How Browser Extensions Work

People like browsers. They help people surf the web and they allow us to bookmark our favorite sites so that we can come back for more content, again and again. These days, people really like browsers. They not only represent a window into the web, but they also provide us with a deeper range of functions such as online apps, web services, cloud storage services and so much more.

Link to EXTENTOOL

As we get more and more sophisticated in terms of our personal software usage on the web, it is inevitable that we will encounter more browser extensions. So what are they, should we be wary of them and how much &#;visibility&#; into them do we really need?

What is a browser extension?

A browser extension is a small unit of software (referred to as a &#;plug in&#; when the software executes code) that performs various filters and controls to change the way a user might visit a web page or view information emanating from a web service (such as online , for example).

According to Google&#;s official statement on this technology, &#;Extensions are small software programs that customize the browsing experience. They enable users to tailor Chrome [browser] functionality and behavior to individual needs or preferences. An extension must fulfil a single purpose that is narrowly defined and easy to understand. A single extension can include multiple components and a range of functionality, as long as everything contributes towards a common purpose.&#;

Browser extensions are usually tasked with adding additional features and functionalities to a website. But they can also be used to remove unwanted features and functionalities such as pop-up ads and other aspects of a website&#;s core behavior that a user wishes to opt out of.

Google Chrome has thousands of extensions on the Chrome Web Store and browsers including Firefox and Opera sport a wide selection too. Like the three aforementioned browsers, Microsoft Edge also has a range of extensions offering additional functionalities dedicated functions such as Pinterest &#;save buttons, PDF printing tools and onward to more tangential tasks such as helping users to create options for more complex mouse gestures.

The browser companies themselves make some of these extensions, while third-party software development shops are responsible for many others. Finding out which ones to trust isn&#;t always easy, although each browser will often offer you a selection depending on what you are trying to do with your machine.

A question of permission

This connectivity conundrum has given rise to a new breed of vendors now aiming to give us privacy controls so that we know how much access we have allowed our browser extensions to take if we have installed them. These new platforms are being developed to enable users to check the permissions of browser extensions.

We know that any web-based add-on or extension comes with a risk, though. Some add-ons require relatively extensive permissions of your system and are able to perform actions including reading (or, in some cases, even changing) all data on the websites that a user visits. Even more of an issue is the fact that many required add-on permissions are not always really necessary for the tasks they are supposed to be able to perform.

Whether the software developers who make these extensions feel they need to keep their options open for greater control of us, or whether they themselves don&#;t realize (at the point of programming their code) that they&#;re asking for more permissions than they actually is tough to say. Either way, it is unwanted extension permissions that can slow down your browser, so paying attention to what you open up to is a good idea.

Industry specialists in this area recommend that users should keep their list of installed extensions as short as possible -- and, where an add-on is not essential (or you think there might be some reason not to trust the developer) uninstall it.

&#;Oftentimes, unused or poorly created browser extensions may cause your browser to slow down and consume excessive computing power. If you notice significant performance issues in your browser after downloading an extension, it&#;s likely that it could be hoarding extravagant amounts of space or running constantly. A quick fix is to simply uninstall the extension to check whether you see any changes in your computer&#;s performance,&#; said Ahan Sabharwal, an undergraduate student researcher at UC Berkeley.

It&#;s not all bad news, that is - many browser extensions and add-ons exist to provide us with better security and privacy&#; it&#;s just a question of knowing which ones you should augment your browsing experience with.

Kick the tires first

If you&#;re about to install any number of browser extensions, then look around the web first and kick the tires before you buy (we mean that in the virtual sense, most extensions are free).

Run a web search to see what other users have said about the extension, go to user group pages to see what users think, look for Reddit reports and so on. Even a widely used freemium tool like Grammarly (strictly speaking a software platform, but widely thought of as a browser extension) has had security issues in its time, although these were rapidly fixed.

The best advice is, stay close to the big name vendors and brands that you know (the Spotify extension on Google Chrome is unsurprisingly safe this week, for example) and read as much as you can to find out what other users think.

We&#;re moving to an always-on data-driven cloud-first web-based world, so you could well be looking for a richer - and extensively extended - browser experience soon. Just be sure to look at what&#;s on trend before you extend.

Alright, scheduling friends. I know we&#;re usually talking about all things meetings around here, but we&#;re going to swap it up a bit today and talk about something else that makes you super efficient. They&#;re small but mighty and usually casually live in the upper right hand corner of your screen. Any guesses?

Browser extensions!

Browser extensions make your life easier by adding custom features to your web browser, whether you use Chrome, Safari, or Firefox. They&#;re kind of like mini-apps. Each adds more functionality to your browser of choice so you can do the things you want faster, easier, and more efficiently.

Why would you want to use one?

The whole idea behind browser extensions is pretty simple. Like browser bookmarks, browser extensions are easy to access (one click!), but more powerful &#; they bring additional features to the forefront of the tab you're already working in. Instead of opening software in a new browser tab or app, you can access the app from your current tab.

This means a whole lot less context switching. Studies prove we lose a lot more time than we realize jumping back-and-forth between tabs and apps. Or if you&#;re like me, totally forgetting why you even opened up that tab in the first place or somehow getting distracted between tabs. (Please tell me I&#;m not alone in this.)

And well, browser extensions are the quickest way to use multiple types of software without interrupting your workflow. For example, in my browser I&#;ve got Loom, Calendly, Workona, a fancy little color picker (way better than guessing color hex codes), and a few others. Life is better with extensions. Trust me!

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Extension Tools.

Are web browser extensions safe?

Like all things on the internet, it&#;s super important to take a moment and evaluate before proceeding. The most popular browser extensions designed by trusted brands are generally safe. Steer clear of malicious extensions by asking yourself these questions:

• Are you downloading the extension from your browser&#;s official extension site?

  Here are links to the official online stores for extensions:

  Chrome

  ,

  Safari

  (the Apple App Store),

  Edge

  , and

  Firefox

  . It&#;s in the browser company&#;s best interest to ensure the extensions they promote are secure, and take down anything they get complaints about. 

• Is the developer trustworthy?

  For example, if a well-known brand like

  Tripadvisor

  builds an official browser extension, they likely have the resources to monitor and improve the tool for the long haul. 

• When was the last time the extension was updated?

  Newer, consistently updated tools are more secure than old, out-of-date tools.

• Do you see any odd or unreasonable requests for personal information?

  If you&#;re installing a password keeper extension, it makes sense the developer would ask for some authentication. But if you&#;re downloading a just-for-fun extension that turns your cursor into a duck, that company shouldn&#;t need your date of birth and mother&#;s maiden name. 

• Does the developer clearly state what they&#;ll do with your info?

  Here&#;s a good

  security and privacy example from Zoom

  that explains what info they store, if they sell your data to third parties, etc.

Does Calendly have a web extension? What does it do?

Of course we do! You really think we&#;d ever miss out on helping you be even more efficient when it comes to scheduling? Never.

Calendly&#;s extension makes it super quick and easy to book meetings no matter where in your browser you&#;re working. We particularly like it because it means we can&#;t get distracted from the tab we&#;re currently in and provides one click access to meeting types and availability.

It&#;s available on Chrome, Edge, and Firefox and free with a Calendly account.

Have you got any favorite browser extensions? Any browser extensions you wished existed?

If you want to learn more, please visit our website telescopic tools.