entered into forms
Even legitimate extensions can become risky if they are sold to a new developer, compromised, or updated with malicious code.
There have been several real-world incidents where popular extensions were used to collect data or inject ads into webpages. (https://thehackernews.com/2026/01/researchers-uncover-chrome-extensions.html or https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2025/12/sleeper-browser-extensions-woke-up-as-spyware-on-4-million-devices)
We see lots of different types of malicious extensions - some include PDF converters, YouTube downloaders, "ad blockers", Coupon finders, and many more.
A Better Approach: Only Allow Approved Extensions
Instead of letting every employee install whatever they want, a safer approach is to:
Allow only approved extensions
Block all others by default
Remove extensions that are no longer needed
This approach keeps useful tools available while preventing unknown or risky extensions from being installed.
How to Control Extensions in Google Workspace
If your organization uses Chrome with Google Workspace, administrators can control browser extensions through the Google Admin Console.
The policy settings allow you to:
Block all extensions by default
Allow specific approved extensions
Force install required extensions
Remove extensions that users installed previously
Configuring the allow list for Web Apps and Extensions - Yellow + Button in the bottom corner
These settings can be found in the Chrome management section of the Admin Console and applied to specific organizational units or groups.
The official Google documentation explains the configuration options in detail.
Other Management Options
If your organization manages devices with Group Policy, Microsoft Intune, or another device management platform, you can control extensions using the Chrome Enterprise policies.
Similarly, Microsoft Edge and FireFox also provide management and control options for minimizing risk and securing your environments.
This approach works especially well when Chrome is deployed using the Chrome Enterprise installer, allowing policies to be enforced across managed devices. https://chromeenterprise.google/download/
Want Help Reviewing Your Settings?
Many organizations already have the tools they need to improve security in platforms like Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and device management systems.
We help businesses identify these opportunities and implement practical improvements that reduce risk without adding unnecessary complexity.
Schedule a conversation to review your environment and identify quick wins for improving your cybersecurity posture.
Schedule a free consultation
