Security extensions in browser are not automatically secure. They may even deteriorate things. Mozilla has removed SafePrice and Avast’s Online Security extensions for Firefox, in addition to their AVG-branded peers, after Wladimir Palant (AdBlock Plus maker) discovered they were gathering much more info than required. This comprised a thorough web history that went well further than search history and website addresses, comprising what you click, how long and when you visit a website, the number of running tabs, and even when you jump to different tab. The policies of Mozilla explicitly ban this type of fine-grained compilation.
Palant first wrote about the issue earlier in October, but it was not until he reported the issues to Mozilla in December that the creator took action. It removed all 4 extensions immediately. Opera also removed the equivalent extensions on its store within almost 16 hours of getting the notice.
If you discovered the extensions helpful, do not be concerned. They might come back. Avast claimed to the media that it was operating with Mozilla to clear up problems. It had “already executed” some of Mozilla’s latest privacy needs, and planned editions that were “completely transparent and compliant.” You can hope for them back in extension store of Mozilla sometime in the “coming period.”
There is one remaining issue, though: the extensions seem to breach Google’s rules for extensions in Chrome, but were still accessible in the Chrome Web Store. Media has asked Google for answers, but it is secure to say that the popularity of Chrome can worsen any privacy violations.
Speaking of ad-ons, Eric Rescorla (Firefox Chief Technology Officer) earlier wrote a detailed blog post clarifying precisely how the add-ons of the browser broke all at once earlier, how it was solved, and how the firm will prevent another break down in the coming period.