Chrome extensions are great for adding features, but they often ask for broad permissions to access and modify website data. Tweaking these permissions is crucial for your online privacy and can even make your browser run smoother.
Why Adjust Extension Permissions?
While many extensions need access to website data to function correctly—like ad blockers needing to see site content to block ads—some might abuse these permissions. Bad extensions could snoop on your browsing habits and share that info, which is obviously a privacy concern. Plus, running lots of extensions can use up your computer’s memory and processing power, leading to a slowdown.
Good news! Chrome lets you easily control what each extension can access. It takes a few steps to change an extension’s access to site data, and you have to do it individually for each one, as Chrome doesn’t have a bulk-edit option for these settings.
How to Restrict an Extension’s Access to Website Data
Here’s how to limit what an extension can read and change on websites:
Step 1: Start by right-clicking the extension’s icon in your Chrome toolbar. Then, hover over “This can read and change site data” to see more options.
You’ll see a list of permission options:
Method 1: Activate Only When Needed
- When you click the extension: This is the most secure setting. The extension won’t interact with any website until you manually click its icon.
Method 2: Limit to Specific Sites
- On the site that’s open in the current tab: The extension can only read and modify data on the website you have open in the current active tab.
Method 3: Grant Access to All Sites
- On all sites: This is the default setting and gives the extension access to read and change data on every website you visit.
It’s a good idea to check the permissions for all your installed extensions. By limiting access – either by only allowing it on specific sites or by making you manually activate it – you get better control over your browsing data and improve your privacy.
Managing extension permissions helps prevent unwanted access to your data and reduce the security risks associated with browser extensions.