How to Change Permissions for a Chrome Extension
The Chrome Web Store is home to tons of free apps, extensions, and themes to add to your Chrome browser, allowing you to do much more. Adding browser extensions can make visiting web pages and using the web more beneficial, as they can offer new features or shortcuts.
Many users don’t know that they can change the permissions of their browser extensions. Here, we will look at how you can control your Google Chrome extension permissions.
What Are Extension Permissions in Chrome?
You’ll have more than likely installed at least one Chrome extension at some point. You might have noticed the permissions message display, asking you for access to specific data. While most permissions are understandable, others are questionable.
There are three types of permission levels that extensions may request, each with risk alerts:
If you’ve allowed an extension with specific permissions, you can go and change these at a later date.
How to Change Chrome Extension Permissions
Google Chrome offers a control menu that limits extension access that allows you to examine and control permissions for your installed extensions andthe ability to remove or disable extensions.
To change the permission, click theExtensionsicon shaped like a jigsaw puzzle on the top right to see your extensions. When you click on the three vertical dots, hover your mouse over theThis can read and change site datasection, and you will see the site’s access.
ClickingLearn more about site accesswill take you toGoogle’s support pagedetailing more information on installing and managing extensions. Clicking onManage extensionwill take you to the extension’s details page.
Here, you will get more information about the extension, such as the version, size, and permissions. In theSite accesssection, you can control from the dropdown menu how you want the extension to work on websites you visit:
Be aware that not all extensions will have a list of permissions. In the screenshot above, the Grammarly extension only has permission to read the browsing history and display notifications.
Note that extensions are deactivated in Incognito Mode by default. To enable it, go to the extension details page and click on the toggle in theAllow in Incognitosection.
When you install a particular extension,make sure the extension is safeby reading the permissions. Some extensions could be malicious and dangerous. If you’re in doubt, look at the star rating and read the user reviews.
You’re in Control of Chrome Extensions
You can install any extension to your computer, but read the permissions to make sure they are not asking for too much. Keep in mind that all extensions, by default, read the data you’re viewing and what you’re typing, including confidential data like login credentials.
Take control of the extension and allow it to be active when you want it to be. Does the extension need to be active on every site? Should you have to give up your online privacy for the sake of an extension? And just how safe are extensions?
While they provide a customized functionality to our browsing experience, are browser extensions safe to use?
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The key is not to spook your friends with over-the-top shenanigans.
You can block out the constant surveillance and restore your privacy with a few quick changes.
