You can keep your online safety in check using dependable browser add-ons. But with hundreds of extensions, the process may become daunting. We’ve compiled a list of popular browser plugins that can help you increase your online privacy and security so you can make well-informed decisions.
Web Proxy Extension
A proxy extension routes traffic via a different server. It gives you another IP address that helps hide your identity and location. While most web proxies don’t offer encryption, some do, particularly the more well-known ones.
A VPN encrypts all your traffic, but a proxy extension protects the traffic flowing through your browser. It is the primary distinction between the two. Extensions often use lighter and employ web-compatible, more lightweight encryption methods, typically encrypting any traffic they carry over your browser from beginning to end.
NordVPN Browser Extension
In addition to the main software, NordVPN’s extension keeps your browser communications by preventing internet spying. It uses TLS encryption for secure browsing, which you can access on HTTP sites and public Wi-Fi.
The extension directs you to NordVPN servers, concealing your identity and virtual location by assigning your private address. The tool provides a choice of countries and IPs, automatically selecting the best server. The split-tunneling feature lets you decide which websites view your virtual location or only the VPN server’s IP. Such flexibility permits switching to other apps without repeated off toggles.
NordVPN’s browser extension is fast, light, and easy to use. It provides safe browsing, a good feature in the NordVPN suite for subscribers.
Threat Protection Lite
During browser sessions, Threat Protection Lite, a security tool, prevents harmful websites and invasive adverts. It functions with Android, Firefox, Chrome, Edge browsers, macOS, Windows, Linux, and iOS devices when connected to a VPN server.
When you connect to the NordVPN server and browse the internet, Threat Protection Lite shields you from unsecured connections and online dangers.
Ad Blockers and Script Blockers
Ad blockers eliminate intrusive advertisements and third-party scripts and widgets that can take your data and transfer it elsewhere (to hackers, for example).
Ads may direct you to dangerous websites. Once you click on an incorrect advertisement, a hacker can initiate several destructive assaults.
Script blockers function differently; they only prevent access to JavaScript, considered the “backbone” of nearly all websites and applications you may utilize. Regretfully, hackers may occasionally use these programs to prey on unsuspecting victims.
Plus AdBlock
(Compatible with Maxthon, Opera, Safari, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Android)
AdBlock Plus is the most widely used extension on this list. Its biggest advantage is that it is quite solid and simple to use. AdBlock Plus blocks pop-ups, rollover advertisements, banner ads, and known malware-hosting domains. Furthermore, it turns off third-party scripts and cookies that can expose your information and cause cookie theft.
Ad blockers regrettably tend to interfere with the functionality of certain websites. They have the power to take down your favorite websites and affect companies that rely on internet advertising. For this reason, ad blockers frequently prompt you to choose between blocking or seeing acceptable ads.
uBlock Origin
(Compatible with Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Safari, Google Chrome, and Chromium)
An additional well-liked adblocker is the open-source uBlock Origin, which has replaced many internet users’ preferred option. Compared to other plug-ins, it works quicker and requires less space. It also automatically blocks all advertisements. You can make customized lists of exceptions and have more control over the advertisements you view with uBlock.
Script Safe or No Script
(Script Safe is accessible on Google Chrome; no script is available on Mozilla Firefox.)
Two plugins that do the same task disabling Java, JavaScript, and Flash—are No Script and Script Safe. These extensions aim to disrupt websites, as most websites rely on JavaScript, including highly popular ones like Netflix, Facebook, and YouTube.
These extensions are rather strong but need a lot more manual setup, so novices might not be the best fit. Script Safe and No Script prevent scripts from running on any page by default, allowing you to add just the websites you trust to their safe list.
Counter-Takers
Browser extensions known as “anti-trackers” shield you from tracking and, as the name implies, unwanted advertising. They recognize trackers and their sources, turn off cookies, and stop websites from loading malicious material.
Disconnect
(Compatible with Opera, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and Google Chrome)
Disconnect is a widely used anti-tracking browser plugin that offers safe Wi-Fi and bandwidth optimization and protection against malware, tracking, and malvertising.
Disconnect also prevents major players like Twitter, Facebook, Google, and Amazon from monitoring, particularly when they attempt to gather your browser history off-site. This user-friendly plugin allows you to manage every site script from the toolbar menu.
Privacy Badger
(Accessible through Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Google Chrome, and Firefox on Android)
The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a renowned group that defends internet privacy and other digital liberties, created Privacy Badger. It differs slightly from other privacy-focused browsing plugins because it does not include a list of trackers and cookies you can turn off.
Rather, it employs a heuristic algorithm that becomes more sophisticated with each usage, using your browsing patterns to infer what Privacy Badger ought to prevent. Many people choose it over other extensions just because of this (apart from the fact that it’s an EFF application). The icing on the cake is the ability to disable third-party trackers.
Other Beneficial Additions
Although the previously stated browser extensions might enhance your online security, you should also consider utilizing other plugins. It could provide a more private and well-rounded browsing experience.
HTTPS All Around Us
(Compatible with Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Brave, Google Chrome, and Firefox on Android)
HTTPS Everywhere will keep you safe by connecting you to more secure SSL versions of your favorite websites. It’s an easy method to safeguard and maintain the security of your browsing. It won’t require any effort and will benefit you a lot.
NordPass
(Compatible with Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera, and Brave)
Cracking our passwords is one of the simplest ways hackers obtain our data. The issue arises because most users must learn to use the same password for all their accounts. It extremely simplifies the hacker’s task. On the other hand, NordPass allows you to save all your digital documents, including Wi-Fi passwords and insurance numbers, in one secure location. It can even create lengthy, randomly generated passwords if you’d like.
DuckDuckGo is a Browser Plugin
(Compatible with Opera, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and Google Chrome)
The most famous offering from DuckDuckGo is their search engine, a private and anonymous substitute for Google. Still, they also create an excellent privacy-focused browser extension that combines several useful features into a single plugin. This toolkit includes a tracker blocker that keeps track of the advertising and data networks you’ve blocked, a tool that compels websites to utilize HTTPS wherever feasible, and a privacy policy grader for participating sites.