This is how you can tell if a Chrome extension is safe

Google seems to realize that the quality and security of many Chrome extensions leaves much to be desired. That’s why the tech giant wants to provide more clarity on this issue through two badges where you can see if the extension and the developer have been verified by Google.

If you’ve found an extension on the Chrome Web Store that you want to download, you can add its badge below the tool’s name. Suggested To see. This means that the app follows the recommended guidelines for Chrome extensions.

Each extension bearing this badge has been individually evaluated by the Chrome team, specifically on how the tool handles user privacy and whether the information provided is open and transparent. And not to forget: whether the extension really works as you expect it to.

A second way to tell if you’re interested in a secure extension is to check the developer name. This is similar to the checkmark on Twitter: It has been verified that the tool was indeed developed by the owner of the listed website. It’s also a publisher with a good reputation, with no “history of violations,” according to Google.

It will take several months for new developers to be verified by Google as a trusted party. Google says that 75% of all extensions in the Chrome Web Store come from verified developers.

Two badges are a good way to tell if you’re interested in a secure extension. However, it is important to keep yourself sharp. So always read the description with the extension and evaluate whether it makes sense for an app to want to access your camera or microphone, for example.

Also, don’t forget to read other users’ comments. You’ll immediately see a rating for that extension in the Chrome Web Store, but you can also search Google for other experiences.

Have comments on an extension been published recently, or are they from a few years ago? This may indicate that the extension is no longer used and will no longer be updated. This leads to security risks.